The purpose of this Toolkit is to enable you as an aspiring entrepreneur to gain an overview of the legal considerations of business in the UK. We know that understanding these considerations can be difficult, so this Toolkit is focused on giving you a clear introduction to the legal questions you may encounter as you develop your business. It will introduce you to a variety of topics including the different business structures available and what they mean for you, financial compliance, partnerships, paying yourself, hiring employees, intellectual property, taking out a business loan, taking on investors and balancing your business with public benefits.
This Toolkit is meant as a helpful starting point. It will not cover all business areas, all industry-specific considerations or any non-business legal queries. When you have additional questions about legal matters, please talk to a member of the TERN team or one of TERN’s partner organisations in your local area, and they will direct you to an appropriate clinic or resource to get your questions answered by a legal professional.
The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) is a London-based social enterprise with a mission to enable refugees to thrive through the power of their own ideas. TERN does this by providing business services at three identified stages of the entrepreneurial journey: business exploration, business start-up and business growth. This Toolkit can be used at any stage of this journey, as both a supplemental and stand-alone tool. It was an initiative of the TERN On Demand programme, which features instantaneous and accessible business support throughout the UK.