Monthly Archives: September 2021

Tej Lalvani: ‘Nearly everything is possible’

By Anna Jordan on Small Business – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs

Welcome to Small Business Snippets, the podcast from SmallBusiness.co.uk. Today’s guests are Dragon Tej Lalvani and entrepreneur Sam Jones.

We discuss pitching in Dragon’s Den – from both sides.

Listen to it in the media player below.

Alternatively, you can watch the video here.

You can also catch our episodes with:

Angel investor, entrepreneur and TV personality, Spencer MatthewsEntrepreneur and former Dragon on Dragon’s Den Ireland, Lady Chanelle McCoyBusinessman and The Apprentice winner, Mark WrightEntrepreneur and campaigner, Paul LindleyManaging director of Brompton Bikes, Will Butler-AdamsBusinessman and author, Gerald RatnerEntrepreneur and TV presenter, Trinny WoodallPub owner and bartender on Channel 4’s First Dates, Merlin GriffithsFounder and chairman of Pimlico (formerly Pimlico Plumbers), Charlie MullinsRetail expert and former Dragon, Theo PaphitisAuthor and boardroom expert, John TusaDigital guru and investor, Sherry CoutuEntrepreneur and former Dragon, Rachel ElnaughBusinesswoman and Dragon, Deborah MeadenEntrepreneur and The Apprentice 2005 candidate, Tim CampbellGousto CEO, Timo BoldtEntrepreneur and The Apprentice 2018 candidate, Jackie FastInvestor and former Dragon, Piers LinneyInvestment fund manager, Nicola HorlickSupermodel turned entrepreneur, Caprice

We’ve got podcast episodes from the first series looking at:

How one business owner’s mental breakdown caused her to see trolls from her pastHow one

Read more...

Setting up as a sole trader – a business is born

By James Johnson on Small Business – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs

Starting a new business is understandably an exciting and apprehensive time. First you have the business idea, perhaps carried out a little research on the demand for your product or service; one of the first decisions to make is what type of business structure to adopt. Setting up as a sole trader is a preferred option for many starting out.

The basic three options are sole trader, partnership or a limited company.

The most common form of business structure for start-ups in the UK is a sole trader, where you trade under your own or a business name. As a sole trader, the risks and rewards rest entirely with you.

>See also: Should I go sole trader, partnership or limited company?

Setting up as a sole trader

There are many ways for a sole trader to set up and start in business, from starting a trade, buying a franchise, taking a hobby to the next level, or inventing a new product or service. Successful businesses do, however, share common traits – a unique product or service or selling strategy.

Any new business owner will naturally be focused on establishing a customer

Read more...