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Business start-up and finance

Our latest features, books, articles and guides on sources of business finance and support for business start-ups.
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Latest on business start-up and finance

Read our latest features and articles on business start-up and finance.
Is record pay growth a good sign for businesses?
  • Article
  • 12 Sep 2023
As the latest Office for National Statistics figures reveal a climb in wage growth, especially in the finance and business services sector, ICAEW experts explain what this means for business.
ICAEW recommendations to address SME finance woes
  • Article
  • 08 Sep 2023
In its response to the Treasury Committee's call for evidence, ICAEW laments the availability of finance for small business, and sees a role for government in boosting lending to SMEs, following concerns over a deepening access to finance crisis.
Commons Treasury Committee calls for greater diversity of venture capital investment
  • Article
  • 09 Aug 2023
The House of Commons Treasury Committee’s report into venture capital investment schemes recommends better support for female-led businesses and those outside the South East of England.
Respect for economic institutions key to growth, say MPs
  • Article
  • 24 Jul 2023
Shadow ministers highlight UK’s current growth-policy shortfalls and set out Labour’s plans for restoring nation’s economic fortunes, at ICAEW-hosted Labour Business Network event.
UK pensions superfund could halt pensions decline
  • Article
  • 26 Jun 2023
The UK’s first “superfund” proposes to undo years of capital market decline through the creation of large pension funds.
Spring Budget: is it pro business growth?
  • Article
  • 30 May 2023
The Budget contained tax announcements designed to support business growth. We assess how these measures were received and their drawbacks.
How the British Business Bank puts purpose first
  • Article
  • 26 May 2023
New CEO Louis Taylor explains how the British Business Bank is increasing the focus on delivering growth to the UK.
Access to finance: alternatives to high street banks
  • Article
  • 25 May 2023
Traditional banks’ enthusiasm for business lending may be muted, but at a time when the UK economy is hungry for growth, there are still other finance options for companies to explore.
Read more

Topics in depth

Man in office
Business finance and grants
Our latest features, books, articles and guides on sources of business finance and grants.
Woman working in flower shop
Business start-up
Our latest features, books, articles and guides on all aspects of starting a business.
Teamwork groups inclusive
Community benefit societies and community interest companies
Resources on community benefit societies (BenComs) and community interest companies (CICs).
Diverse office workers
Employee ownership
Online articles, guides and books to help you identify best practice.
Female colleagues at desk
Family businesses
Articles, books and online resources on issues specific to family-run businesses.
Hands holding plant
Growing your business
Resources to help you grow and develop your business.
Meeting with external colleagues
Succession planning
Learn about exit strategies and getting the timing right with our selection of articles, books, links and guides.

ICAEW advice, guides and reports

Access to finance special
  • Hub page
  • 2023
ICAEW Insights examines the finance options and support available to businesses, as well as the challenges they face in obtaining it.
ICAEW BAS
  • Promotional material
  • 2020
ICAEW’s Business Advice Service puts small and medium business owners in touch with both ICAEW members or regulated ICAEW member firms who can provide a free initial consultation, without obligation, to discuss any business issues the owners are facing.
The Business Finance Guide
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 2016
This independent guide draws on the expertise of partners from across the finance industry and business community to provide information on the financing options that may be available to entrepreneurs, startups and businesses at every stage of development.
Exclusive Special report - Growing your business
  • Report
  • 2014
This report is primarily aimed at smaller businesses seeking to grow and develop and to achieve their full potential through practical guidance and advice.
Starting your business
  • Article
  • 2014
You’ve taken the plunge and decided to start trading. The first few months spent getting the business up and running are likely to be very hectic. So before getting the business off the ground, it pays to get all the necessary administrative chores out the way.
How to find the right professional advice
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 2011
The Business Advice Service connects small and medium businesses with trusted business advisors working in ICAEW regulated-firms.
More reports

