How Small Business Guide creates, verifies, reviews and maintains practical information for UK small-business owners.
Our commitment: We publish practical, plain-English information to help UK small-business owners understand common decisions and obligations. We aim to make it clear who created each guide, how its important claims were checked, when it was last reviewed and where readers can raise a concern.
Small Business Guide exists to help UK founders, sole traders, directors and small employers navigate business start-up, tax, finance, legal and HR, and marketing questions. We write for readers who need a useful starting point, not a substitute for advice tailored to their circumstances.
Every guide has a named accountable author. Where a guide covers a regulated, legal, financial, tax, employment or high-impact decision, we also identify a specialist reviewer. The responsible author and reviewer are shown on the page and link to profiles that explain their editorial role, relevant experience and topic coverage.
We start with primary sources, including GOV.UK, HMRC, Companies House, ACAS, the ICO, the FCA, legislation and provider documentation where relevant.
A named author creates the guide, explains the issue in plain English and links readers to the most relevant official or primary sources.
We check material claims, dates, figures and practical steps against the source set. Assigned specialist reviewers assess high-impact content before it is marked as reviewed.
We prioritise clarity, usefulness and accuracy over word count, promotional language or search traffic. We do not publish a guide simply because a keyword is popular.
Our editorial team includes named authors and independent reviewers with topic-specific roles. Author profiles state the areas each person covers, their relevant experience and the limitations of their role. We do not present a contributor as a regulated adviser, solicitor, accountant or other professional unless the profile identifies that qualification.
| Content area | Responsible author | Independent reviewer | Core source set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting a business | James Whitfield, Business Start-up Editor | James Thornton LLB, Legal & Compliance Reviewer | Companies House and GOV.UK guidance |
| Finance and tax | Sarah Mitchell ACA, Tax & Accounting Specialist | Tom Walker ACIB, Finance & Product Review Lead | HMRC, GOV.UK and primary provider documentation |
| Legal and HR | Rachel Davies, Legal & HR Editor | James Thornton LLB, Legal & Compliance Reviewer | GOV.UK, ACAS, ICO and primary legislation guidance |
| Sales and marketing | Priya Sharma, Marketing & Growth Specialist | Tom Walker ACIB, Finance & Product Review Lead | Primary platform documentation and established marketing standards |
| Commercial product reviews | Tom Walker ACIB, Finance & Product Review Lead | Cross-functional editorial review | Provider terms, fee schedules, regulatory information and comparison research |
A reviewer checks for accuracy, source quality, meaningful caveats, clarity and whether the guide fairly represents relevant risks or alternatives. Review does not make a reviewer responsible for the reader’s individual decision and does not create a professional-client relationship.
We display three distinct editorial dates on substantive guides: the original publication date, the date on which material claims were last verified against the relevant source set, and the date on which the assigned specialist reviewer last approved the guide. These are fixed editorial records and must be updated only after the stated activity takes place.
The site also displays a separate automatic freshness label on selected pages. This label helps readers see that the page is actively maintained; it is not a substitute for the visible factual-verification or expert-review dates, and it does not represent a new editorial review by itself.
We review high-impact tax, legal, employment, regulatory, financial-product and deadline-led content more frequently when a material change is announced. Other guides are prioritised for review according to reader impact, source changes, product updates and feedback received.
We prefer primary sources. For public rules and obligations, this usually means the relevant government department, regulator, authority, legislation or official guidance. For products and services, we use official terms, fee schedules and regulated disclosures alongside comparison research. We identify the source class on each article and include a dedicated source or reference section where it is useful for readers to verify a claim.
When reliable sources disagree, we seek to explain the difference rather than present a false certainty. We avoid unsupported statistics, do not use references to create an impression of authority, and correct material factual errors promptly.
Our reviews are designed to help readers compare products and services from a small-business perspective. We assess material decision factors such as price, eligibility, terms, features, support, relevant protections, limitations and alternatives. A review identifies the author, its review date, the reviewer and the methodology used.
Evidence and experience: We distinguish between documented product research and first-hand use. We never claim that a member of our team has used, tested or opened a product unless that evidence exists and is described in the review. Where a review is based on provider documentation, regulated disclosures and comparison research, we say so clearly.
Commercial relationships do not determine ratings, verdicts, category placement or criticism. Affiliate links and sponsored relationships are disclosed prominently, and our disclosure page lists active commercial relationships. A company cannot purchase a positive review or require us to remove fair, evidence-based criticism.
Small Business Guide may earn a commission when readers use a clearly identified affiliate or referral link. This is paid by the provider and does not change the price a reader pays. Editorial contributors must disclose relevant conflicts to the editorial team. A contributor with a material conflict does not approve their own review or decide its conclusion.
Our Affiliate Disclosure & Disclaimer explains our current relationships, how links are labelled and the limits of our content. Sponsored material, if published, is clearly labelled and kept distinct from independent editorial guidance.
Readers can report a possible error, omission or unclear explanation by emailing contact@smallbusinessguide.co.uk or using our contact page. Please include the page URL, the specific issue and, where possible, a supporting source.
We assess credible reports against the relevant primary sources. If a material error is confirmed, we correct the page, update the verification and review record where appropriate, and note a substantive correction in the article’s editorial panel. We do not remove accurate content solely because it is unfavourable to a commercial partner.
We may use software tools to help organise research, improve clarity, check formatting or assist with routine editorial tasks. Tools do not replace accountability: a named author is responsible for the published guide, and high-impact content receives the source checking and specialist review described in this policy. We do not use automation to create large volumes of unreviewed content or to simulate expertise or first-hand experience.
Our information is general and educational. It is not legal, tax, accounting, investment, financial, employment or other professional advice for your specific circumstances. Laws, rates, provider terms and regulatory positions can change. Before taking action, verify the relevant official source and obtain appropriately qualified advice where needed.
The Editorial Team owns this policy and reviews it when our content model, source standards, commercial relationships or applicable guidance changes. Material updates will be reflected in the policy version and review dates at the top of this page.
For a correction, a question about our editorial process or feedback on a guide, contact contact@smallbusinessguide.co.uk or visit our contact page.
Small Business Guide