{"id":4239,"date":"2026-06-05T10:02:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T09:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=4239"},"modified":"2026-06-05T10:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T09:23:09","slug":"starting-and-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/starting-and-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"How to start a business"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/strategy-legal-operations\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Strategy, Legal &amp; Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to start a business\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGoing it alone with your own business is the ultimate dream. Here&#8217;s a complete guide: what to do, what to know, and what to watch out for.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-05T10:02:11+01:00\">5 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"How to start a business\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/starting-and-planning\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/staceymcintosh\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/11\/Stacey-McIntosh-350-1.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Stacey McIntosh<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to start a business? You\u2019re not alone. Around 832,000 new companies were set up in the UK in 2025, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.natwestgroup.com\/news-and-insights\/news-room\/press-releases\/enterprise\/2026\/feb\/uk-company-numbers-hit-eight-yearhigh-at-566-million-natwest-and.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NatWest and Beauhurst New Startup Index<\/a>\u2014part of a wave of activity that has pushed the total number of active companies to a record 5.66 million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to join their numbers, you\u2019ve come to the right place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s what we cover in this article:<\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-starting-steps\" data-level=\"2\">Starting steps<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-basics-of-starting-a-new-business\" data-level=\"2\">The basics of starting a new business<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-legalities-you-need-to-know-about-starting-a-business\" data-level=\"2\">Legalities you need to know about starting a business<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-expert-advice-on-planning-a-business\" data-level=\"2\">Expert advice on planning a business<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-do-you-find-a-winning-business-idea\" data-level=\"2\">How do you find a winning business idea?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-write-a-great-business-plan\" data-level=\"2\">How to write a great business plan<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-starting-different-business-types\" data-level=\"2\">Starting different business types<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-final-thoughts-ready-to-start-a-business\" data-level=\"2\">Final thoughts: Ready to start a business?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-starting-steps\">Starting steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning for a new business is one of the most important stages if you want to succeed\u2013especially with rising costs and a competitive market to navigate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/get-started-entrepreneur-keep-going\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">don\u2019t procrastinate<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take your business idea to market, test it and iterate it if necessary, as that\u2019s a great way to see if people are interested in what you are selling to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, whether you\u2019re starting your business because of a personal passion, a gap in the market or simply because you want to work for yourself, get ready to take the first steps towards making it a reality\u2014read on for some useful advice as you begin your exciting journey of starting and running your own business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-basics-of-starting-a-new-business\">The basics of starting a new business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you dive in, it\u2019s worth getting your ducks in a row first. By doing that, you will give your business a fighting chance of succeeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When starting a new business, you\u2019ll need to register with HMRC. Most companies set up as a sole trader, partnership, or limited company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose a name for your business, but check with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/get-information-about-a-company\">Companies House<\/a> and on Google to see if it\u2019s not already in use. If you use a name that&#8217;s the same as another business, you could get in trouble over trademark issues, or for &#8220;passing off&#8221;\u2014a situation where it can be implied (even if it&#8217;s unintentional) that you&#8217;re attempting to benefit from another business&#8217; reputation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve got a name, it&#8217;s not a bad idea to buy the website domain name for your company, and to register accounts on social media. Even better, this is another way in which you&#8217;ll typically discover if there&#8217;s another entity with the same or a similar name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll need to put a system in place so you can manage your cash flow, costs, and tax payments once you start trading. Using accounting software can help your business stay in check and keep you on top of your finances. Unsurprisingly, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/sage-business-cloud\/sage-accounting\/\">Sage has everything you could ever need<\/a>, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/products\/sage-sole-trader\">Sole Trader Free<\/a>\u2014which as its name suggests, costs nothing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also worth finding an accountant, who will help you stay on top of your tax requirements and other financial elements. Accountants also hand out business advice, which can be a game changer. After all, they spend all day talking to business owners. They&#8217;ve