Smaller breweries have been hit particularly hard by rising interest rates and higher costs, with many relying on debt to finance equipment, raw materials and in some cases, operating costs.
Harpin has been there, done that - and now wants to share his formula with other aspiring moguls. He is letting the world into his eight secrets for creating a billion-pound business.
Shortly after my work finished, the company went into administration with huge debts. But the sum of £4,500 is a fortune to me - what can I do to get my money?
While other Chinese retailers like Shein have shaken up the fast fashion e-commerce model, Miniso has gone head first into retail stores in the UK.
Pop-Up Club was founded in 2017 to provide new retail businesses, typically sole traders, with a physical space to sell their wares.
Raj Dhonota, who was in the first season of Lord Sugar's BBC show, found success in business but has been declared bankrupt twice. Now he is looking to launch a new venture in the US.
Oliver Cookson launched MyProtein in 2004 with just £500, before selling it to THG for millions a few years later. Now he wants to take on a new industry, but can he replicate the same success?
The internet is full of business advice. Some good, some bad, and some on TikTok. To help you navigate the minefield, Tim Armoo mythbusts five business ideas.
There has been a 14% increase in negative opinion towards HMRC, compared to October last year, according to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
The taxman also said that helplines will reopen between October and March, but only to deal with 'priority queries', with all others to be directed to its online services.
Gill's disclosures helped bring about the company's collapse - but he faced repercussions as he wasn't kept anonymous. He says his start-up, Confide, will change that for future whistleblowers.
The TV series Dragon's Den might be entertaining, but it doesn't always reflect a real-life pitch. Two experts explain how to seal a deal with investors off-camera.
The threshold at which businesses have to register for VAT has been raised to £90,000, as part of a package of measures announced in the Budget. Does it go far enough?
Inflation, unmanageable energy bills and rising staff costs mean it is impossible for small firms to invest in growth, says the founder of Enterprise Nation.
Some 2.7 per cent of the 5.3 million business accounts held by small businesses were closed by banks, according to the Treasury Committee.
A report by the Public Accounts Committee published today reveals how HMRC's service levels have continued to deteriorate over the past year.
Steve Hare is the chief executive of Sage Group and says small businesses have much to gain from AI.
During the pandemic, I started a business selling handmade treats online. Ideally, I'd open a shop with room out back to scale-up but business rates worry me.
HMRC is extending its Making Tax Digital programme to landlords and sole traders with income over £30,000 from 2027.
Zoë Allen jumped into the deep end in February 2019 without a business plan or pitch document when she set up her own art consultancy business.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) claimed some suppliers were hiking standing charges 'as a way to inflate bills for small firms'.
Just 51% of self-employed people put money into their pension each month - even though doing so can not only fund their retirement, but also give them tax advantages.
Deirdre McGettrick launched Ufurnish.com with her co-founder and husband Ray Wright in 2019 and the online furniture aggregator now boasts over 100 of the biggest retailers.
From mad marketing stunts to being nice to your suppliers, This Is Money's business doctor Dave Fishwick shares his advice for people starting their own business.
Despite it being a tough time for the economy, would-be entrepreneurs have not been deterred from staring up a business.
Starting a business doesn't need to be difficult and staying on top of the latest trends, opportunities and movements that emerge, can put you a step ahead. These are the trends I'm excited about...
I'm a contractor and take tech jobs a few months at a time. The market is really competitive at the minute, so what can I do to boost my chances? Dave Fishwick replies.
If I declare myself as a small business but consistently show that I am running at either zero profit or even at a loss, will the tax man start to think I'm running some kind of con?
New research by wealth manager Charles Stanley reveals a fifth of UK startups are initially funded by inheritance, and a further 19% by cash from parents.
I have been offered a casual job that works on an ad hoc basis, and I won't earn over the income tax threshold. Do I have to tell HMRC? And how will I pay National Insurance?
Brits looking to launch a business in 2024 are turning to arts and crafts to make some extra cash, according to new research.
The taxman is cracking down on online resellers who use digital platforms to make extra cash and failing to declare it as income. We explain who needs to pay tax.
Can I sell my Christmas gifts and other items I don't want without paying tax? It depends on what you are selling, why you are selling it and whether you make a profit from the sale.
The countdown is on for millions of Brits who need to file their tax returns ahead of the 31 January deadline. We explain who needs to file a return and experts share their tips to get ahead.
Choosing the right bank can boost your company's bottom line. This is Money lists the best small business current accounts in the market, and compares their fees and bonuses.
Nearly half of SMEs are currently using a personal credit card to fund their business, and one expert says the lack of access to funding is effectively debanking small businesses.
One business owner told us that any further issues with undelivered packages and increasingly unhappy customers means this could be his last year trading.
