bizbritain guides
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Every article we’ve published, newest first. Filter by topic or search for the question in front of you. Cited, dated, and quietly updated when policy or rates change.
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The autumn 2026 working capital plan for property trades
UK asking prices fell 2% in August, and there are more homes for sale than at any August in 12 years. Here is what that means for the businesses that service property, and how to fund the work.
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The Growth and Skills Levy: apprenticeship training paid for in full from August 2026
From 1 August 2026 the government covers the full training cost of an apprentice aged 16 to 24 at any employer outside the apprenticeship levy. Here is what it is worth, and what changes again in October.
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Fuel is at its highest since 2022: a cost plan for van businesses
Petrol reached 161.6p a litre on 28 August and fuel duty rises in January. Here is what that costs a single van, and the two finance options worth comparing before then.
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The trusted trader register and your cash flow
The government has set out a trusted trader scheme and a milestone payment system. Here is what both change for a small trades business.
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Declined by the bank? What to do when your accounts don't tell the whole story
A bank decline is a verdict on your filed accounts, not your business. What specialist lenders read instead, and what to do in the fortnight after a no.
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Consignment stock and supplier finance: the 50/50 structure that completes a deal
When a lender will only fund half the order, your supplier can often carry the rest. How consignment stock and supplier-finance top-ups complete trade deals.
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Trade finance: how to fund stock before your customers pay
What trade finance is, how import and stock funding work in practice, and when a revolving trade facility beats a term loan.
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October 2026 tax deadlines: what to sort out before the bills land
Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE bills can all fall due inside three weeks this October. Here are the dates, how to work out your own, and what to do if the cash will not be there.
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Zero hours reform and your cash flow: a working capital plan for 2027
The consultation on zero hours contracts has closed. New rules on shift notice and cancelled shifts are expected in 2027, and they turn a flexible cost into a fixed one.
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Growth Guarantee Scheme 2026: the expanded rules every UK SME owner should know
What the July 2026 announcement changed, what the rulebook still says, and how to plan around the difference.
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