Webinars

Exclusive How to access finance to drive expansion overseas
  • Webinar
  • 06 Jun 2023
Join this webinar to hear more about export financing and the options available for SME businesses. We will discuss the support on offer from the UK government, where to get advice, the information you will need and the steps to take if your bank is not able to support you. An ICAEW Global Trade Community webinar.
Getting SME investment back on track
  • Podcast
  • 28 Apr 2023
In this Insights In Focus episode, we discuss the obstacles and incentives to SME investment.
How a board should maintain the right culture during periods of fast growth
  • Podcast
  • 21 Nov 2022
In the first of two Insights In Focus special episodes an experienced panel discuss a dilemma facing a fictional software company.
Debt and equity funding for business - practical advice on the what, why and how
  • Webinar
  • 01 Nov 2022
ICAEW Small and Micro Business Community webinar. Senior business leaders and advisers share experiences and practical tips about funding for a business.
Risk management considerations for SMEs in challenging market conditions
  • Webinar
  • 14 Oct 2022
ICAEW Small and Micro Business Community webinar giving an in-depth overview of the SME market, the current economic conditions and challenges being faced and the specific risks SMEs are facing when starting up.
Top tips for starting a business
  • Webinar
  • 12 May 2022
Hear from fellow ICAEW members who will share with you their journeys from taking the first steps, launching, then fast forward to running a successful business.
Disruptors, innovators, start-ups - exploring roles for accountants
  • Webinar
  • 22 Mar 2021
Considering making a move from a practice or established corporate world into a start-up, or exploring expanding your portfolio into this space? Hear insights and experience from our panel of speakers.
How to network your way to success
  • Webinar
  • 13 May 2020
Key insights and techniques to aid those who want to thrive and grow through the simple art of talking to people.
More webinars

eBooks

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.

Exclusive Business start up bundle for dummies
  • 2020
  • Colin Barrow
  • John Wiley & Sons
A one stop shop to all your business start-up needs! Covers everything budding entrepreneurs need to know to get their business up and running. Whether readers are just starting out, planning a new venture, setting up at home or extending a current business online, this book is all they need to succeed.
Exclusive Digital finance: big data, start-ups, and the future of financial services
  • 2019
  • Perry H. Beaumont
  • Routledge
This book takes a thoughtful look at how the digital finance industry is evolving. It explains how to integrate digital finance concepts into existing traditional finance platforms and explores what successful companies are doing to maximize their opportunities in this context.
Exclusive Financial Times guide to business start up 2017/18
  • 2016
  • Sara Williams
  • FT Publishing International
Startup guide for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Exclusive Starting a successful business
  • 2011
  • M. J. Morris
  • Kogan Page
Step-by-step guide to starting and running a small business.
Exclusive Consultant's quick start guide: an action plan for your first year in business, The
  • 2009
  • Elaine Blech
  • Pfeiffer
A guide to working as a consultant from a US perspective.
Exclusive Essential business finance: a complete guide to starting, expanding and selling your business
  • 2009
  • Paul Barrow
  • Kogan Page
An introduction to finance aimed at the average business manager.
Exclusive Good small business guide: how to start and grow your own business
  • 2006
  • Meredith Belbin
  • Bloomsbury
A practical guide for anyone interested in starting a business.
Terms of use

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.

More eBooks

Business press

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides access to leading business, finance and management journals. These journals are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users subject to suppliers' terms of use.
Exclusive Startups stung by UK delay in awarding tax credits to innovators
  • Article
  • Apr 2023
  • Aisha S Gani
Some UK startup businesses have been waiting upwards of six months to receive research and development tax credits from HMRC, forcing some to take out loans to plug the gap in funds. The Fintech trade body Innovate Finance said it has member firms worried about lengthy delays that make it difficult to predict their cash flows. HMRC has acknowledged that it had extended processing times.
Exclusive The Silicon Valley Bank Hangover
  • Article
  • Apr 2023
  • Lizette Chapman
The failure of venture capital’s favourite financial institution, the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), is a sign of more trouble to come for the technology sector. SVB's failure can be seen as a symptom of problems in a venture capital industry hit by interest-rate hikes, says Joshua Brustein. As a consequence, startup companies are likely to have to start taking money on less attractive terms.
Exclusive When best to scale up
  • Article
  • Mar 2023
  • Hamdi Ulukaya
A new study sheds light on the debate into how fast a high-growth company should scale up. From examining job postings from 38,000 start-ups, the researchers found those start-ups that had scaled up in the first year were 20-40% more likely than others to have failed. They also found that using A/B testing software significantly raised a start-up's odds of success.
Exclusive Feature: the pros of the Hybrid Start-Up
  • Article
  • Mar 2023
  • Nathan Furr, Kate O'Keeffe
How established companies can create a 'Hybrid Start-Up' - a new model that combines the best of people, processes, and resources from both inside and outside the company. Evidence suggests that it is two or three times as likely as an independent start-up to succeed.
Exclusive The key to a successful business scale-up
  • Article
  • Jan 2023
  • Martin Kupp, Jeffrey F.Rayport, Davide Sola
How to master the “extrapolation” stage, when business start-ups begin to focus on profitability, not just growth. The authors share their advice, based on their experience teaching business school courses on scaling up enterprises and their analysis of dozens of rapidly growing start-ups.
Exclusive Startups that grew fast learn shrinking can be just as hard
  • Article
  • Aug 2022
  • Aggi Cantrill, Olivia Solon
Lessons from dismissal methods chosen by downsizing companies - there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Some start-ups try to make redundancies exceptionally quickly, but find employees who stay lose a lot of trust.
More articles

