Best Sites for UK Small Business Support

Business Plan templates, calculators and guidance.

Free online glossy magazine for micro businesses - who they see as 'the engine room of the British economy'. Can't argue with that!

UK Government website providing support, advice and inspiration for starting, growing and accelerating your business.

Free business guides and checklists for download. The site's sponsored by RBS.

The Welsh Government's information, advice and guidance on starting and growing a business.

The section on Starting-Up has some useful guides and checklists, including one on Using your Home as a Workplace

Articles and discussion. Providing growth-stage businesses with the networks and expertise they need to scale up.

In the site's own words, it's all about 'how to set up and run a small business'.  The presentation has no frills,  but there are plenty of good, solid how-to guides for start-ups.

Crunch provide accountancy and other business services for small businesses. They have free downloadable business guides plus articles on small business, start-ups and freelancing.

Daltons are a marketplace for buying and selling businesses. You can filter the lists for home-based businesses, which include everything from websites to chip shops with attached accommodation.  Also check the Franchise section for home based and online franchises. 

Free UK Government resources. This is their Business & Self-Employment section.

Online sales are vital to most home based businesses. This site, by the Government's Trade & Investment department has useful advice and support for any business wanting to export online. 

Enterprise Nation was founded in 2005 by Emma Jones MBE. Its mission is to create an inspirational environment for business owners and would-be entrepreneurs, a supportive community, informational books and events, and a campaigning voice to help small businesses in the UK flourish.

Online makers' marketplace Folksy has some great articles on all aspects of building a craft business and selling online. 

The IPSE library has some useful resources for contractors, independent professionals and freelancers. If you join the Association you'll also get access to their courses and events. The Association carries out research and lobbying activities on behalf of its members.

My favourite site for advice on running a website, social media, online marketing and all that kind of thing.

This is Martin Lewis's Money Saving advice for small businesses. Up to date tips for saving money on business bank accounts, credit cards, insurance and also home business expenses.

The Scottish Government's business support pages, including advice on relevant legal issues.

Their Business Gateway also has a selection of guides on specific topics.

The FSB site has news and business articles and resources. Members get a wide range of business services including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful lobbying voice in government.

The Netmums 'Back to Work' pages include a section for parents considering self-employment.

Business news, guides and resources published by the Northern Ireland Government.

Prince's Trust helps young people (18-30) into work.  Their 'Enterprise' business start-up programme offers training, mentoring and loans assistance.

Business support and services help to fuel women’s business start-up, development and leadership success.

The site has a section of articles on Home Businesses.

Online UK business and entrepreneurship magazine with news, editorial and advice for business owners.

Sage, the accounting and business software company, have an excellent free business advice section on their website.Clear, practical, and up-to-date articles on all aspects of business planning, funding, growth, technology, legislation, and more.

Enterprise Nation's Self-Assessment Toolkit gives you feedback on your current business skills and links to a selection of resources based on your responses.

Business insurance specialists Simply Business have a very good 'Knowledge' section with articles and guides on all aspects of starting and running an SME - as well as their business insurance information of course.

"Free online advice in the form of news articles, guides, tips and features that can point you in the right direction to start and run your own small business."

In their own words "Smarta provides independent, entrepreneur-led support and is backed by some of the UK's top entrepreneurs" - who happen to include some of the dragons from Dragons' Den. The site has guides, videos, case studies, features, diaries and other tools.

Startups has masses of articles for those wishing to start or grow a small business in the UK. Their services also include websites and market research for start-ups.

Described as "a website for working mums who want to find a way to balance their career with their family", Talented Ladies Club has lots of resources on business start-up and their 'Kickstart' membership service offers plenty more.

The Guardian newspaper's news, information and forums for small businesses, entrepreneurs, freelancers and the self-employed.  Sign up free for access to their full services.

The Start Up Donut website is aimed at providing reliable information and resources that can save business owners time and money.  A mix of how-to guides, feature articles, checklists, expert Q&As, FAQs, case studies, video content and blogs. Their sister sites The Law Donut and The Tax Donut are also aimed at small businesses.

The Telegraph newspaper's small business section: "Delve into entrepreneurial Britain with the latest news, comment, tips and case studies from the business world."

WiRE offers a package of practical business support which includes access to the 50 WiRE networks across the UK where women in business share expertise and knowledge, build new skills, help boost confidence and support each other to build better businesses.