Could a business angel be the answer to your startup business prayers?  Early-stage businesses are generally in need of funding to bring an idea to market but sometimes funding alone is not enough to help them thrive, especially when expertise is critical to success. A business angel could be a good solution to explore and consider because they can provide both expertise and finance.   What is a business angel?  Probably the most known business angels are those that sit in the BBC’s Dragons Den. A business angel is generally a high-net-worth individual who manages a portfolio of investments made…

To ensure your interests and your business are protected you need an experienced team advising you so the final terms are both fair and workable in the long term. If you are considering a funding round, congratulations! It’s an incredible achievement to build a business that is worthy of external investment. That said, if this is new territory for you, it’s highly recommended to seek professional support, including lawyers and accountants, to guide you through the process. Thinking about a Funding Round? The type of investor you want to attract will be astute and experienced. To ensure your interests and…

The most common reason why a director will be required to provide a personal guarantee is because a lender or supplier perceives a level of risk in your business. Perhaps the lender is not confident that your business cash flow is liquid enough to fulfil its obligations. Maybe they feel that, while your business is financially secure, your sector or industry is too volatile, and they need further protection. Perhaps your business has had a history of late payments, defaults, or liquidity issues in the past.

As a law firm proactive in the startup sector we can support the legal aspect of your fundraising activity.

The government has announced the £250m Future Fund aimed at helping start up, scale up and venture backed businesses impacted by coronavirus.

All businesses have times during which receipts of income slow down, suppliers do not deliver, and customers close or go to a competitor. While it is a necessary business skill to be able to take the rough with the smooth and concentrate on how to counteract unforeseen events, would you be able to spot the signs that your business is in financial trouble?

If you are the director of a private limited company in England or Wales you can take comfort from the fact that you will not generally be personally liable for any debts the company incurs while you are in post. However, there are exceptions and when they arise you need to seek prompt legal advice to contain the damage.

Getting the finance in place to enable a management buyout to proceed can be challenging for the management team. There will be a number of people involved in the decision-making process, all of whom will have differing levels of experience, personal financial security and appetite for risk, and all of whom will be trying to pull a deal together while still doing their day job. In these circumstances, it is essential for the business owner and management team to work together to get the buyout arrangement over the line

The Insolvency Service says that corporate insolvencies are at a four-year high and that in 2017 nearly 100,000 individuals were declared bankrupt. For businesses left out of pocket when a customer fails, the consequences can be devastating. One only needs to look at the trail of devastation caused by the recent collapse of Maplins, Carillion and Toys R Us to see this.

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