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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.

Businesses count the cost of the pandemic

30 June 2020

New surveys show that three in ten business leaders have permanently streamlined their teams because of the coronavirus crisis and one in ten small firms have lost all their business.

New research has highlighted the extent to which businesses have been damaged by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A survey by accountancy firm Theta Financial Reporting has found that 29% of business leaders say they have streamlined their team because of the coronavirus crisis, as they have discovered that some roles are surplus to requirements. One-third of UK workers (35%) say their business will return to the office with a smaller team with people handling more varied responsibilities.

However, 45% of employers say they see the working environment changing for the better due to the impact of COVID-19. Yet 24% of Brits say their employer hasn't explored any flexible working options to help them or their colleagues return to work.

Chris Biggs, managing director and founder of Theta Financial Reporting, said: "Many businesses have adapted to working away from the office and business leaders are seeing this improve with smaller teams. This often makes them easier to manage, less bulky and more flexible to a broader range of tasks. This will have a significant impact on how our workplaces will look beyond lockdown."

Research conducted by 3Gem on behalf of the business banking app Amaiz has found that 10% of small businesses say they lost all of their business as a direct result of the lockdown and one-third report that the pandemic has been "very damaging".

The headline findings of the survey are:

  • 35% of firms have lost more than 30% of their business;
  • 48% have lost more than 20% of their business;
  • 31% say they have struggled to get paid during the crisis;
  • 25% say they have found it difficult to pay suppliers.

The findings show some cause for optimism though, with 59% of small businesses saying it will take less than six months to return to the previous levels of turnover. However, just under 5% say they will never recover.

Meanwhile, new research by Legal & General has found that Brits continue to be concerned about the impact of the pandemic on their own finances. It found that:

  • 29% of those polled said their finances have taken a real hit because of coronavirus;
  • Over half of the UK are worried that the economy will not recover in the long term;
  • 44% of under-35s are worried about job security (compared to 25% of the general population);
  • Nine out of ten people now plan to start saving for a rainy day.

Written by Rachel Miller.

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