Business

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Setup

• Gov.uk: Choose a legal structure for a new business

• https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/registration/newbusiness

• http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/tm.htm - trademark

Business plan

• https://www.gov.uk/write-business-plan
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2943252.stm
• http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/need_help/enterprise_programme/help_with_your_business_plan.aspx
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/small-business-network/2012/jul/06/business-plan-writing-tips

• Writing a Business Plan : Startup Ideas - Sequoia Capital

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Value_proposition
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unique_selling_proposition

Sole Trader

• https://www.gov.uk/set-up-sole-trader

• http://www.smarta.com/advice/starting-up/starting-your-own-business/what-is-a-sole-trader

• http://www.contractorcalculator.co.uk/contractors_rarely_operate_sole_traders.aspx

Limited Company

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_formation
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_company_law

• http://www.contractoruk.com/limited_companies/

• https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/overview
• How to: register a company in the UK

• Companies House
  • http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/gbhtml/gbf1.shtml
  • Company Registration

You must set up the company with Companies House and let HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) know when the company starts business activities.

Every financial year, the company must:

• put together statutory accounts
• send Companies House an annual return
• send HMRC a Company Tax Return

The company must register for VAT if you expect its takings to be more than £77,000 a year.

If you’re a director of a limited company, you must:

• fill in a Self Assessment tax return every year
• pay tax and National Insurance through the PAYE system if the company pays you a salary

Social Enterprise

• http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/
• http://www.socialenterprisescotland.org.uk/

• http://www.senscot.net/

• http://startups.co.uk/what-are-community-interest-companies-cics/

Corporate

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_title

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_partnership

• http://www.corporateinformation.com/Top-100.aspx?topcase=b

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Semler
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ0FQR2gXe0&feature=youtu.be

Work

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_design
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_administrator
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sysop
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_operations
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DevOps

• http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2013/11/19/what_to_say_when_youre_asked_to_work_for_free.html

Freelancing

• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6979277
• Life as a Mobile App Freelancer
• Everything I wish someone had told me (about freelancing)
• First month freelancing.
• Freelancing: A 6-Month Retrospective
• The other side of working for yourself
• My first year freelancing [1]
• 36 Places Mobile App Freelancers Can Find Clients

• http://markcampbell.me/tutorial/2013/05/23/how-to-work-remotely.html

• Ask HN: How do you sell yourself as a new freelancer to clients?
• Ask HN: How do you find clients?

• How To Become a Successful Freelance Web Developer (and Not Kill Your Career) [2]

• career.fork() - How To Thrive As A Freelance Developer, book

• How to Freelance and Travel the World: Part 1
• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5731198

• Ask HN: My wife needs something to do from home to make money...
• Ask HN: Your best passive income sources?

• Ramit Sethi and Patrick McKenzie on Getting Your First Consulting Client

• http://robertnealan.com/stop-freelancing/

• http://2013freelancetools.com/

Contracting

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_contractor
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbrella_company

• http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ir35/index.htm
• http://www.contractorcalculator.co.uk/contractors_ir35_compliant_contracts.aspx

• Contractor UK - home to the UK's IT contracting community
• http://www.contracteye.co.uk/

• http://www.contractoruk.com/first_timers/setting_up_your_contractor_company.html
• https://www.cloud9umbrella.com/Comparisons.aspx

• http://www.differencebetween.net/business/difference-between-freelance-and-contract/
• http://www.freelanceadvisor.co.uk/go-freelance-guide/who-am-i-freelancer-contractor-or-small-business/
• http://www.contractoruk.com/first_timers/why_companies_employ_contractors_a_contractor_s_view.html

• PCG (Professional Contractors Group)

• Public Contracts Scotland
• https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/

Consulting

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consultant

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_consultant

• http://www.sjdaccountancy.com/about/ourservices/difference_between_contractor_and_consultant.html

• http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/project-management/10-mistakes-that-rookie-it-consultants-make/2693

• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5739226

• https://training.kalzumeus.com/newsletters/archive/products_vs_services
• https://training.kalzumeus.com/newsletters/archive/services_vs_products

• http://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/b2ows/so_you_want_to_be_a_consultant/c0knerx
• http://unixwiz.net/techtips/be-consultant.html?p=np
• http://blog.pluralsight.com/2013/09/26/5-reasons-not-to-become-a-consultant/

Proposals

• http://www.freelancer.co.uk/jobs/proposal-bid-writing/

• http://www.attendly.com/freelance-how-to-write-a-proposal/
• http://freelanceswitch.com/the-business-of-freelancing/writing-proposals/
• http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2012/02/9-elements-of-a-great-writing-proposal/

Examples

• http://www.inigo.net/ - edinburgh web design

Legal

• Business Insider: Startup Document Center - american

• http://opencorporates.com/
• http://companycheck.co.uk/

Contracts

• docracy - open legal contract collection and advice
  • http://www.docracy.com/topic/0qw8furvljv/top-legal-documents-for-freelancers?startPdfDownload=false

