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Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.

What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.

While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.

Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.

From pay, hours and time off to discipline, grievance and hiring and firing employees, find out about your legal responsibilities as an employer.

Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.

Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.

Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.

With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.

As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.

Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.

Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.

From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.

Making your business more green - checklist

Every business has an environmental impact. This checklist helps you assess the impact you have and the changes you can make to minimise that damage.

  • Assess the environmental impact of the materials and energy you use, the waste and emissions you produce, your transport operations and the products you supply.
  • Consider the potential risks of an accident; check whether you are insured against environmental risks.
  • Investigate the regulations which apply to your business, and any forthcoming changes. If required, seek help from a specialist environmental solicitor.
  • Find out what customers and employees expect, and how better environmental performance could improve your marketing and recruitment.
  • Decide whether you should implement a formal standard such as ISO 14001.
  • Ask key suppliers of materials, utilities and equipment how they can contribute to your environmental efforts.
  • Find out what help and advice - often free - is offered by organisations such as the Environment Agency, WRAP, your local authority and your trade association.
  • Design products to minimise waste, packaging and the use of environmentally unfriendly materials and production processes.
  • Store and dispose of waste safely; ensure your waste collector is registered to handle your form of waste, and does so properly.
  • Encourage employees to save energy; consider investing in energy-efficient equipment.
  • Ensure that any discharges and emissions, and other effects such as noise or dust from your business, are minimised or eliminated if possible.
  • Prepare an action plan to deal with any shortcomings.
  • Review the environmental impact before committing to new projects.
  • Communicate your environmental commitment to customers and others through your product labelling, PR and other promotional efforts.

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