Free, independent help for UK new businesses and sole traders.
Helping your business get going from day one.
Plain-English guides, free tools and honest comparisons for every kind of new business: pricing, money, tax deadlines, marketing, payments and looking after yourself. Where would you like to start?
I’m starting a new business → Choose your industry →
- ✓ Every figure sourced
- £ Free to use
- ⚖ Rankings never bought
No links here are currently paid; some may earn us commission in future. How we make money
Find help for your industry
Trades and constructionCleaningRetail and shopsHospitality, cafés and foodBeauty and hairMobile and market tradersOnline and ecommerceProfessional services and consultantsFitness and wellbeing
How we help, and why it’s free
A 45-second explainer: what New Business HQ does and how we keep it free for you.
Read the transcript
Starting a business is exciting, and it's when you need good advice the most.
But the best advice, the best deals and the expert help usually go to big companies with big budgets.
We think that's backwards. New Business HQ gives you clear, honest advice from day one. It's completely free.
Compare card readers, work out your real costs, and find the right tools for your business in minutes.
So how is it free? Some providers may pay us a fee if you sign up through our links. It never costs you a penny more, and it never changes our rankings.
Big-business advice, for every new business. New Business HQ. Free, from day one.
What we cover
Practical, independent help for new business owners.
Card readers
Compare SumUp, Square, PayPal POS, Tide, Lopay and Dojo. Fee calculator, 5-question quiz and Tide’s 1 December fee changes.
Compare card readers →
Guides
Plain-English guides: Amex fees, payout speed and cash flow, readers for market stalls and mobile trades, and why taking cards matters.
Read the guides →
Personal development
Practical help for you as a founder: mindset, focus, habits, wellbeing and your first-year goals. Eight free guides.
“Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job.” — Jim Rohn
Explore personal development →Running your business
Pricing for profit, separating business and personal money, HMRC and Companies House deadlines, marketing on a small budget, legal setup, and data protection and licences. Six free guides, sourced from GOV.UK and the ICO.
Read the guides →
Free tools
A few of our free tools. Card payments are one part of getting started.
How we work
We’re independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by any provider. Read how we rank, our affiliate disclosure or about us.