Finance the Business

Articles about funding options and financial management for small businesses. Topics include venture capital, cash flow, bookkeeping basics, and available grants.

A Brief Overview of Business Taxes

Understanding Corporation Tax, VAT and other business taxes helps you budget properly and avoid costly penalties from HMRC.

All About Budgeting and Forecasting

Set up a budget and forecast to track your spending and income, so you stay in control of your money.

All About How VAT Works

VAT is a sales tax charged at each stage of production, but businesses can reclaim what they pay their suppliers, so the final burden falls on consumers.

All About Raising Finance

Borrowing from friends, family or banks each have different advantages and risks depending on what your business needs and where it stands.

All About Selling Your Business

Get guidance on your main options for selling a business, from trade sales to investor deals and employee buyouts.

An Introduction to Double-Entry Bookkeeping

How double-entry bookkeeping catches errors by recording every transaction twice so your accounts always balance.

Balancing Risk and Reward

How much risk should you actually take as an entrepreneur, and when does a good bet become too dangerous.

Bootstrapping Your Small Business

Start your small business with your own money and grow it by reinvesting profits instead of chasing venture capital.

Grants and Awards for Small Businesses

Government and private grants can help small businesses fund growth, research or startups, but most require you to match the funding from other sources.

How to Read a Profit and Loss Account

Break down a P&L account step by step to see if your business made a profit or loss over a set period.

Sticking with It When Times Are Hard

Learn why committing fully to your business goals matters more than hoping things work out when obstacles appear.

Valuing Your Business Explained

Different methods exist to value a small business, from earnings multiples to cash flow projections and asset-based approaches.

What Is Venture Capital?

Venture capital funds high-growth businesses through institutional investors who provide money, expertise and board control in exchange for equity stakes.

What You Need to Know About Setting Prices

Set your prices based on demand and profit, not just by copying competitors.

Why Cash Flow Is More Important Than Profit

A profitable company can still fail if it runs out of cash, making cash flow management more critical than profit alone.