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The King's Speech landed today, and if you run a small or growing business, there is more in it for you than you might expect. Buried beneath the ceremony and constitutional fanfare are three changes that speak directly to issues clients raise with us regularly - getting paid on time, cutting through regulatory red tape, and trading with mainland Europe. There are a few other measures worth flagging too. Here's what you need to know.

For many owners, Companies House feels like a background obligation. You file what needs to be filed, pay the fee, and return your attention to running the business. For years, that approach has generally been sufficient, but from 2026, it will no longer be. Companies House is moving from being a largely passive registry to a more active gatekeeper, with a clear policy aim: improving the reliability of the register and reducing misuse and fraud. The

If you run a small or growing business, it is easy to assume that regulatory change is something that happens only in large corporates, regulated sectors, or organisations with compliance teams and board sub-committees. But that is not the case in 2026, and SMEs are encouraged to take note. The changes coming into force this year land squarely where SMEs feel them most acutely: people, cashflow, systems, customer journeys, and day-to-day governance. However, reassuringly, none of what follows is unmanageable. Provided it is

Franchising offers entrepreneurs an attractive pathway into business ownership, combining brand recognition, established operational frameworks, and ongoing franchisor support. This approach is particularly appealing within the hospitality sector, where consistency in quality, branding, and customer experience is essential. The franchise industry in the UK has demonstrated significant growth and resilience. According to recent figures from the British Franchise Association (BFA), franchising contributes

Legal risks don’t always come from major disputes or lawsuits. I’ve learned firsthand that some of the biggest legal headaches often stem from everyday business decisions—signing contracts, hiring employees, managing customer complaints, or expanding into new markets. During my time as an in-house solicitor at one of the world’s largest hospitality brands, I saw how taking a proactive approach to legal matters could shield a company from countless problems before they escalated into full-blown disputes. SMEs may not have the same resources, yet they face just