Startups Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on startups for uk businesses.

What Is An Equity Investment? Raising Capital For Shares
If you’re running (or about to launch) a UK startup or SME, there’s a good chance you’ll hit a point where you need more capital to grow. You might want to hire...

What Is An Investor? Roles, Rights And Funding Options In The UK
If you’re building a UK small business and you’re thinking about raising money, you’ll quickly run into the question: what is an investor? In simple terms, an investor is a person or...
What Is A Patent Attorney? Role, Costs And When You Need One
If you’ve built something new - a product, a process, a device, or even a clever way of doing something - you’ll probably start asking the big question: can we protect this?...

Buying A Shelf Company In the UK: Legal Risks And Due Diligence
If you’re trying to launch quickly, you’ve probably seen ads offering a shelf company for sale (sometimes called an “off the shelf company”). The pitch is simple: buy a shelf company, take...

Corporate Governance Lawyers: What UK SMEs And Startups Should Look For
When you’re building a UK startup or SME, “corporate governance” can sound like something only listed companies and huge boards worry about. But in practice, governance is simply the system of rules,...

How To Employ Someone In The UK: Step-By-Step Guide
Hiring your first (or next) team member is a huge milestone. It’s also one of those moments where the “business” suddenly starts feeling very real - because once you bring someone into...

Micro Business Definition in the UK: Contracts and Compliance Impacts
When you’re building a business, labels like “micro”, “small” and “SME” can feel like background noise. But the UK definition of a micro business can actually matter a lot - especially when...

How To Franchise A Business In the UK: Legal Steps For SMEs
Franchising can be an exciting way to grow your business without taking on every new site, staff hire, and day-to-day operational headache yourself. But if you’re Googling how to franchise a business,...

What Is Trademark Infringement In the UK?
If you’ve spent time (and money) building a brand - your name, logo, product range, packaging, or even a tagline - the last thing you want is someone else riding on your...

Business Plan Examples: What To Include And Key Legal Considerations
When you’re building a startup or growing an SME, it’s tempting to treat your business plan as “just a funding document”. But in practice, a strong plan does two jobs at once:...

When UK SMEs And Startups Need Commercial Legal Advice (And What To Expect)
When you’re building a small business, it’s easy to treat legal work as something you’ll “sort out later” — once the sales are coming in, once the product is finished, once you’ve...

Business Financing Options In The UK: Legal Guide For SMEs And Startups
Choosing between different business financing options is a big moment for any UK SME or startup. It’s not just about finding money to grow. The type of funding you take can affect...

Do I Need A Business Formation Lawyer?
Starting a business is exciting - but it can also feel like there are a thousand “small” decisions to make, and each one seems like it could have long-term consequences. One of...

Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs): When UK Startups and SMEs Should Use One
If you’re running a UK startup or SME, you’ve probably heard someone say “let’s put it in an SPV” when talking about investment, property, or a higher-risk project. It can sound like...

Companies House £13 Fee: What It Covers And When It Applies
If you run a UK limited company (or you’re about to set one up), you’ll probably come across the Companies House £13 fee at some point. It’s small enough to seem like...

Company Constitution: What It Is, What It Includes, And Why You Need One
If you’re running (or about to launch) a UK company, you’ll hear a lot of talk about your company constitution. It can sound like something only big corporates worry about. But in...

Who Is Liable When A Limited Company Goes Bust? Directors & Guarantees
Running a limited company is meant to give you a degree of protection if things don’t go to plan. But when cash gets tight (or you’re staring down unpaid tax, supplier demands,...

Corporate Law Firms Near Me: How SMEs And Startups Choose The Right Partner
If you’ve searched for corporate law firms near me, you’re probably not looking for “legal theory”. You’re looking for a lawyer who can actually help your business move forward - whether that’s...

UK Promissory Note Template: Key Clauses for Startup & SME Loans
If you’re lending money to (or borrowing money through) your startup or small business, it’s tempting to keep things informal. After all, you probably trust the other party, and you just want...

How To Patent An Idea In The UK: Step-By-Step Guide
You’ve built something new (or you’re close), and you can see real commercial potential. Maybe it’s a product, a piece of technology, a manufacturing process, or a clever “how we do it”...

What Is A Co-Founder Exit Strategy And Why Do I Need One? (2026 Updated)
Starting a business with a co-founder can be one of the best decisions you'll ever make. You move faster, share the workload, and (hopefully) balance each other's strengths. But there's one topic...

Implied Contracts: What They Are And How They Affect Your Business
When you’re running a small business, it’s easy to think a contract only exists when something has been signed. But in UK law, that’s not quite how it works. You can end...

Contract Signing In The UK: A Practical Guide For Startups
You’ve negotiated the deal, agreed the commercials, and everyone’s keen to get it signed. Then the practical questions start: who can sign, does it need a witness, can you sign by email,...

Differences Between An Online Store & Marketplace Model (2026 Updated)
If you're building an ecommerce business in 2026, one of the biggest "fork in the road" decisions is whether you're running an online store or a marketplace . They can look similar...
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