Monthly Archives: June 2021

Hot Business News Today

Forming a company: Choose your trading type

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Originally written by Joanne Harris on Small Business
Choosing to go self-employed is a career goal for many working people in the UK. More money, better hours, and a flexible work-life balance are just some of the reasons many people aspire to work for themselves. But should you become a sole trader, form a limited company or even a partnership? Choosing the right trading type is a crucial early decision.
Although the pandemic has caused issues for all types of businesses, it failed to dampen the nation’s entrepreneurial spirits, with the latest ONS data recording more than 4.3m people still registered as being self-employed as of March 2021.
As vaccinations speed up and lockdown restrictions ease, now could be the time to form the business you’ve been planning to set up over the past year.
However, before you start, it’s important to consider the right company trading type for you.
The way in which you register your business can impact your tax, take-home pay, legal responsibilities, and even personal finances, so it’s vital to look at all the options before you make your choice.
Sole trader
Being a sole trader is the single most popular way of trading as business, with almost 60 per cent of UK

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Hot Business News Today

Brexit puts more than third of UK small businesses at risk of closure

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Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
EXCLUSIVE: More than a third (37 per cent) of UK small businesses claim Brexit could result in their business closing, according to research.
More than two fifths (44 per cent) of SMEs say that Brexit will or already has driven their businesses to lay off employees, according to research by business payments firm Equals Money.
More than three quarters (76 per cent) of 1,050 SMEs surveyed say foreign suppliers have increased prices, and more specifically, a third (33 per cent) say suppliers have increased their prices by more than 10 per cent. More than half (53 per cent) say that Brexit could or has resulted in higher shipping costs.
>See also: Half of small business exporters struggling with new rules post Brexit
Tomorrow (June 23) will mark five years since the Brexit referendum took place and the UK voted to leave the European Union by a majority of 52 per cent. Brexit officially came into force in January 2021, but it wasn’t until May 1 2021 that the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) came into effect. The free trade agreement now governs the relationship between the EU and the UK.
>See also: A quarter of small exporters

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Hot Business News Today

The UK-Australia trade deal and what it means for small business

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Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
The Prime Minister recently announced a provisional trade deal (agreement in principle) between the UK and Australia.
It’s significant because it’s the first deal negotiated from scratch since leaving the EU.
There’s been a mixed reception to the news, with some excited about cheaper imports. However, others are questioning how effective it’ll be for the economy and what the damage will be for businesses in the agricultural sector.
We’ve outlined what the government have said about the agreement so far and how industry experts have responded.
Less red tape for SMEs
Under the plan, red tape and bureaucracy will be scrapped for more than 13,000 small businesses across the UK who already export goods to Australia. The agreement will deliver quicker export times and ensure small business have access to new intelligence that will better allow them to take on opportunities created by the deal.
National chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, Mike Cherry, said:
“A trade deal with Australia will come as great news for many of our members who have long been exporting there as well as those who are hoping to expand their trade ambitions.
“As we look beyond the pandemic and enjoy the benefits of post-Brexit

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