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Advantages and disadvantages of accepting payment cards for sales
Card payments can increase sales, broaden your customer base and cut admin - but watch costs and the risk of fraud.
Where to find a business to buy
Newspapers, trade journals, adverts, magazines, websites and word of mouth will help you find businesses for sale.
What type of business should I buy?
How to choose the right business for you.
Make an offer to buy a business property
Understand conditional offers, lockout agreements, building survey results and raising finance for the purchase.
What is a balance sheet and why is it used?
Limited companies and limited liability partnerships must produce a balance sheet as part of their annual accounts.
Compare balance sheets to assess business performance
Use simple balance sheet comparisons to assess business performance internally and against competitors.
Interpreting balance sheet figures
Liabilities, assets, debtors and intangibles can all give you a picture of a business' financial health.
Use accounting ratios to assess business performance
Liquidity, solvency, efficiency and profitability ratio analysis can be used to assess business performance.
Make sure a business is worth buying: due diligence
Research the new business to ensure it is right for you, use solicitors and accountants to help you.
Find and develop a business idea
The first steps to finding and developing a business idea and the research you might need to undertake
Set up a business partnership
How to set up a limited partnership, choose a business name, appoint partners and register with Companies House
Buy a franchise
What franchising is, how to find and assess franchise opportunities and how to buy a franchise.
Buy an existing business
Advantages and disadvantages of buying an existing business including how to assess and value it.
Business accounting periods
The balance sheet portrays a business' performance over the financial year or accounting period.
The relationship between balance sheets and profit and loss accounts
How transactions in the profit and loss account can affect balance sheet entries and vice versa.
Existing employees when buying a business
Your legal obligations towards staff already working for the new company.
How to calculate the value of a business
How to find out whether the business you want to buy will be profitable and value for money.
Buying business property
What to consider when buying your own business premises, financial and legal aspects, and when to use a solicitor or surveyor.
Set up as a sole trader
Sole traders must register with HM Revenue and Customs and follow certain rules on running and naming their business
Choosing business property
Key issues to consider when choosing the right commercial property for your business needs.