• https://www.docracy.com/649dkpe7g9/contract-killer-3
• http://www.docracy.com/0rgkbvacolg/independent-contractor-agreement-template?startOnComments=false
• https://www.docracy.com/5598/website-identity-design-contract

• http://www.docracy.com/9jsoij4itk/retainer-agreement

• https://www.docracy.com/4753/form-of-independent-contractor-agreement
• https://www.docracy.com/49/consulting-agreement
• https://www.docracy.com/367/consulting-agreement-for-hourly-work
• https://www.docracy.com/7380/independent-contractor-consultant-agreement

• https://www.docracy.com/3884/contract-of-works-for-web-design
• https://www.docracy.com/0ybo2bbkzaf/web-design-contract
• https://www.docracy.com/0yoo0svlhca/web-design-contract-dsundy-com
• https://www.docracy.com/71l7wi9w3a/web-design-branding-and-web-development-contract-

• https://www.docracy.com/topic/0ys7pdj8ble/designer-contracts?startPdfDownload=false
• https://www.docracy.com/3152/designer-sample-contract
• https://www.docracy.com/5152/short-form-design-contract
• http://www.docracy.com/0y3nkjcmkks/development-agreement-for-hourly-work

• https://www.clerky.com/ - USA business

• Just pay me.
• http://vimeo.com/22053820

Licencing

• TL;DRLegal (Beta) - Lookup any software license shortly summarized in plain English.

• http://www.billthelizard.com/2012/05/which-open-source-license.html

• http://tos-dr.info/

Data Protection

See also Security

• https://www.gov.uk/data-protection-your-business
• How to Prevent a Snapchat Like Hack: Mobile App Security Guide
• A summary of the Data Protection Act 1998
• ICO: Need to notify under the Data Protection Act?

• http://www.startupdonut.co.uk/startup/business-law/q-a-data-protection-rules

Terms and conditions

• The Sale of Goods Act (SOGA) hub provides comprehensive and up to date guidance on the Sale of Goods Act for retailers and business support organisations.

• https://www.gov.uk/online-and-distance-selling-for-businesses

"Your business website must include your address and contact details, privacy policy, terms and conditions, exchange and refund policy, quality commitment and information about delivery and payment. Stock availability and pricing should be kept up to date and you must state how much VAT and post and packaging is payable per item." [3]

• http://www.retail-week.com/in-business/retail-surgery/how-can-online-retailers-ensure-that-their-terms-and-conditions-are-compliant/5045376.article

• http://www.selfridges.com/en/StaticPage/Terms%20and%20conditions/
• http://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions-of-use-and-buying-online-634-0.html

• http://www.legalcentre.co.uk/consumer/arts/online-shopping-rights/
• https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/providing-better-information-and-protection-for-consumers/supporting-pages/consumer-bill-of-rights

• http://www.e-terms.co.uk/

Trading standards

• Trading Standards - Fair Trading advice for businesses

• https://www.gov.uk/consumer-protection-rights

• http://simply-docs.co.uk/Website_Terms_and_Conditions/Website_Terms_and_Conditions_-_E-Commerce_Sale_of_Goods_B2C

• http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/Aberdeen/bus1item.cgi?file=*BADV612-0100.txt
• http://retail.about.com/od/lossprevention/a/retail_returns_2.htm

• http://artsandcrafts.about.com/od/sellingonline/a/markingupforshippingcosta.htm

• http://www.imrg.org/imrgwebSite/user/pages/homepage.aspx

• https://www.gov.uk/starting-to-export

• http://www.docracy.com/0xsmvh1aw1q/open-global-e-commerce-privacy-policy

Postage and packaging

• http://www.postoffice.co.uk/business
• http://www.royalmail.com/personal/uk-delivery/special-delivery
• http://www.royalmail.com/personal/uk-delivery/signed-for-1st-class
• http://www.royalmail.com/personal/international-delivery/airmail

• http://www.royalmail.com/personal/sending-parcels
• http://www.postoffice.co.uk/international-parcels
• http://www.parcelforce.com/microsite/international-services/globalpriority
• http://www.parcelforce.com/help-information/terms-and-conditions/conditions-carriage

Interlink Express

• http://www.interlinkexpress.com/
  • http://www.interlinkexpress.com/content/product-services/ie-tariff-new-services-opt.pdf

FedEx

• http://www.fedex.com/gb/downloadcenter/index.html
  • http://images.fedex.com/downloads/downloadcenter/rates_export/GBEN_export.pdf
  • http://images.fedex.com/downloads/downloadcenter/rates_fif/GBEN_fif.pdf

Tariffs

• Gov.uk: Trade Tariff tool - search for import and export commodity codes and for tax, duty and licenses that apply to your goods.
• HMRC: Import and Export
• HMRC: VAT Retail Exports

Promotion, sales & marketing

• Marketing your startup: What's on your checklist?