The announcement has provoked anger among MPs and tax experts, who warned it could lead to taxpayers inadvertently making mistakes on their tax returns and facing fines further down the line.
In a pitch to small businesses and the self-employed, Jeremy Hunt announced he would reform and simplify National Insurance Contributions to help boost growth.
Michelle Ovens CBE, founder and director of Small Business Saturday says Black Friday is not the answer for businesses or for customers.
If the Prime Minister was really serious about supporting small business, he would first sort out shuttered phone lines and long waits at HM Revenue & Customs.
Anna Woods launched Positive Retail in 2020 and what started as a small pop-up in her local town quickly became three permanent stores, which she hopes will bring some life back to the high stree...
Emma Jones CBE, founder of Enterprise Nation, calls on the Chancellor to support Britain's SMEs in the autumn statement next week.
I have always wanted to create a business which carries on the legacy or love of a family member. Is my idea feasible? Our business doctor Dave Fishwick replies.
More than 44,000 licensed premises have closed in the last 20 years, leaving just 99,916 still trading at the end of September this year.
A small business owner has told This Is Money she is considering moving her business out of the UK after facing long HMRC delays.
Far from hanging up 'no cash' signs and joining larger companies in the drive towards a cashless society, many are starting to plead with customers to revert to cash.
Starting out packing boxes in her living room to fit around being a mum, Douglas has since launched care packages for every occasion and now works out of a large warehouse.
Late payments to small businesses have hit a three-year high, with industry leaders calling on the Chancellor and big businesses to do more to help.
I want to start a hair salon with my best friend. I don't want our relationship to sour over money. Is it best to keep income separate? Our business doctor Dave Fishwick replies.
In June, the tax office announced it was closing its self-assessment helpline for three months to trial directing queries from the helpline to the department's digital services.
New tax rules, set to be introduced on January 1st, could see thousands of people who earn a bit of extra income being caught out by the taxman,
You might not have heard of Eager Drinks but you'll almost certainly have tried it. The juice company has been a staple of pubs, bars and venues across the UK for 15 years - and now wants to sell...
I have been buying hats and fascinators over the years and now want to start renting them out. How do I start? This Is Money's business doctor Dave Fishwick replies.
Cuts to the number of staff has likely done little to help matters, but insiders have told This Is Money that it is staff retention and lack of training that is the root cause of HMRC's issues.
I'm a student and want to make some extra cash to help with costs. Should I find a part-time job or could I start my own side hustle? This Is Money's business doctor Dave Fishwick replies.
HMRC has been bolstering its compliance department in a bid to reverse a sharp decline in tax revenue, This Is Money can reveal.
As a solo business director, Becci Nibelle had to pay for her own maternity pay. But when she reclaimed the money back from HMRC she was left waiting for months.
After just one year of trading, Amazing Lofts has reached £1million in sales, have a team of 35 and now they even have family and friends working for them.
We're currently battling with the council trying to keep the last pub standing. How do we save it? This is Money's business doctor Dave Fishwick replies.
David was sent a tax bill for over £38,000 from HMRC and had difficulty trying to get through to anyone in the tax office. The sorry saga left him with 'considerable stress and worry'.
HMRC closed the helpline in June in a move it claimed would free-up staff to help callers with urgent queries because the helpline receives fewer calls over the summer.
Late payments have 'spiralled out of control' according to the Federation of Small Businesses, and are stretching small firms to their limits.
I want to buy empty properties, renovate them by maybe using unemployed, low skilled, ex offenders, young people who have left school early.
At 20 years old, Vincent Cook has built and launched his own intelligence platform - Cyb3r Operations - to help protect companies and governments from bad actors.
The platform, which supports 800,000 businesses every year, will offer a £5,000 grants to three small businesses every year which focus on community, trust and entrepreneurship.
I'm a mum of four and set up my own crafting business. I'm not making any money yet, do you have any advice? Dave Fishwick replies.
I run an independent clothes shop and the introduction of LTNs in my area has ruined my business. What can I do? Dave Fishwick replies.
Business owners and accountants have become well-acquainted with the chaos at HMRC for years. one insider tells This Is Money about the reality of working there.
The children of the 1980s have thrown out the mantra that 'greed is good,' coined by Michael Douglas' banker Gordon Gekko in the hit film Wall Street, in favour of 'green is good'.
I have been very lucky that my customers have remained loyal. Now that costs are falling and I am feeling more comfortable with my bottom line, I am considering cutting costs to pre-pandemic leve...
Kinrara, a former sporting estate in the Scottish Highlands, is home to Brewdog's Lost Forest, a regeneration initiaitive spanning nearly 10,000 acres of land.
In the first quarter, 569 restaurant businesses filed for insolvency, an average of 5.6 per day, bringing the total to 2,028 over the last 12 months.
