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.
The board of directors are responsible for the management of a company. As well as ensuring proper corporate governance, an effective board of directors helps take the business forward.
Every company must have at least one company director. The appointment of new directors follows the rules set out in the company's articles of association, with new appointments typically made by the existing board of directors.
There are few restrictions on who can serve as a board member although exceptions include undischarged bankrupts, people who have been disqualified from acting as a director and those aged under 16. Your aim should be to ensure that the board of directors has the right mix of skills and experience for the business to succeed. In smaller companies, key members of the management team typically act as company directors.
Non-executive directors can bring in additional expertise. A skilled chairman who knows how to hold effective board meetings can be critical to how well the board of directors operates. A well-planned director induction process will help quickly bring any new directors up to speed.
Directors have various legal responsibilities. For example, they must promote the success of the company; they must not abuse their position to make a personal profit at the company's expense; they must avoid situations in which their interests (whether direct or indirect) either conflict or could conflict with the interests of their company (particularly if they exploit any property, information or opportunity); and any conflicts of interest must be declared.
Directors are personally responsible for ensuring that the company complies with company law, including checking and confirming to Companies House at least once a year (in a 'confirmation statement') that the information Companies House holds about the company is accurate (or, if not, what changes are needed) and filing annual accounts. They must also ensure good corporate governance, for example taking decisions in accordance with the rules set out in the company's articles of association.
As company law can be complex, the board of directors may want to take legal advice or training as part of their induction to ensure that they fulfil their responsibilities and that the right company administration procedures are followed.
Directors can become personally liable for a company's debts if they allow the company to trade while insolvent with no reasonable prospect of survival. Wrongful trading like this could also lead to being disqualified from being a director. Directors can also face legal action and personal liability if they allow a company to trade fraudulently.
You might also face personal legal action if the company fails to comply with regulations: for example, if you discriminate unlawfully or if someone is injured as a result of your negligence. Exercising reasonable care in fulfilling your role as a director will minimise the risks.
Reviewed by Jonathan O'Shea, managing director, The Alternative Board (Bristol North)