Online magazines

Some online journal titles are available only to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. To view the full range of titles available to you, please log in.
Corporate Financier
  • ICAEW Corporate Finance Faculty
Analysis and insight from ICAEW's Corporate Finance Faculty.
SME Finance Monitor
  • BVA BDRC
Provides data on access to finance amongst SMEs.
Disclaimer

ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided 'as is' with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.

Articles and books in the ICAEW Library collection

The collection of the ICAEW Library & Information Service includes a range of articles, books and reports on starting a business. Use the links below to see what we have available to request in our Library catalogue (Libcat).
Growing by numbers: how to scale up your small business with confidence
  • Library book
  • 2020
  • Della Hudson
  • SRA Books
This authoritative, motivating and highly practical guide will take you step-by-step through everything you need to think about, know and do to get your business into the best possible shape for growth.
Financial management for technology start-ups: a handbook for growth
  • Library book
  • 2017
  • A.Bhimani
  • Kogan Page
A book to help you with the specific know-how required to successfully manage costs, track profit opportunities and monetize your tech start-up.

To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to borrowing books.

You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports through our document supply service.

External resources - Funding sources

Alternative Business Funding
  • Alternative Business Funding
A matchmaking service for small businesses and alternative finance providers.
British Business Bank
  • British Business Bank
An economic development bank launched in 2013 to create more effective finance markets for smaller businesses in the UK.
ByteStart - Finance
  • Bytestart Limited
The Finance section of the ByteStart website has a range of articles outlining the different types of funding businesses can call on, such as bank loans, business angels and crowdfunding.
Enterprise Europe Network
  • Enterprise Europe Network
The Enterprise Europe Network helps small businesses develop into new markets, source or license new technologies and access EU finance and funding.
European Investment Fund
  • European Investment Fund
The European Investment Fund (EIF) is involved in a number of initiatives to promote regional business development.
Finance and support for your business
  • GOV.UK
List of publicly-backed finance or business support schemes. With hundreds of schemes available, this is a good starting point to find out which ones you are eligible for and which suit your needs.
Good Finance
  • Good Finance
A UK website aimed at charities and social enterprises. It provides information and advice on locating socially responsible sources of finance.
Start-up loans
  • GOV.UK
A government funded scheme to provide loans and mentors for entrepreneurs. As well as start-up finance the scheme offers coaching to applicants to prepare for the pitch for the loan, help prepare a business plan and mentoring for a period after the loan has been received.
Terms of use

ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided 'as is' with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.

External resources - Business guides

Creating a valuable business
  • Atom Content Marketing
A LawDonut guide to making strategic decisions that can help create and maintain a valuable business. Running a business often involves reacting to circumstances, making minor decisions that have a limited, short-term impact. In contrast, creating a valuable business is about taking strategic decisions that have a lasting effect.
Essential guide to financing your start-up business
  • Atom Content Marketing
The right start-up financing gives your new business a solid financial base. It makes sure you have the funding to cover your short-term needs and to make the most of opportunities to grow.
Increasing productivity
  • Atom Content Marketing
Building long-term profitability allows you to grow your business and your own personal rewards from it. Creating and increasing profitability depends on doing many little things better than the competition.
Role of the company secretary
  • Atom Content Marketing
An outline of the role and responsibilities of the company secretary from the Law Donut
Source green suppliers and equipment
  • Atom Content Marketing
Opportunities to source your business supplies, raw materials or finished goods from environmentally-friendly suppliers are increasing. Benefits can include getting the edge on the competition, cost savings and tax breaks, better prospects with lenders and investors, and a boost to your firm’s marketing.
Strategic acquisitions
  • Atom Content Marketing
An acquisition could increase the size and profitability of your business overnight. But an acquisition can also bring problems, draining financial and management resources from your original business.
Your money and your business
  • Atom Content Marketing
As the owner-manager of a small or medium enterprise, your own financial affairs are likely to be closely entwined with the way you run your business.
Terms of use

ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided 'as is' with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.

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