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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.

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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.

One in two commuters considering cycling to work

16 June 2020

New research has found that over half of UK employees are considering cycling to work, with two-thirds saying they want to avoid having to use "unsafe" public transport.

OnBuy.com polled over 2,000 Brits to find out how they are planning to travel to work as lockdown measures are eased. The findings show that 53% of employees living in cities are now considering cycling to work. Safety, money and health were all cited as reasons to start commuting by bike.

Of those interested in cycling, 64% said they wanted to avoid "unsafe" public transport. Current government advice is to "consider all other forms of transport before using public transport" to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

In addition, 21% of respondents said they wanted to save money and 14% wanted to improve their fitness. On average, a commuter will save £1,700 over three years by cycling to work if they were to purchase a new hybrid bike and invest in annual bike maintenance and accessories. 

In fact, 42% of the UK population already own or have access to a bicycle, yet only 4% currently cycle to work. OnBuy saw a 300% rise in traffic to its bike accessories category in May compared to April.

However, the findings also revealed that awareness of the government's Cycle to work scheme is low. The survey found that 62% of those polled hadn't heard of the scheme at all. Only 7% of employers said they were considering using it when asked, while more than half (51%) said the scheme was too confusing to implement. When asked about employees taking public transport to work, a quarter of employers (23%) said they would be asking staff to find alternatives where possible.

Cas Paton, founder and CEO of OnBuy, said: "While the government is making an effort to combat the spread of coronavirus on buses and trains with things like the cycling scheme, businesses are clearly confused by their role in helping employees get to work safely, and the government support available to help them do so.

"Cycling to work will not only have the immediate benefit of slowing the spread of coronavirus, but it can also save commuters money, improve fitness and help reduce our carbon footprint. It's great to see so many people who have the option to cycle are now considering it."

Written by Rachel Miller.

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