UK Startups

Founding stories, early-stage advice, and lessons from Britain's boldest new ventures.

• Making Tax Digital: Second Quarterly Update Due by 7 November 2026 for Sole Traders and Landlords (UK Startups, 4 November 2026)
  Sole traders and landlords with income over £50,000 must send their second Making Tax Digital quarterly update, covering 6 April to 5 October, by Saturday 7 November 2026. Late quarterly updates do not earn penalty points in the 2026 to 2027 tax year.
• UK Business Creations Fell 3.5% to 69,895 in July to September 2026, ONS Figures Show (UK Startups, 2 November 2026)
  69,895 businesses were created in the UK between July and September 2026, 3.5% fewer than a year earlier, while closures fell 1.1% to 63,035, according to ONS figures published on 29 October.
• Self Assessment Payments on Account to Become More Frequent from April 2029: What Sole Traders and Partners Need to Know (UK Startups, 31 October 2026)
  The government confirmed on 28 October 2026 that from April 2029 people who make Self Assessment payments on account will pay tax more regularly during the year, with automated payments such as Direct Debit as the default. How often they will pay has not yet been decided.
• Trading Allowance Triples to £3,000 from April 2027: What It Means for Side Hustles and New Businesses (UK Startups, 30 October 2026)
  The Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026 confirmed the tax-free trading allowance will rise from £1,000 to £3,000 from 6 April 2027, with the Self Assessment reporting threshold for trading income rising to £3,000 at the same time.
• 55p Mileage Rate Made Permanent and 35p Above 10,000 Miles: What Sole Traders and Employers Need to Know (UK Startups, 28 October 2026)
  The government will make the 55p tax-free mileage rate for the first 10,000 business miles permanent and raise the rate above 10,000 miles from 25p to 35p, a change it says benefits about 3 million employees and self-employed people.
• Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: Sole Traders and Landlords Over £30,000 Join in April 2027 (UK Startups, 5 October 2026)
  From 6 April 2027, sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £30,000 must use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. HMRC estimates about 1,077,000 more people are affected, and the threshold falls to £20,000 in April 2028.
• Companies House ID Checks: Three Months Left for Directors to Verify (UK Startups, 17 August 2026)
  The 12-month transition period for Companies House identity verification ends on 17 November 2026. By the end of June, 55% of directors and 42% of people with significant control had verified.
• Starting Up in Greater Manchester: What the Data Says About Funding and AI in 2026 (UK Startups, 2 August 2026)
  Equity investment in the North West rose 82% in 2025, and Greater Manchester's AI sector was valued at $4.7 billion in June 2026. Here is what the evidence supports, and where Manchester founders can look for finance.
• Bootstrapping a UK Business in 2026: When Customer-Funded Growth Makes Sense (UK Startups, 27 July 2026)
  With seed-stage equity deals down 27% in 2025, more UK founders are growing from revenue. Here is when bootstrapping works, the cash flow risks to manage, and how the late payment bill could help.