Protecting your business idea

The UK Intellectual Property Office is your key source of information and advice on how to protect your business idea, including:

• A free booklet, "How licensing intellectual property can help your business" 
• An online IP healthcheck to help you understand how to protect and exploit your intellectual assets

Protecting your business idea

The UK Intellectual Property Office is your key source of information and advice on how to protect your business idea, including:

• A free booklet, "How licensing intellectual property can help your business" 
• An online IP healthcheck to help you understand how to protect and exploit your intellectual assets

The latest business start-up statistics

Latest figures from research carried out by Barclays Bank in March 2009 contain some interesting facts about small business startups.

How many new businesses started in 2008

• More new businesses were formed in 2008 than in 2007, although activity slowed in the last 2 quarters of 2008
• 432,300 new business started-up in 2007
• 436,600 new businesses started-up in 2008
• The total number of businesses in the UK is estimated at just under 2.9 million

Gender differences in start-up businesses

• Female-only starts ups showed a greater percentage increase than male-only start-ups
• 9% of new businesses started in 2008 were started by women entrepreneurs and less than 1% started by men
• Women-only start-ups number more than 90,000 in 2008 compared to 83,000 in 2007
• Male-only start-ups come in at around 300,000 for 2008

Regional differences in business start-ups

• Start-up activity increased by 8% in Yorkshire and by 6% in the East Midlands
• Start-up activity declined by 6% in Wales and 3% in the South West

Popular sectors for new businesses

• New property service firms fell by 13% in 2008
• Businesses associated with construction showed an 8% decline
• Start-up activity in the area of health, education and social work increased by more than 13%

The latest business start-up statistics

Latest figures from research carried out by Barclays Bank in March 2009 contain some interesting facts about small business startups.

How many new businesses started in 2008

• More new businesses were formed in 2008 than in 2007, although activity slowed in the last 2 quarters of 2008
• 432,300 new business started-up in 2007
• 436,600 new businesses started-up in 2008
• The total number of businesses in the UK is estimated at just under 2.9 million

Gender differences in start-up businesses

• Female-only starts ups showed a greater percentage increase than male-only start-ups
• 9% of new businesses started in 2008 were started by women entrepreneurs and less than 1% started by men
• Women-only start-ups number more than 90,000 in 2008 compared to 83,000 in 2007
• Male-only start-ups come in at around 300,000 for 2008

Regional differences in business start-ups

• Start-up activity increased by 8% in Yorkshire and by 6% in the East Midlands
• Start-up activity declined by 6% in Wales and 3% in the South West

Popular sectors for new businesses

• New property service firms fell by 13% in 2008
• Businesses associated with construction showed an 8% decline
• Start-up activity in the area of health, education and social work increased by more than 13%

Six great tips, including the realities of working with venture capitalists, and why it's important to spend some time away from your business. Duration: 10 minutes Not got time to watch now? Really liked this? why not

Six great tips, including the realities of working with venture capitalists, and why it's important to spend some time away from your business. Duration: 10 minutes Not got time to watch now? Really liked this? why not

. . . . to register with HM Revenue & Customs within 3 months of becoming self employed. If you leave it any longer you may have to pay a penalty of £100. The easiest way to register is to call the newly self-employed helpline on 08459 15 45 15

. . . . to register with HM Revenue & Customs within 3 months of becoming self employed. If you leave it any longer you may have to pay a penalty of £100. The easiest way to register is to call the newly self-employed helpline on 08459 15 45 15

The quick and easy way to form a limited company

The quick and easy way to form a limited company