Small Business Checklist

At Croner, we support thousands of UK businesses with our expert and reliable small business HR services. There were over 890,500 new businesses launched in the previous financial year, an 11.2% increase compared to the previous year.

Taking on new employees? If so, getting up to date on everything to do with employment law is the best way to avoid any potential penalties.

This article provides all the top points budding entrepreneurs and well-established business moguls need to be fully compliant with the UK law. If you need expert and experienced support on how to manage the legal side of things, why not give our consultants a call on 0808 501 6651?

Start a small business

Beginning and growing your small business can be an exciting and rewarding adventure, with plenty to learn and new business avenues to explore. However, we know better than anyone that it can also be daunting, complicated and often full of pitfalls.

At Croner, we support thousands of UK businesses with our services with our expert guidance and knowledge.  Early on, it may well be worth considering HR outsourcing.  Whether you need HR services, employment law services, health and safety services, or even salary benchmarking to ensure your staff are being correctly paid, Croner can help. 

To help you get off to a good start, here is Croner’s small business checklist.

Research your market

Before you start your business, it’s important to do some market research. This will help you understand the competition, identify potential customers, and determine the best way to reach them. You should also research the legal and regulatory requirements for your industry, as well as any potential tax implications.

No matter what industry you plan to excel in, you will need to be compliant with health and safety laws. We can help by providing regular health and safety audits so you’re always operating safety and legally. Croner can also provide a health and safety for small business checklist too, so why not get in touch to hear more on 0808 501 6651?

Create a business plan

A business plan is essential for any successful business. It should include your goals, strategies, and financial projections. It should also include a marketing plan which should outline how you plan to reach your target market and promote your business.

Check out Croner’s top 10 HR tips for setting up a new business to fully understand those considerations.

Choose a business structure

When starting a business, you’ll need to decide on a business structure. This will determine how you’re taxed, how much liability you have, and how much paperwork you’ll need to do. The most common business structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs) or a limited company, and corporations.

Register your business

Once you’ve chosen a business structure, you’ll need to register your business with the appropriate government agencies. This will vary depending on your location and business structure, and you may also need to register for certain licenses and permits.        

Open a business bank account

It’s important to keep your business finances separate from your personal finances. To do this, you’ll need to open a business bank account. This will make it easier to track your income and expenses, and it will also help you build a good credit history for your business. Contact your local banks to discuss your options and how you can better manage your finances or set up a meeting with them to hear more about it from money manging experts.

Get business insurance

Business insurance is a crucial safety net for any company. It can protect you from potential lawsuits and other liabilities. Depending on your business, you may need to get general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, or other types of insurance such as health and safety insurance. Croner understand how important safety at work is, so we can also help provide a risk management checklist for small businesses too.

Hire your employees

If you plan to employ some hardworking employees, you’ll need to make sure you’re compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. This includes setting up payroll, providing workers’ compensation insurance, and withholding taxes. You’ll also need to make sure your employment contracts and documentation are all complaint with the law (don’t forget that we’re experts at this). The recruitment process in HR can be tricky to master, so it’s good to seek support. We can support you to set up a clear onboarding process for your employees too.

Set up accounting

You’ll need to set up an accounting system to track your income and expenses. This will help you stay organised and make sure you’re paying your taxes on time. You may want to hire an accountant or bookkeeper to help you with this.

Market your business

Once you’ve got your business up and running, you’ll need to start marketing it. You should start to build a website, set up social media accounts, and begin running ads. You should also consider attending networking events and joining local business organisations. There are more avenues than ever in 2025 to market your company, both digitally and traditionally. Getting your brand out in the open and in front of your target market means more chance of success to attract loyal customers and clients.  

Monitor your progress

Finally, it’s important to monitor your progress and adjust as needed. You may be performing extremely successfully or very poorly, but if you can’t see the data, you won’t know. Tracking your sales, evaluating your marketing efforts, and adjusting your pricing can help you to get a better idea of your figures. Don’t stay behind the trends too; make sure you’re keeping up to date on what’s happening in your sector so you can adjust to market demand.   

Let Croner help with your small business' setup

Starting a small business can be a lot of work, stress, and time. However, we know how important your small business is to you and what’s needed to make it succeed. By following our small business checklist for 2025, you’ll be making a great start on your journey to being a successful and proactive business owner.