Business cards

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_card

(UK)
Bleed size: 91 × 61 mm (3.58 × 2.40 in) - 6mm
Standard cut size: 85 × 55 mm (3.35 × 2.17 in)

(US)
Bleed size: 95.25 × 57.15 mm (3.75 × 2.25 in) (1⁄8 in bleeds)
Standard cut size: 89 × 51 mm (3.5 × 2 in)

• Battle of the Business Cards - Vistaprint, moo, PsPring, PrintRunner, OvernightPrints

online;

• http://uk.moo.com/partner/flickr-business-cards/
  • 50 for £10.99, 100 for £21.98
• http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/
  • Cheap price, cheap quality
• http://www.surfprint.com/ - 100 for £5
• http://www.puttyprint.co.uk/categories.php?cat=Business+Cards
• http://www.optimalprint.co.uk/business/business-cards

local;

• http://www.edinburghcopyshop.co.uk/
  • 250 for £30 (£40 d/s), 24 hours
• http://www.dupliquick.com/letterhead-business-card.php
  • 250 for £25, 1 day service - single sided, double is double price
• http://www.greenprint.co.uk/business-card.html
  • 250 for £32 (colour front) or £49 (colour both) no b/w offering
• http://www.mbe.co.uk/edinburghsouthbridge/order_print_online.aspx
  • £35/250 (300g) for colour and b/w, £40 for colour/colour, send away £68.36 (400g)
• http://www.printing.com/uk/business-cards
  • 250 from £35

• Print Vision Ltd - print_vision aatt btconnect.com - 0131 661 8855
  • 100 for £18 (£15+vat), (£20+vat laminated)
  • 250 for £30 (£25+vat), (£37+vat laminated)
  • Double sided, double colour
  • PDF w/ 3mm bleed, 85*55, 99*55, 3min, press ready pdf, 300dpi CYMK

• http://bizcardmaker.com/

Letterheads

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterhead
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compliments_slip

A4 - 210mm × 297mm

• http://www.letterheady.com/

• Companies Administration, Objections and Directions FAQs - What details are required on a company's letterhead? The full company name, registered number, registered office address and place of registration (e.g. registered in England and Wales) must be shown on all business letters, order forms and websites.
• http://www.startups.co.uk/letterhead-legal-requirements.html
• http://www.castleprint.co.uk/legal_requirements1.html

• http://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/letterheads-tips-11121378

• https://help.libreoffice.org/Common/Letter_Wizard_-_Letterhead_layout

Pitching

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevator_pitch

• http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2013/10/23/what-should-be-in-a-pitch-deck/
• http://www.pitchenvy.com/
• http://bestpitchdecks.com/
• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6931130

to sort

• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7059303

• http://inbound.org/

• https://strideapp.com/beginners-guide-to-sales/

• http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/10/13/pricing-tables-showcase-examples-and-best-practices/

• http://www.slideshare.net/kissmetrics/ultimate-guide-to-saas-pricing#btnPrevious

• http://www.itdonut.co.uk/it-support-directory/scotland

• A 50-Point Checklist For Creating The Ultimate Landing Page

• http://orangethirty.github.com/marketing_bits/

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing_collateral
• http://www.noisyzine.co.uk/resources/presspack.pdf

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_presence_management
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Marketing_Collateral

• http://www.peterjthomson.com/2011/06/how-to-choose-tagline-for-tech-startup.html

• Being a Developer Makes You Valuable. Learning How to Market Makes You Dangerous

• Finding Your Voice With the Media: How to Pitch a Journalist

• http://samuelmullen.com/2012/08/the-introverts-networking-survival-guide/

• http://venturebeat.com/2012/10/06/youve-got-a-problem/

• http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2011/08/14/teachable-moments-in-pr-crisis-management/

• https://www.dotdotdot.me/Luke-Meyer/Pitch-Your-Thing-To-Journalists---PR-101

• http://sivers.org/hi

• http://customer.io/learn-to-write-better-emails.html
• https://segment.io/academy/email-is-the-easiest-way-to-improve-retention

• Are “Shameless Plugs” Worth It? Some data

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_strategies_in_advertising

• http://www.freeindex.co.uk/

• http://www.aboutus.com/

• http://www.growhack.com/2013/08/30/the-horizontal-distribution-hack/#sthash.2Yac7iU2.dpbs

Mobile

• 8 Things Every Mobile App Developer Should Know
• 21 Awesome Mobile App Developer Resources You Don't Know About

Networking

• http://www.bgateway.com/events?search=Edinburgh

• http://www.meetup.com/Edinburgh-Entrepeneurs-Coffee-Success-Club/

• http://steveblank.com/2013/08/12/how-to-get-meetings-with-people-too-busy-to-see-you/

• http://onethingnew.com/index.php/work/433-how-i-learned-to-work-a-room-and-you-can-too [4]

Lifestyle

• http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/is-the-term-lifestyle-business-an-insult/