Get to grips with payroll admin, plus download FSB's free Payroll Checklist & Calendar covering every task and deadline across the tax year. Hiring employees is an exciting step in growing your small business, but payroll can be time-consuming and confusing. There’s more to payroll than simply paying your staff. You’ll need to account for each employee’s deductions, operate PAYE and ensure you’re compliant with pension contributions. At the Federation of Small Businesses, our

Don't let AI risks hold you back. Master the essentials of data privacy, legal exposure, and operational liability to use AI safely and effectively. 5 Practical Ways to Innovate Safely: Jump to: AI accuracy risks AI data security risks AI data privacy risks AI legal risks AI operational risks Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work. It offers small businesses powerful efficiencies and new capabilities that were previously out of reach. But alongside these opportuniti

Are you thinking about accepting card payments? If so, we’re right behind you – we’re convinced it’s one of the best things you could ever d o to help your business grow, attract more custom and improve your cashflow. Getting your business ready to accept card payments is a breeze nowadays, but there are still a few things it’s good to know in advance. Let’s take a look at some of the main points. Various ways to get paid One of the most important things to consider is how y

A small business guide to asset finance: what it is, how it works, the main types including hire purchase and leasing, the benefits, and how to apply. Most businesses need physical assets to operate and grow: vehicles, machinery, manufacturing plant, IT systems, specialist tools or equipment. The problem is that these things are expensive, and paying the full cost upfront can tie up a large amount of cash that a small business would rather keep for day-to-day operations. Asse

As cybercrime continues to rise, businesses of all sizes are increasingly vulnerable to scams. From phishing to identity theft, discover how you can protect your small business against scams and fraud with our top tips. The number of scams designed to trick consumers into handing over their personal details and cash-in on current financial uncertainties has also been on the rise. Pension scams, travel scams, and fake charities are all among the methods fraudsters have been us

Learn how ethical banking can benefit your small business. Discover responsible banking options, key considerations, and how to switch to an ethical bank. Where you choose to bank can have a bigger impact than you might think. Ethical banking ensures that your business finances align with your values, supporting sustainability, social responsibility, and transparency. For small businesses, ethical banking is about more than just avoiding harmful investments - it’s about activ

Looking to improve your business credit score? Here are eight ways you can keep on top of your score and put yourself in the best position possible for business funding applications. Your business credit score is a measurement used to represent the status of your business’ financial health. Having a good business credit score will signify financial stability and creditworthiness to existing and potential customers, partners, suppliers and lenders. This means that whether you’

Discover the green business grants available to UK small businesses in 2026, from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to Innovate UK funding, and learn how to apply successfully. Making your business more sustainable is one of the most important investments you can make right now. Energy costs are up, customers increasingly expect green credentials, and the UK government has committed to reaching net zero by 2050. The problem is that doing it properly costs money that many small busine

As a smaller business, every penny counts. Here, AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) explain how you can create a budget and get a clearer idea of your expected income and expenses. Budgeting is so important for making sure you keep track of your spending and meet your business goals. A simple yet thorough budget can be completed in an evening and can save your business time and money in the long term. Whether you’re a new or established business, understanding the ba

Confused by UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations? Learn exactly what e-waste is, how your small business must handle disposal, and the strict new 2026 legal updates. In 2026, a single laptop tossed into the wrong bin is a criminal liability for a UK small business. Between the total ban on disposable vapes and the new 2026 home-collection mandates for large appliances, WEEE compliance is no longer a 'nice-to-do', it is a legal minefield. In the UK,

Learn how to plan staff holidays and maintain business continuity during the summer months. Tips on cover, communication, and holiday scheduling. Why summer holiday planning matters for small businesses For many small businesses, the summer season brings a familiar juggling act. With staff eager to take annual leave and customer expectations unchanged, it's easy for operations to become stretched. Unlike larger firms, where cover can often be arranged across bigger teams, sma

Break-even analysis helps you calculate how many units you need to sell to cover fixed and variable costs. Learn how it works and how to use it in your business planning. Every business, from start-up to established enterprise, needs to answer one essential question: when will we actually start making money? That’s where break-even analysis comes in. What is a break-even analysis? A break-even analysis is a financial planning tool that identifies the exact moment your total r

Prepare your business for uncertainty with our practical scenario planning guide, designed for small business owners and decision-makers. Running a small business today means operating in a world where costs, customer behaviour, and regulations can shift quickly. For many owners, the challenge is not just reacting to change, it’s preparing for it. That’s where scenario planning comes in. At FSB, we see time and again that businesses which think ahead are better positioned to

Discover the best free marketing tools to support your small business, from email marketing and CRM to automation platforms and analytics tools. Marketing doesn’t need to be expensive to be effective. For small businesses with limited budgets, the right marketing tools can make a big impact, and many of them are free. Whether you're looking to automate tasks, manage customer relationships or monitor campaign performance, there are digital marketing tools available that cost n

Don't miss a deadline! Stay on top of your annual payroll duties and prepare for the new tax year ahead with our handy checklist of seven payroll tasks for April. Running payroll every month, whether yourself or outsourced to payroll experts, is a weekly or monthly routine. But every April, when a fresh tax year begins, new employment law changes come into force and there are annual payroll duties to carry out. Payroll experts at the Federation of Small Businesses have put to