seen it all, and are always happy to share because your success is ultimately their success, too. (Tip: Take a look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/accountants\/find-an-accountant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sage Accountant and Bookkeeper Directory<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If raising finance is a requirement for your business\u2014or even if it isn\u2019t\u2014you\u2019ll need to create a business plan. This living document will help you with your planning and keep your business focused as you work to build it. More on that below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-legalities-you-need-to-know-about-starting-a-business\">Legalities you need to know about starting a business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you set up as a limited company, there\u2019s now an extra step to be aware of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 18 November 2025, all company directors and people with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/companies-house-reforms\/\">Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act<\/a>. For a brand-new company, you\u2019ll complete this as part of incorporation, so it\u2019s worth factoring in before you file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another thing to bear in mind is that, these days, software isn\u2019t just a convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For many businesses it\u2019s a legal requirement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under Making Tax Digital (MTD), VAT-registered businesses already keep digital records using MTD-ready software, and file their returns using the software. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since April 2026, the same approach has applied to income tax for self-employed people and landlords with qualifying income over \u00a350,000, dropping to \u00a330,000 from April 2027 (and \u00a320,000 in April 2028). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In practice, that means submitting quarterly updates through MTD-compatible software, and then submitting a digital tax return using the software\u2014rather than facing a once-a-year scramble with spreadsheets. So, it pays to choose the right tool from day one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s worth keeping an eye on your turnover: once it exceeds the VAT registration threshold (\u00a390,000 as of 2026), you\u2019ll need to register for VAT within 30 days. This is definitely something to discuss with an accountant if you&#8217;re getting anywhere near that level, because the timing can be problematic. You could be left out of pocket if you&#8217;re not charging VAT on your invoices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-expert-advice-on-planning-a-business\">Expert advice on planning a business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Working with experts when planning a business can help you to get off on the right footing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As previously highlighted, an accountant can assist you with your tax affairs and a bookkeeper can help you manage your books, leaving you to focus on building and growing your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When deciding on the right legal structure for your business, it\u2019s worth seeking advice from a solicitor or an accountant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For some businesses, this might be a straightforward option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you have plans to trade in numerous countries, you will have international tax and legal issues to consider, making things more complex. Don\u2019t rush into making a decision. Do your research, seek advice, then put your plans into play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expert advice can also come in the form of getting help when it comes to creating important documents such as a business plan\u2014see below for more details on why having one can really help your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-you-find-a-winning-business-idea\">How do you find a winning business idea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Finding the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/weird-wonderful-startup-ideas-real-world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">perfect idea<\/a> can be a tricky affair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For some people, it can be as simple as turning a passion, hobby or skill set\u2014such as fitness, baking or social media management\u2014into a business idea. Some people might be trained by their employer and realise they can take those skills into a new business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For others, though, the desire might be there to create a business but pinning down an idea is a bit harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to come up with a business idea is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/trendspotting-for-small-businesses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">study growing trends.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Assess current business trends, read industry-specific research, talk to friends and family, see what\u2019s happening in the news, and speak to people working in the industry you want to start up in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AI chatbots can speed up that research too\u2014helping you summarise market reports, test ideas and spot gaps\u2014though they work best alongside real conversations with potential customers, not instead of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For your business to flourish, you\u2019ll need to come up with an idea that solves a problem, has a unique selling point and is something people are willing to pay for. Without that, your company won\u2019t last very long. And remember, a great business idea isn\u2019t enough to succeed\u2014you need to back it up with planning, application, dedication, and hard work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-write-a-great-business-plan\">How to write a great business plan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to give your business a fighting chance of succeeding, it helps to have a business plan in place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By creating a business plan, you will have a practical framework that will guide your hard work, enthusiasm and skills, and keep you focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will use the document to map out your company\u2019s strategic goals, strengths and weaknesses, purpose, and unique selling point. It will also help you to achieve clarity on the market you want to sell to and the companies you will be competing against.