Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.
Every business needs to be aware of its obligations under minimum wage and equal pay laws, as well as recent pensions auto-enrolment changes.
What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.
While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.
You must comply with legal restrictions on employees' working hours and time off, or risk claims, enforcement action and even prosecution.
The right employment policies are an essential part of effective staff management. Make sure any policy is clear and well communicated to employees.
Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.
While sick employees need to be treated fairly, you need to ensure that 'sickness' is not being used as cover for unauthorised absence.
Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.
Most pregnant employees are entitled to maternity leave and maternity pay, while new fathers are entitled to paternity leave and paternity pay.
Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.
As well as undermining morale, illegal discrimination can lead to workplace grievances. Employee discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010.
Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.
Home, remote and lone workers are becoming increasingly commonplace. Key issues include communication and how to manage and motivate people remotely.
With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.
The right approach to consulting with and providing information to your employees can improve employee motivation and performance.
As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.
Disciplinary and grievance issues can be a major burden to employers. Putting in place and following the right procedures is essential.
Following the right dismissal and redundancy procedures helps protect your business and minimise the risk of a legal dispute at tribunal.
Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.
Employment tribunal claims are a worrying prospect for any employer. A tribunal case is a no-win situation – even if the claim is unjustified.
Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.
From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.
Commercial premises can be a major asset for your business - or an expensive and aggravating management challenge. Commercial property law is complex. Whether you own or rent premises, you can face substantial legal liabilities and potential costs.
Understanding the issues and taking legal advice can help you avoid the pitfalls, putting you in a stronger position to negotiate the right solution for your business.
Moving premises is disruptive and expensive. From the outset, you want to find premises that suit your business needs, now and in the future. As well as practical considerations such as location and size, you'll need to choose the right sort of property tenure: short-term, flexible rental; taking on a leasehold property; buying a commonhold property or outright freehold purchase.
Thorough due diligence will be necessary to ensure that there are no nasty surprises. As well as a lawyer handling the legal aspects of the conveyancing, you'll probably need the advice of a chartered surveyor and often a full structural survey.
Unless the premises are already perfect for your business, you'll also need to be very clear about your rights to alter the premises or how they are used. Among other things, changes may require planning permission or building consent.
Most business premises are either leased or rented on a short-term licence. Negotiating the right terms in the lease or rental agreement can be crucial. As well as restrictions on what you can do, an agreement can impose substantial responsibilities. Getting it wrong can expose you to substantial costs.
For longer leases, rent reviews can be another potential pitfall. If your property needs change and you need to get out of a lease, you can face a very difficult negotiation. Coming to the end of your lease can also be a difficult and costly situation, regardless of whether you want to continue to occupy the premises or move on. In each case, expert advice and help can make all the difference.
Legal advice can help you understand the main issues for your business to consider. A planned approach to how you deal with things like repairs and maintenance helps to minimise the risks and costs.
Bear in mind that you're likely to have significant responsibilities for health and safety, even if you are not the outright owner of your business premises. Property and other laws set out detailed responsibilities in areas such as managing asbestos and ensuring that premises are accessible for the disabled. The impact of your commercial premises on the environment can be another significant responsibility.