The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is one of a few bodies that regulate the financial services sector, including insurers and insurance brokers. You need FCA authorisation if you want to provide most types of financial services in the UK. When you register for FCA approval, you’ll have a choice between applying for “full” or “limited”…
According to a 2019 report by the Federation of Small Businesses, small businesses fall victim to around 10,000 cyber-attacks every day. Cybercrime is estimated to cost small businesses a staggering £4.5 billion each year, with the average cost of a single attack at £1,300. The latest 2020 Cyber Breach Survey from the government, reported that…
If you’re new to the self-employed world, you might have some questions about the sort of National Insurance you need to pay. This is your essential guide to your National Insurance obligations as a self-employed freelancer or contractor. We’ll take a look at the difference between Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance, which should…
All businesses need cyber security policies. But if you’re running a small business, it’s particularly important that you take steps to protect yourself against the risks of cybercrime. Why? Because studies show that cyber-criminals are more likely to target small businesses over larger businesses. Indeed, one study found that up to 96% of all cyber…
Like all professionals, counsellors and therapists need insurance to protect them from the various risks of the job. Let’s take a look at some of the most essential insurance products for counsellors and therapists. What Insurance do Counsellors and Therapists need? The types of insurance counsellors and therapists need can be far reaching, depending on…
Whether you’re running an independent craft business from your spare room, or you’re managing a small business and looking to grow, sooner or later you’ll probably have to register your business. The question is, when? It all depends on what you do, where you work, and whether you employ others. This essential guide will help…
Hackers and other criminals are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to scam and exploit people. And nothing is off-limits for them. So you should consider any aspect of your business that relies on digital technologies as a potential weak-spot, as an area that cyber criminals could target. Even if you’re an independent contractor offering painting and…
Like all contractors, IT contractors should get adequate professional indemnity insurance to cover them for certain professional risks. This is a guide to professional indemnity insurance for IT contractors. Whether you’re new to the world of IT consultancy, or you’ve just started working with bigger clients and you’ve realised you need insurance, this guide will…
A HMRC investigation is a daunting prospect for any business. These investigations can be immensely time-consuming and extremely costly. So for self-employed and small businesses, the idea of a HMRC investigation can be genuinely terrifying. You can avoid HMRC investigations if you learn about the sort of circumstances that commonly trigger investigations. There are also…
5 Resources That Have The Potential To Help Your Small Business It can feel like you’re alone when you’re running a small business, particularly if you’re operating as a solopreneur and operating from your private home. While you might be running a company as an individual, these resources could be the company worth keeping around….