How To Start An Online Business in UK:
Ultimate Guide To Starting & Growing A Business Online

start by crafting a business plan. What online business do you want to venture into? Pick a unique business name, get a logo to help brand your business. A business logo helps distinguish you from competitors as well as build brand loyalty.

Here, your market research will entail not just the online business opportunities, but also the consumer trends. Which demographic are you targeting?  What methods/platforms will you use to promote and market your brand? Where do you plan to source the goods you will sell, any stores around that can sell at wholesale prices?

The beauty of starting an online business is that you can do it from your home or office. Whichever way ensure that you have invested in super-fast broadband. You may need a desk and other office furniture, receipt books, a new laptop, and so on. Other infrastructural arrangements include creating a business website, e-commerce payment options, to mention a few.

The next step will involve registering your business. Is it a solo business, do you have partners, what is your physical address? All these details must be registered with HM Revenue and Customs. You can see the complete guide of the requirements for starting an online business in UK.  You can register a Limited company for as little as £12 if you’re doing it online.

There’s a reason you see major brands launching a new product with a bang. Similarly, your online business should be launched in a vibrant manner. Let the consumers know that there is a new kid on the block. This can include giving offers and discounts to woo customers. If you are bidding for online tutoring jobs, drop as many applications as possible.  You don’t have to get media attention and all that; but ensure that you launch your startup on a high note.

Consistency means that once customers and consumers know that you offer a certain service or good, they should always count on you. Think of customers who go for lunch at a restaurant. If the restaurant opens each day then close for a day or two, chances are that the customers will find another eatery. In any online business, always be consistent in what you are doing; being online, regular updates on social media pages, replying to customer queries, etc.

There is a lot you can learn by observing what other players in the industry are doing. For your online business to succeed, you will need to be unique and always be a step ahead of competitors. You will never achieve those unless you keep an eye on them and learn what you need to improve on.

Research done by Google shows that 75% of all Smartphone users always do a quick search on the main search engines, before making a major decision like shopping. So, get an SEO consultant who is skilled enough to help your online business site get top rankings on search engines. Top rankings increase chances of finding new customers and turning clicks into conversions. Or learn SEO and digital marketing yourself.

Do not limit yourself to starting an online business then sit back and wait for profits. You need to diversify and venture into multiple businesses. For instance, an online gym instructor can also make extra money writing eBooks on fitness. You can still sell clothes online and have a fashion blog, YouTube channel, and so on. Hope you get the drift.

One of Britain’s top entrepreneurs, Sir Philip Green, left school at the age of15. He started by importing jeans from abroad and selling them to London retailers. For a man who started his business with £20,000, he is now worth £2bn and owns high end chains like Topshop, Burton, and Miss Selfridge. Main lesson here is that; never be afraid of starting small, never ever give up. Starting an online business in the UK is just the easy step, you’ll need to hang in there and make things work out.

There are hundreds of scalable online business ideas that you can start. However, it is important to filter out which of them are future proof. It could be an online web designing business, affiliate marketing, writing, and publishing eBooks online, making money from YouTube, and so on. But consider technological innovations and how they may automate certain jobs. Moving into new business spheres such as domaining for example, may prove lucrative. Start with an online business idea that will not cost much yet deliver gains quickly.

Don’t underestimate your online business simply because you’re doing it from your home. Creating a comfortable working space and setting up a home office is a crucial part as any online business relies on the best tools and gadgets. Check which items you’ll need: an ergonomic office desk or chair, fast broadband, digital devices, stationery, and other tools of your trade. A home office should offer a healthy balance between work and storage.

Like we mentioned earlier in this guide, take time to register your online UK business. Make sure that you have a National Insurance number, have registered with HMRC, and have already defined your business name. A business name should be reflective of the services you’ll be offering, it should also be catchy and easy to remember. You can also try online business name generator tools like Shopify.

Unlike in the traditional job setting, remote jobs and businesses are a different thing. Potential employers and clients rely on your online profile to understand what you do and what value you’re bringing to the table. Your online portfolio should contain relevant information about you such as your professional photo, skills, talents, location, rates, and other unique details. Make sure you also display past projects or assignments you’ve handled successfully; these helps convince clients and potential employers.

Remote working requires a lot of self-discipline, but also various other transferable skills that you may not have when you get started. Being disciplined, organized, a brilliant communicator and having an efficient routine/timetable to guide your daily activities are just a few of such, making you more productive and helping you grow your online business.

Stop being vague, stop using vague phrases like “I want to make 5 figure profits by end of the year.” Instead, split your goals into small achievable targets.  Also remember the SMART rule of all business goals; specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and Time.

It’s not easy making good money online unless you’ve invested well in it. By investing, this means that you have to make your brand visible and continually reach out to new audiences. Look, you may have a good business idea and all resources to get started; but the expertise to get top ranking in the search engines is a different thing all together. Top ranking enables you to compete with bigger and more established brands.  Facebook marketing, which is a form of digital marketing, has helped numerous small and medium enterprises.

All leading entrepreneurs have one thing in common; they all love their jobs and what they do. Online entrepreneurship is about being passionate and being able to visualize the outcome of what you are doing. This is what always keeps you going. Passion is what keeps you awake late into the night; it is what keeps you posting those YouTube videos even when the views are less than a hundred.  Online businesses succeed when hard work and passion come together.

Most upcoming online entrepreneurs start with little money to get started. Blogging is easy, it’s one of the few online businesses you can start with a small investment. All that you’ll need is a laptop, a solid internet connection, an affordable .co.uk domain with web hosting, and the ability to write good content.

As a blogger, you get to determine how and when you want to work. Some sites will require that you submit blogs daily, weekly, or after every few weeks.  In between researching and writing your selected topics, you can indulge on other quick money making activities.

The best blog content is generated when you’re in a quiet, serene environment. A home office offers you such qualities; you can wake up in the middle of the night to chronicle that travel story you’re working on.

Running a blog for your brand on your website helps with SEO and brand marketing. By regularly updating your blog with relevant topics or questions your customers might ask, your website will rank on search engines for related terms. You can also contribute blog articles related to your business to other websites and even get paid for it. Here’s a perfect place to start looking for remote and flexible freelance blogging jobs.

Did we say that online entrepreneurship is all about passion and loving what you do? There are so many niches, from travel and tourism, finance, health, sports, dog lovers, car lovers, and so much more. Most bloggers do it for the passion of the subject, the money factor comes second.

Bloggers also earn money from products and brands via affiliate marketing. If your blogs have a huge following and readers love what you do, affiliate marketing enables you to kill two birds with one stone.