Founder guides

What founders need to know now

Short, practical write-ups on the things that actually block UK founders, each one sourced from official guidance so you can check it yourself. General information, not professional advice.

Finance7 min read

How UK founders are funding small businesses in 2026

What the current small business finance picture actually looks like, the difference between debt, equity and flexible finance, and what to have ready before you ask anyone for money.

Last reviewed 27 August 2026

Hiring8 min read

Your first hire: employee, contractor or freelancer?

How employment status actually gets decided, what the 2026/27 employer NIC position means for your budget, and the questions to answer before you write anyone a contract.

Last reviewed 27 August 2026

Compliance5 min read

Companies House identity verification: what founders need to do in 2026

Identity verification became a legal requirement from 18 November 2025, with a transition period. Here is who needs to verify, roughly when, and how to check your own deadline.

Last reviewed 27 August 2026

Public sector6 min read

Selling to government after the Procurement Act: a founder's starting point

New procurement rules took effect on 24 February 2025. A realistic first-week setup for a small supplier who wants to be visible to public buyers.

Last reviewed 27 August 2026

Security6 min read

The small-business cyber checklist for 2026

Breach rates stayed high in the 2025/26 survey. A calm, ordered list of what a small team should actually do, accounts first, heroics never.

Last reviewed 27 August 2026

Healthtech7 min read

Getting an NHS pilot: what a founder can do before chasing a framework

A pilot is not a procurement route. How to use NHS England's supplier and innovation pathways to validate a problem before you spend months on framework applications.

Last reviewed 27 August 2026

AI & data7 min read

Using AI with customer data: a founder's privacy-first checklist

Before you pipe customer records into a model: lawful basis, transparency, minimisation, vendor handling, retention and when a DPIA is the right call.

Last reviewed 27 August 2026