Registering your business
When you start a business, you’ll need to register for Tax and probably VAT, and you may have to arrange insurance and licences.
You’ll need to decide which legal structure is right for your business, and register your business in the UK as either a:
- sole trader
- limited company
- business partnership
You’ll then need to register for tax before you start trading
Employing people
If you take on employees. Find out about your legal responsibilities as an employer, including things like pay, tax and insurance, before you start employing staff.
You’ll need to register as an employer with HMRC if you want to employ people, even if you’re a sole trader.
Insurance
Even if you’re not employing people, you’ll need to get insurance for your business.
Find an authorised insurer on the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) website.
Licences and permits
Depending on the type of activities your business is involved in, you might need to get certain licences and permits.
Use the licence finder tool to find out which licences and permits you need to get.
See the GOV.UK website for a guide on how to set up a business in the UK.