Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, where business belongs.

Start up business ideas

For a successful business, you need a viable business idea, the skills to make it work and the funding. Discover whether your idea has what it takes.

Set up a business

Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules. Learn how to set up your business.

Skills and wellbeing

Advice on protecting your wellbeing, self-confidence and mental health from the pressures of starting and running a business.

Business planning

Learn why business planning is an essential exercise if your business is to start and grow successfully, attract funding or target new markets.

Start up funding

It is likely you will need funding to start your business unless you have your own money. Discover some of the main sources of start up funding.

Tax and National Insurance

Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.

Business law

Businesses are required to comply with a wide range of business laws. We introduce the main rules and regulations you must comply with.

Sales and marketing

Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.

Business premises

Some businesses need a high street location whilst others can be run from home. Understand the key factors from cost to location, size to security.

Employees

Your employees can your biggest asset. They can also be your biggest challenge. We explain how to recruitment and manage staff successfully.

Business IT

It is likely your business could not function without some form of IT. Learn how to specify, buy, maintain and secure your business IT.

Grow your business

Few businesses manage the leap from start up to high-growth business. Learn what it takes to scale up and take your business to the next level.

Check my employment status

Your employment status has important implications for both tax and employment law. It is important that you establish your employment status when you start your new business

You are likely to be classed as self-employed if you run your own business and are responsible for the success or failure of that business. Do you:

run the business and take responsibility for business risks
have more than one customer
decide what you do, where and when
have the right to substitute other people to do the work for you at your own expense
provide your own tools or equipment

It is possible to be classed as self-employed for some of your work and as an employee for other work. You can use the HMRC Employment Status tool to check your employment status.

If the tool indicates that you are self-employed for some of your work, you are required to register as self-employed with HMRC. You will then need to start keeping a record of all your expenses and income, complete a self-assessment tax return and pay any tax and national insurance owing.

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