Individuals from across the UK are eligible to apply for a start-up loan via Virgin StartUp of between £500 and £25,000, at a fixed interest rate of 6%, with no early repayment penalties.
For three months from 12 June, HMRC will trial directing self-assessment queries from the helpline to the department's digital services.
The Treasury will ask businesses for their views on two leading programmes that offer employees a stake in their employer.
Watt has now invested in all five start-ups including edible bug business Yumbug, and Basket, a browser extension that lets you save products from any online retailer.
I run my own business as a painter and decorator and am registered as a limited company. Will the corporation tax rise affect my business?
The helpline was dedicated to helping business owners and accountants with questions about their VAT registration application.
Brewdog founder James Watt is on the hunt for the next £1bn start-up - and he's taken a format similar to hit TV show Dragons' Den, which he has been rejected from twice.
I own a restaurant and need to sign a new electricity contract. Brokers suggest I sign a three-year fixed contract, what do I do?
The FSB is calling on energy suppliers to allow small businesses, who fixed tariffs when energy prices were at their peak last summer, to renegotiate.
I set up an e-commerce business but have decided it's not worth continuing with. How do I close my business and keep my website? Our experts answer.
Creating and running a responsible, purpose-led business has many benefits and the government should change the Companies Act to change how businesses are governed.
Yardlink offers a way for construction companies to obtain equipment much faster than normal rental companies. Founder Neeral Shah thinks there is scope for further disruption.
I mainly sell on Facebook but I don't have my own website. Is this something I should definitely look in to? I've done a fete and it went really well.
Honest Mobile is creating some much-needed disruption in the mobile industry. Will its smart Sim, which allows customers to use all four networks, be the solution to signal issues?
When Rob Wallis and Sam Hunt secured their first Moth drinks order with Waitrose, they could hardly believe their luck. Now they're among the most popular ready-to-drink brands in the UK.
More than 150 pubs have closed in the first three months of 2023 - a rise of almost 60 per cent on last year.
I ran a successful business which I sold. I want to start up again but wonder what avenues I can explore for similar useful, free business advice.
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme is less generous than the Government's previous support package. We look at how it works.
One of my customers has owed me £15,000 for over a year and they now say they can't pay me back. Going down the legal route is expensive, should I leave them messages on social media?
Many small businesses say they have been left in the cold, with little no further support in the face of crippling energy costs and higher taxes.
The ongoing effects of higher energy bills, business rates and issues in the labour market mean small businesses have continued to struggle through the winter.
I want to grow my business by hiring more senior employees. Should I look at a recruiter or is it too expensive?
We speak to the heads of businesses founded during the 2008 recession to find out the lessons they can share with budding entrepreneurs this time around.
As many as 150,000 over-50s rejoined the workforce last year after quitting during the pandemic, according to official figures.
I've inherited some money and I want to buy and run my own pub. Is it too risky and should I instead buy a rental property for a more passive income?
Tall travellers Iain Griffin and Dirk Stewart launched Seatfrog in 2018, after they became frustrated with the cost of extra legroom on trains.
In 2022, 784,762 businesses were registered at Companies House, that's almost 30,000 more than in 2021 and 114,000 more recorded annually pre-pandemic.
I want to start a business that most likely requires the products, which will be plastic, to be manufactured in China or elsewhere in the Far East. How do I find and vet manufacturers?
The co-founder of DIY investing platform AJ Bell has invested £1million into a fitness franchise as he continues with his strategy to bet on businesses focusing on wellness and health.
Some small businesses are waiting on hold for hours, a situation which is only adding to the stress of those struggling to pay after the pandemic hit their profits.
A number of Barclays business customers have been told their their accounts have been frozen or closed entirely, leaving them without access to funds, This Is Money understands.
The FSB Small Business Index headline confidence figure in the final quarter of 2022 fell to -46 points, marking the lowest reading since the final quarter of 2020, when it was -49 points.
A long time friend of This Is Money, self-made millionaire Dave Fishwick answers our readers' small business questions in his regular column. Here are some of the best nuggets of wisdom.
HM Revenue & Customs says it expects a record number to complete self-assessment forms this year. But some may not be aware they need to.
Thousands of businesses signed up to fixed-rate deals last year when the cost of energy was soaring at record highs. Mick and Claire Sugg are struggling.
On Monday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a new discount scheme for businesses which will run until 31 March 2024, but industry figures warn thousands of businesses will go bust.
Carmen O'Neal launched gin brand 58 and Co in 2016, after a tragic accident led her to abandon her hopes of creating a footwear line.
Despite the worsening economic outlook, there has been a surge in the number of companies registered over the past year and January seems the most popular time to do so.
Self-made millionaire and long-time friend of This Is Money, Dave Fishwick, started his first business with nothing. He gives his advice on how others can do the same.
