Startups Articles

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

Drag Along Rights: How They Work And What To Include In A Shareholders’ Agreement

Drag Along Rights: How They Work And What To Include In A Shareholders’ Agreement

If you’re building a company with co-founders, investors or key early team members on the cap table, you’ll eventually need to think about exit scenarios. That doesn’t mean you’re “planning to sell”...

9 April 2026
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Contract Template Legal Agreements: What UK SMEs Should Know Before Using Them

Contract Template Legal Agreements: What UK SMEs Should Know Before Using Them

If you run a small business, it’s completely normal to want to move fast. You’ve got sales to make, suppliers to manage, maybe a new hire starting on Monday - and suddenly...

9 April 2026
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Can Private Limited Companies Sell Shares? UK Guide For SMEs

Can Private Limited Companies Sell Shares? UK Guide For SMEs

If you run a UK private limited company, selling shares can be one of the most effective ways to raise money, bring in a co-founder, incentivise key team members, or plan for...

9 April 2026
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Vested Stock in the UK: Vesting Rules for Founders and Employees

Vested Stock in the UK: Vesting Rules for Founders and Employees

If you’re building a UK startup, equity is one of the most valuable tools you’ve got. It can help you attract co-founders, incentivise key hires, and keep everyone focused on long-term growth....

9 April 2026
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Corporate Mergers in the UK: A Practical Guide for SMEs and Startups

Corporate Mergers in the UK: A Practical Guide for SMEs and Startups

Corporate mergers can be an exciting growth move for UK SMEs and startups - but they’re also one of the easiest ways to inherit risk if you don’t plan properly. Maybe you’ve...

9 April 2026
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Solicitor-Client Privilege: What UK Businesses Need to Know

Solicitor-Client Privilege: What UK Businesses Need to Know

If you run a small business, you’ll eventually deal with a tricky situation where you need legal advice - a dispute with a customer, an unhappy supplier, a staff issue, or a...

9 April 2026
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Types of Mergers in the UK: A Guide for SMEs and Startups

Types of Mergers in the UK: A Guide for SMEs and Startups

When you’re running a small business or startup, “mergers” can sound like something that only happens in boardrooms at huge PLCs. But in practice, merging with another business (or combining operations in...

9 April 2026
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UK Limited Company Rules: Key Compliance Requirements

UK Limited Company Rules: Key Compliance Requirements

Running a limited company can be a smart move if you’re building something with real growth potential. But once you incorporate, you’re stepping into a world of limited company rules - and...

9 April 2026
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Equity Bridge Financing: How It Works And Key Terms For Startups

Equity Bridge Financing: How It Works And Key Terms For Startups

If you’re building a startup, cash flow timing can feel like a constant puzzle. You might have strong traction, a clear runway plan, and investors interested in your next big round -...

9 April 2026
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How To Redeem Preference Shares In the UK

How To Redeem Preference Shares In the UK

If you’ve raised money using preference shares, you’ve probably done it for a good reason: to bring in funding without giving away day-to-day control, while still offering investors a clear “deal” on...

8 April 2026
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How To Protect Your Brand In The UK: Key Legal Steps For SMEs And Startups

How To Protect Your Brand In The UK: Key Legal Steps For SMEs And Startups

When you’re building a small business or startup, your brand isn’t just a logo or a name on a website. It’s your reputation, your customer trust, and often the thing that makes...

8 April 2026
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How To Register A Business Name As A Sole Trader In The UK

How To Register A Business Name As A Sole Trader In The UK

Choosing a business name is one of the most exciting parts of starting up - it’s the name you’ll put on your website, invoices, social media, packaging, and (hopefully) your future shopfront....

8 April 2026
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Share Subdivision in the UK: Uses and Legal Steps

Share Subdivision in the UK: Uses and Legal Steps

If you run a limited company, you’ll eventually bump into questions about your share structure. Maybe you’re bringing on a co-founder, planning for investment, or simply trying to make your cap table...

8 April 2026
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Starting And Running An Online Franchise Business: UK Legal Considerations

Starting And Running An Online Franchise Business: UK Legal Considerations

Running a franchise online business can be a brilliant way to build a scalable venture with an established brand, proven systems, and (often) built-in customer demand. But the legal side can feel...

8 April 2026
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What Happens When a Shareholder Dies in a UK Company?

What Happens When a Shareholder Dies in a UK Company?

If you run a UK limited company with co-founders, friends, or family members as shareholders, it’s worth asking an uncomfortable (but very practical) question: what happens if one of you dies? A...

8 April 2026
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Doctrine Of Mistake In UK Contract Law: When Contracts Are Void

Doctrine Of Mistake In UK Contract Law: When Contracts Are Void

Most small business owners don’t set out to sign “bad” contracts. Usually, you’re moving fast - onboarding a new supplier, closing a deal with a customer, agreeing terms with a landlord, or...

7 April 2026
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Shareholder Rights in UK Private Limited Companies: What You Can and Can’t Do

Shareholder Rights in UK Private Limited Companies: What You Can and Can’t Do

If you run a UK private limited company, it’s easy to assume “shareholders own the company, so they can decide everything”. In practice, shareholder rights in the UK are real (and powerful),...

7 April 2026
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Types Of Business Partners In The UK: Liability, Profits And Decision-Making

Types Of Business Partners In The UK: Liability, Profits And Decision-Making

Bringing in a business partner can be one of the fastest ways to grow a small business. You can split the workload, pool cash, share contacts, and move quicker than you could...

7 April 2026
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How To Register A Trademark In The UK: Step-By-Step Guide

How To Register A Trademark In The UK: Step-By-Step Guide

You’ve put time (and money) into building a brand - your name, logo, tagline, packaging, and that “look and feel” customers start to recognise. But if you don’t protect it, another business...

7 April 2026
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What Is a Joint Venture in Business? UK Joint Venture Guide

What Is a Joint Venture in Business? UK Joint Venture Guide

If you’ve found a potential collaborator who has the skills, assets, or market access you don’t - a joint venture can be a smart way to grow faster without taking on everything...

7 April 2026
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KPI Bonus Schemes in UK Employment Contracts: Structuring Incentives

KPI Bonus Schemes in UK Employment Contracts: Structuring Incentives

If you’re running a small business, a KPI bonus can feel like the perfect win-win: your team has a clear target, and you only pay extra when the business performs. But bonus...

7 April 2026
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Can You Trademark An Idea? What You Can Protect And How To Register

Can You Trademark An Idea? What You Can Protect And How To Register

You’ve got a great business idea. Maybe it’s a new product concept, a fresh service, or a clever way of doing something that you know customers will love. Then the next thought...

7 April 2026
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Contract-Free Agreements: What Businesses Should Know Before Going “No Contract”

Contract-Free Agreements: What Businesses Should Know Before Going “No Contract”

It’s tempting to go contract-free when you’re running a small business. Maybe you’re moving quickly, the job seems straightforward, you’ve worked with the customer before, or it just feels awkward to “bring...

7 April 2026
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UK Trademark Compliance: Practical Steps For Your Business

UK Trademark Compliance: Practical Steps For Your Business

If you’re building a brand in the UK, your name, logo, tagline and product branding can quickly become some of your most valuable business assets. But here’s the catch: once you start...

7 April 2026
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