bizbritain guides
The guide library
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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UK minimum wage 2026: the 5-point payroll audit after the Fair Work Agency crackdown
The Fair Work Agency named 658 employers for minimum wage underpayment on 2 September. Here are the five checks to run on your own payroll, and how to fund the fix if back pay is owed.
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Business loan broker fees: the hidden cost of ‘free’
Business loan broker fees look like the expensive option. But a ‘free’ broker paid by lender commission can cost you more over the life of the loan.
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Working capital for small manufacturers in 2026
UK factory orders are rising again, but the gains are going to bigger firms. Here is how a small manufacturer funds a jump in orders without straining cash.
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Working capital finance options: match the fix to the gap
Working capital finance options only make sense once you know where the gap comes from. Find your gap first, then match the facility to it.
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UK shop prices hit a two-year high: the Q4 margin plan for small businesses
Shop price inflation reached 1.5% in August, its highest in over two years. Here is what the figures mean for your margin, and what to do before the Q4 season.
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Secured vs unsecured business loans: which one fits?
Secured vs unsecured business loans trade speed against price. Security usually buys a lower rate and a bigger facility, but adds weeks. How to choose.
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Business loan broker vs direct lender: the honest answer
A broker earns their fee on complex, large or declined cases. Going direct is better when the loan is small and simple. Here is the honest split.
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Hire purchase vs leasing: choosing asset finance in 2026
Hire purchase vs leasing decides who owns the kit, who gets the tax relief and when the VAT falls due. The 2026 rule changes moved the goalposts.
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Invoice finance vs factoring: which one fits your business?
Invoice finance vs factoring comes down to who chases your invoices and who knows about it. Five differences decide which one fits your business.
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What is the UK equivalent of an SBA loan?
The UK equivalent of an SBA loan is not one scheme but two: the Growth Guarantee Scheme and Start Up Loans. How they map, and where the map breaks down.
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Funding a buy-and-build: how roll-up acquisitions get financed
How a buy-and-build strategy is financed: the platform acquisition stack, a revolver for the bolt-ons, and what lenders want to see before deal two.
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Can you buy a business with no money down in the UK?
Can you buy a business with no money down in the UK? Usually no, occasionally yes. The three mechanisms that are real, and what they cost you instead of cash.
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