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By using your business plan to create milestones for your company, you can set targets that will keep you moving in your bid to build and grow your firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another tool that can assist you is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/business-model-canvas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Business Model Canvas<\/a>\u2014a one-page business plan that can help your company simplify its planning in a way that is highly visual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For step-by-step guidance, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-to-write-a-business-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">read our guide to creating business plans<\/a> and develop a document that will help you to stay on top of things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-starting-different-business-types\">Starting different business types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to create a business but need advice that\u2019s tailored to your target market? We\u2019ve created a series of industry-specific articles that will help and save you time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-food-and-drink-businesses\">Food and drink businesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Got designs on opening a restaurant, running a coffee shop, starting a food truck or selling your products in a supermarket? The food and drink industry is a competitive one, so having your planning in place will help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are just some of the articles we have on Sage Advice that can help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/opening-a-bar-or-club\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What&nbsp;you need to know&nbsp;before&nbsp;opening a bar or club&nbsp;in the UK<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-to-open-a-bar-and-startup-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to open a bar: A comprehensive guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-much-profit-coffee-shops-annually\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How much profit do coffee shops make annually?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/ultimate-guide-to-restaurant-accounting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Restaurant accounting: The essential guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/restaurant-balance-sheet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Understanding the restaurant balance sheet<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/restaurant-balance-sheet\/\">template: Examples and how to create your own<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-online-and-ecommerce-businesses\">Online and ecommerce businesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning on selling goods online? It\u2019s tempting to dive right in, as you don\u2019t have to worry about purchasing commercial real estate\u2014but you still have to consider how you\u2019ll deliver your products and services to your customers. Then you must determine how you\u2019ll be selling your goods, how you\u2019ll market your business and what your online shopfront will look like\u2014i.e. your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here aresome articles we have here at Sage Advice that you can take a look at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/start-ecommerce-business-website\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to start an e-commerce business<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/start-ecommerce-business-website\/\"> and website<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/choose-your-own-ecommerce-adventure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to start an online business: Choose your own e-commerce adventure<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/ecommerce-set-up-online-shop-weekend\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">E-commerce business cheat sheet: How to set up your online shop in one weekend<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/ecommerce-accounting-basics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ready to grow your e-commerce business? Understanding these accounting basics will help<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/money-diaries-student-ecommerce-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A full-time student running an e-commerce business on \u00a318k<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-shops-and-retail-businesses\">Shops and retail businesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have ambitions of owning your own shop\u2014a proper bricks-and-mortar option? Owning a physical space to sell your goods will have its challenges, notably property purchase or rental costs and finding the right location, among other things, so it\u2019s in your best interest to be prepared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s some of our articles that can point you in the right direction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-to-start-a-clothing-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to start a clothing business in 10 steps<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-open-a-salon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How much does it cost to open a salon?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-markup-percentage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Markup Calculator (and how to calculate markup)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sound-advice-break-rules-grow-startup-john-timpson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Break the rules to grow your startup<\/a> (Sir John Timpson CBE interview)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/small-businesses-retail-giants-win\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3 ways small businesses can take on the retail giants and win<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-professional-services-businesses\">Professional services businesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>So, you\u2019ve worked for a design agency for years and you\u2019re ready to go it alone? Perhaps you want to open your own cleaning business or maybe you want to run your own consulting firm. No matter what type of professional services company you want to run, here&#8217;s some advice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/start-boring-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Should you start a boring business?