Christmas is peak business time for many small retailers, but a mountain of challenges means it is becoming nigh-on impossible for them to take full advantage.
Millions of sole traders and self employed people will have to make sure they file their tax return by 31 January or face being fined. John Robins offers his top tips ahead of the dreaded tax ret...
Research found that nine out of ten businesses said it was important to demonstrate to customers and suppliers that they support good causes.
Small firms are facing big pressure to offer discounts as customers battle the cost of living crisis. They tell us how they plan to tackle the Black Friday shopping extravaganza.
Jenny Clark (pictured) is already seeing business sales slow down, she had hoped for more help with the cost-of-living crisis.
Jeremy Hunt today announced a huge support package for small businesses worth almost £14billion in a bid to protect businesses from inflation.
Enlisting a good financial planner early on can help an entrepreneur prepare for future events like selling the business or retiring.
Hunt's measures, designed to help put the nation's finances on more of an even keel, were bad news for small firms.
Hunt's time as Health Secretary has clearly rubbed off on him. The new Chancellor delivered his emergency operation to steady the markets with the bedside manner of a surgeon.
The Government's energy package will come as a relief for businesses who were bracing themselves for a catastrophic winter. But does the support go far enough?
We explain who is eligible for a business loan, how to apply and how long you have to pay it back.
Many are being driven to the brink of extinction as a result of soaring energy costs, rising inflation and the cost of living crisis. Vicky Simmons is being hit by late payers.
Ofwat has launched a consultation on plans to move from regional price caps to a single England-wide cap that would see bills for water and waste water rise by 0.1% on average for smaller firms.
Max Parmentier launched Birdie in 2017 with the intention of bridging the gap between care providers and patients. Can the company solve the UK's social care crisis?
Urban Legend's sweet treats will soon be launched to the masses following a recent deal with Tesco to stock the treats in their stores across the capital.
After being booted out of the Love Island villa in 2017, narrowly missing out on a place in the final four couples, Montana Brown was determined to set up her own business.
Food writer and TV chef Anjum Anand and husband Adarsh Sethia founded the business in 2010. They each own between 25% and 50%.
Since 2015, more than 5,000 bank branches have closed - or are soon to shut - meaning small businesses are now turning to local post offices.
Former Robinhood employees Neeraj Baid and Patrick Kavanagh (pictured) have launched Atlantic Money, a money transfer app that offers a £3 flat fee.
The war in Ukraine, post-Brexit shipping complications, energy costs and pandemic-related manufacturing delays are hitting firms.
Charles Cridland and Harrison Woods are selling the online parking platform to Flowbird for £120m, netting them each a huge payday.
The cost-of-living crisis is not confined to households - small business owners are also facing acute challenges. Amber Leach runs Established By Her.
A survey by accountancy firm Moore UK found that 93 per cent of small businesses are under 'acute pressure' because of the cost increases.
The bank, which has over 400,000 customers, has told cardholders to 'use alternative payment methods' while the maintenance is taking place.
As a sole trader/single person business working in the mortgage industry, I'm incredibly busy. At what point do you decide to take the plunge and employ someone?
I've been with the same company for nearly 20 years and feel ready for a new challenge. My passion is food and I'd like to start a food truck in my local area.
SocialAmp and Fanbytes are making rapid strides in the online digital marketing world, and their success indicates there is still space for small businesses to grow and prosper in this field.
The Chancellor today laid out plans to deflect the worst of the cost of living crisis but small businesses feel his plans do not go far enough as they get back on their feet after the pandemic.
Joanna Jensen (pictured with daughters Mimi and Bella) set up Childs Farm in 2010 to sell bath products, moisturisers and sun creams for children.
With the Bank of England forecasting inflation rising to over 7% and a 50% increase in energy costs, Sunak must act to protect small businesses, says Emma Jones.
As children earned a record £148million last year, This is Money speaks to entrepreneurs as young as nine who are making money from their own businesses.
Former Robinhood employees Neeraj Baid and Patrick Kavanagh (pictured) have launched Atlantic Money, a money transfer app that offers a £3 fixed fee.
A record number of businesses voluntarily appointed liquidators last year with more likely to follow suit as the cost of living crisis and April tax rises start to bite.
Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett has launched new AI tool to help companies understand the impact of social media on their stock.
Gordon Ker (pictured) quit his job in the City to launch chophouse Blacklock in 2014. It tries to keep prices and food waste as low as possible and now wants to become a B Corp.
It was once commonly accepted that if you were a small business, there was a simple choice between splashing out on Sage or QuickBooks. Now there is a lot more choice.
Finding the best energy provider for yourself can be a hassle, let alone finding one for your business. Learn how to find the best deal and how to switch hassle-free.
Pension-led funding is aimed at business owners and allows them to 'borrow from themselves' via a self-invested personal pension or small self-administered scheme to back their own business.