Legal, Finance & Premises

Once your legal structure has been decided, you will need to find out about all the relevant laws which relate to your chosen business and running a business in general.

Examples include ~

 

Business Names - National Business Register and Companies House

 

Tax & National Insurance ~ for guidance on tax and national insurance, visit HM Revenue & Customs or contact our local Business Support Team by telephoning 01228 400900 who can provide details of local training seminars and advice sessions.

Working from home ~ many small businesses are started from a home base. You need to check with your local authority planning section to ensure that planning permission is not required, before starting to trade.

In addition, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister [ODPM] has produced a useful guide " Planning Permission - a guide for business", which gives more details.

 

Planning permission and "change of use" ~ if you require premises from which to operate your business, it is recommended that you check BEFORE signing any tenancy agreements or committing yourself to any formal contract or licence, whether planning permission is required or any "change of use". The above guide gives more information or check with your local planning authority.

 

 

Licensing ~ certain businesses require licences to operate, examples include; entertainment, child-minding, pet shops, street traders, etc, etc.  Check with the local authority Licencing Department. Hotels, restaurants, mobile food outlets, hairdressers/tattooists etc, etc will require Environmental Health certificates - check for full details on our Food Safety and Health and Safety pages. All people at work, whether employers, employees or self-employed are affected by Health & Safety legislation. You should contact the Health & Safety Executive for details.

Trading ~ your local Trading Standards office can advise on trading regulations and provide information for both consumers and businesses, see http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/tradingstandards/default.asp or telephone 01539 773577

 

Insurance ~ there are minimum insurance requirements depending upon the nature of your proposed business and whether you will employ people. For example; Public Liability, Product Liability, Fire, Consequential Loss, Employers Liability, etc, etc. You are strongly advised to consult an insurance broker for advice relative to your own business.

Keeping your idea secret ~ if you are thinking of starting a business which involves a new idea or invention you should think about a Confidential Disclosure Agreement.  This will allow you to discuss your ideas with potential investors, designers or manufacturers in the knowledge that your secrets will be respected. A booklet has been published by the Patents Office, which gives advice and a draft Agreement; see www.patent.gov.uk/patent/info/cda.pdf

 

Data Protection ~ if you intend to keep details of "living, identifiable individuals", you will need to register your business with the Information Commissioner's Office

 

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Finance - Raising money and keeping the books

There is a wide range of funding sources for businesses in Cumbria and the level of support often depends upon the geographic location of your proposed business.

Business Grants and Rural Focus offer a useful source of information on grants and assistance for "Startup" or existing businesses in South Lakeland.

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