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/start-a-cleaning-business\/\">How to start a cleaning business in the UK<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/metrics-professional-services-business-track\/\">The 6 metrics your professional services business should track<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/challenges-consulting-firms-overcome-scaling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4 challenges for consulting firms to overcome when scaling<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/challenges-professional-services-firms\/\">5 challenges facing professional services firms \u2013 and how to beat them<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts-ready-to-start-a-business\">Final thoughts: Ready to start a business?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are lots of steps to take when starting your business, but by taking your time and putting the right planning in place, you will make things easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, take advantage of expert advice when you need it, and think about how you can meet the needs of your customers and clients with your products and services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And don\u2019t forget about your finances \u2013 make sure you keep on top of your cash flow if you want your business to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This article was first published in April 2018, and has been updated several times since for relevance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">E-Book: Switching from Self Assessment to Making Tax Digital<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Worried about following MTD&#8217;s rules? This brief yet comprehensive guide explains what you need to know: How you do accounting now, and how you should do it in future.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-3b52a309-fae9-49fa-a235-03fc76c551a0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Get MTD for Income Tax: A Guide to Switching From Self Assessment<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1385092066-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1385092066-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/create-business-plan\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCreating a business plan\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/start-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to start a business\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-1543 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-free-guides-templates category-strategy-legal-operations tag-business-continuity tag-create-business-plan tag-grow-business tag-start-business business_type-small-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-740534235-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-740534235-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-740534235-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-740534235-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M11.988 2.989a.75.75 0 0 0-.739.761v10.689l-1.72-1.72a.75.75 0 0 0-.957-.099.75.75 0 0 0-.315.776c.031.146.104.28.211.384l3 3a.75.75 0 0 0 1.06 0l3-3a.76.76 0 0 0 .231-.533.74.74 0 0 0-.22-.538q-.108-.106-.247-.164c-.139-.058-.191-.057-.291-.056s-.198.022-.29.061-.174.097-.243.169l-1.72 1.72V3.75a.76.76 0 0 0-.22-.541.76.76 0 0 0-.542-.22zM5.75 8.5C4.24 8.5 3 9.74 3 11.25v7C3 19.76 4.24 21 5.75 21h12.5c1.51 0 2.75-1.24 2.75-2.75v-7c0-1.51-1.24-2.75-2.75-2.75h-3a.76.76 0 0 0-.537.216.74.74 0 0 0-.223.535.76.76 0 0 0 .223.535.74.74 0 0 0 .537.216h3c.699 0 1.25.551 1.25 1.25v7a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25 1.25H5.75a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25-1.25v-7c0-.699.551-1.25 1.25-1.25h3a.76.76 0 0 0 .537-.216.74.74 0 0 0 .223-.535.76.76 0 0 0-.223-.535.75.75 0 0 0-.537-.216z\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-05T11:19:49+01:00\">5 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-to-write-a-business-plan\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFree template: How to write a business plan\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tA business plan is essential for reaching financial success. Download our business plan template and use it to help you achieve your goals.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-18419 post type-post status-publish format-audio has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers tag-grow-business tag-start-business tag-sound-advice-podcast tag-startup-stories post_format-post-format-audio business_type-small-business industry-ecommerce\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sound-sdvice-started-business-with-spice-girl-christopher-money\/?scroll=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/05\/Blog_S3_Ep8-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Christopher Money and Emma Bunton\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/05\/Blog_S3_Ep8-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/05\/Blog_S3_Ep8-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/05\/Blog_S3_Ep8-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" 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2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">32 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tI started a business with a Spice Girl\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-9993 post type-post status-publish format-audio has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-cash-flow tag-start-business tag-sound-advice-podcast post_format-post-format-audio business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sound-advice-how-to-fund-your-startup-sam-jones\/?scroll=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/Blog_Header_Image_19-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Sam