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.
Starting a new business will require you to make some key decisions with important legal implications. The legal form you choose for your business, whether you incorporate as a limited company or choose another business structure, will have a significant impact on your costs, responsibilities and potential liabilities. At the same time you'll need to ensure that you have complied with any legal requirements such as business registration or licensing.
When starting up, you'll also need to consider practical issues, such as whether to start the business from scratch, take on a franchise or buy an existing business.
Think carefully when choosing a business name - the business name you choose can become an important marketing asset.
If you are working with business partners, a clear partnership or shareholders agreement is a vital step to pre-empting possible disputes.
It's important to choose the right form of business, particularly if you will be in business with other individuals. If you simply start trading, you might unintentionally create the wrong business relationship - for example, an equal partnership with personal liability for your partners' business debts as well as your own.
Many new business owners instinctively opt to incorporate as a limited company, though this can involve significant costs and administrative burdens. Self-employment as a sole trader or in partnership can be a more straightforward option. In some circumstances, a limited liability partnership (LLP) can be a better alternative to forming a limited company.
Key issues to consider include the tax treatment of the different forms of business and to what extent you can limit your personal liability if things go wrong.
You should choose a business name that will help with your marketing. You'll need to check that the name is allowed and does not conflict with existing registered company names or trade marks. You cannot use a name that is the same as or similar to another business.
At the same time, you may want to register your business name as a trade mark and take steps to protect any other intellectual property that is important for your business.
Whatever business form you use, you must ensure that you notify HM Revenue & Customs. You'll need to sort out deductions of PAYE, tax and National Insurance for any employees and you may also need to register for VAT.
Some types of new business will also need a licence or other form of registration. Other important legal issues to consider include ensuring that you comply with health and safety and environmental regulations, dealing with any business premises and so on.
If you are buying an existing business or taking on a franchise, it's essential to check exactly what you are agreeing to. Addressing the main legal issues when you start the business will help ensure you make the right choices and avoid potentially costly mistakes.