Jones\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/Blog_Header_Image_19-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/Blog_Header_Image_19-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/Blog_Header_Image_19-810x810.jpg 810w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M9.75 1.5C8.793 1.5 8 2.293 8 3.25v8.377a.8.8 0 0 0 0 .243v4.38c0 .957.793 1.75 1.75 1.75h5.5c.957 0 1.75-.792 1.75-1.75v-4.377a.8.8 0 0 0 0-.243V3.25c0-.957-.792-1.75-1.75-1.75zm0 1.5h5.5c.147 0 .25.102.25.25V11h-6V3.25c0-.148.102-.25.25-.25m-4.012 7.989a.75.75 0 0 0-.739.761v4.5A4.76 4.76 0 0 0 9.749 21h2v2a.76.76 0 0 0 .216.537.74.74 0 0 0 .534.223.76.76 0 0 0 .535-.223.74.74 0 0 0 .216-.537v-2h2A4.76 4.76 0 0 0 20 16.25v-4.5a.76.76 0 0 0-.216-.537.74.74 0 0 0-.535-.223.75.75 0 0 0-.75.76v4.5a3.24 3.24 0 0 1-3.25 3.25h-5.5a3.24 3.24 0 0 1-3.25-3.25v-4.5a.755.755 0 0 0-.469-.707.8.8 0 0 0-.293-.055zM9.5 12.5h6v3.75c0 .147-.102.25-.25.25h-5.5a.24.24 0 0 1-.25-.25zm3 1a.997.997 0 0 0-1 1 .997.997 0 0 0 1 1 .997.997 0 0 0 1-1 .997.997 0 0 0-1-1\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-21T15:03:16+01:00\">21 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">37 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow to fund\u00a0a\u00a0start-up: Top tips from\u00a0Dragons\u2019\u00a0Den\u2019s \u2018best ever pitcher\u2019\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-10198 post type-post status-publish format-audio has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-circular-economy tag-start-business tag-sound-advice-podcast tag-startup-stories tag-sustainability post_format-post-format-audio business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sound-advice-start-small-business-mart-drake-knight\/?scroll=1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/Blog_Header_Image_22-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Mart Drake-Knight\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/Blog_Header_Image_22-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/Blog_Header_Image_22-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/Blog_Header_Image_22-810x810.jpg 810w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M9.75 1.5C8.793 1.5 8 2.293 8 3.25v8.377a.8.8 0 0 0 0 .243v4.38c0 .957.793 1.75 1.75 1.75h5.5c.957 0 1.75-.792 1.75-1.75v-4.377a.8.8 0 0 0 0-.243V3.25c0-.957-.792-1.75-1.75-1.75zm0 1.5h5.5c.147 0 .25.102.25.25V11h-6V3.25c0-.148.102-.25.25-.25m-4.012 7.989a.75.75 0 0 0-.739.761v4.5A4.76 4.76 0 0 0 9.749 21h2v2a.76.76 0 0 0 .216.537.74.74 0 0 0 .534.223.76.76 0 0 0 .535-.223.74.74 0 0 0 .216-.537v-2h2A4.76 4.76 0 0 0 20 16.25v-4.5a.76.76 0 0 0-.216-.537.74.74 0 0 0-.535-.223.75.75 0 0 0-.75.76v4.5a3.24 3.24 0 0 1-3.25 3.25h-5.5a3.24 3.24 0 0 1-3.25-3.25v-4.5a.755.755 0 0 0-.469-.707.8.8 0 0 0-.293-.055zM9.5 12.5h6v3.75c0 .147-.102.25-.25.25h-5.5a.24.24 0 0 1-.25-.25zm3 1a.997.997 0 0 0-1 1 .997.997 0 0 0 1 1 .997.997 0 0 0 1-1 .997.997 0 0 0-1-1\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-20T17:00:12+01:00\">20 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">36 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow small\u00a0start-ups can take shape with little money and a big idea\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-7795 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-free-guides-templates category-strategy-legal-operations tag-cash-flow tag-create-business-plan tag-start-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-to-start-a-small-business\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-606923937_super-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Don&#039;t forget about pensions if you&#039;re self-employed\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-606923937_super-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-606923937_super-768x585.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-606923937_super-1064x810.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M11.988 2.989a.75.75 0 0 0-.739.761v10.689l-1.72-1.72a.75.75 0 0 0-.957-.099.75.75 0 0 0-.315.776c.031.146.104.28.211.384l3 3a.75.75 0 0 0 1.06 0l3-3a.76.76 0 0 0 .231-.533.74.74 0 0 0-.22-.538q-.108-.106-.247-.164c-.139-.058-.191-.057-.291-.056s-.198.022-.29.061-.174.097-.243.169l-1.72 1.72V3.75a.76.76 0 0 0-.22-.541.76.76 0 0 0-.542-.22zM5.75 8.5C4.24 8.5 3 9.74 3 11.25v7C3 19.76 4.24 21 5.75 21h12.5c1.51 0 2.75-1.24 2.75-2.75v-7c0-1.51-1.24-2.75-2.75-2.75h-3a.76.76 0 0 0-.537.216.74.74 0 0 0-.223.535.76.76 0 0 0 .223.535.74.74 0 0 0 .537.216h3c.699 0 1.25.551 1.25 1.25v7a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25 1.25H5.75a1.24 1.24 0 0 1-1.25-1.25v-7c0-.699.551-1.25 1.25-1.25h3a.76.76 0 0 0 .537-.216.74.74 0 0 0 .223-.535.76.76 0 0 0-.223-.535.75.75 0 0 0-.537-.216z\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-20T15:58:17+01:00\">20 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">11 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow to start a small business in the UK\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Going it alone with your own business is the ultimate dream. Here&#8217;s a complete guide: what to do, what to know, and what to watch out for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":346,"featured_media":3392,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[13,12],"business_type":[4],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[73,75],"imagine_tag":[109],"coauthors":[353],"class_list":["post-4239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-create-business-plan","tag-start-business","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Stacey McIntosh","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-612742822_super.jpg","imagine_tags":{"109":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4239"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30343,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4239\/revisions\/30343"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/3392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4239"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=4239"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=4239"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=4239"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=4239"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=4239"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=4239"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=4239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}