Harper James Solicitors, who specialise in advising ambitious businesses through each stage of their development, will be supporting many of these new enterprises as they embark on this exciting first stage of their business cycle.

Those legal services - alongside the professional advice from the experts - will give these startups the very best chance of achieving their goals.

But to help further, Harper James Solicitors has also turned to its expert team to get their tips on what to remember when starting out.

From thinking carefully about the right moment to file a patent; to securing your data from day one to not being put off by making the odd mistake... Harper James Solicitors free advice guide is a must-have for any business starting out this month.

1) Think about the right moment to patent your idea

Patenting your idea can be complicated, often involving a lengthy process and high costs. Everyone wants to protect their ideas - but knowing when and how to apply for a patent is key when launching a business with a unique product or service.

Lindsay Gledhill, IP Partner at Harper James Solicitors said: “Think really carefully about whether you should apply for a patent. It is a very hard decision. We see some inventors who regret not applying early, but we see just as many businesses struggling due to the downstream patenting costs.

“If you are inventing a new product or process, ask yourself whether elements of it can be kept secret whilst in use by the customer. If so, you may be able to get the protection you need without incurring the cost and risk of filing patent applications. But you’ll need to make careful records of the secret information in case there is ever a dispute about it.”

2) Make sure any new enterprise is run on your terms

Any entrepreneur wants the initial stages of their business to run as smoothly as possible, but you still need robust legal protection in place, however simple it may be. Ed Kilner, a Commercial and Technology associate at Harper James Solicitors recommends that any businesses starting out have an initial set of terms in place for their initial clients or customers.

Ed said: “One of the best pieces of advice I can offer to anyone starting out is simply having a set of terms in place from the outset. They don’t have to be long and scary, but the key thing is to have a limitation of liability clause in place. Some clients come to us here at Harper James and say they have not had any written contract in place with their customers in the early days.

“Some clients think this is great as they don’t have to go through negotiations. In actuality, all this means is that if a claim is made against them their liability could be unlimited. But if they have even a simple set of terms in place with a limitation of liability clause in there then they immediately limit their exposure as a young business.”

3) Secure your data from day one

The handling of data is a key part of any business activity. GDPR rules can be confusing at times, however the security of data, both client and internal, needs to be paramount for businesses.

David Sant, Data Protection Expert at Harper James Solicitors, said: “It might seem a headache when you are just starting out - but being mindful from day one that ALL businesses must comply with data protection is vital. There is often a misconception that small businesses don’t have a duty to register with the Information Commissioner's Office, or that they don’t have to worry as much about keeping personal data secure - this isn’t the case.

“If your business uses or processes personal data of customers, suppliers or staff, it is wise to understand the effect of data protection laws on your business from the outset.

"Remember, even if you are a small business, you will still have the same legal obligations as a large business to process personal data lawfully and transparently; to keep it secure and to comply with other data protection principles."

Data Protection and Privacy Solicitor Clive Mackintosh added: “Compliance with GDPR is often an unfortunate oversight in startups, with many entrepreneurs failing to recognise the value of data in business.

“Sometimes, businesses need to be educated on what they need to do in order to comply with GDPR rules, how they can do this and the best way to deal with large amount of customer or client data.

“If data security is breached, businesses could face consequences including ICO fines, a loss of credibility or even civil suits from affected customers. Taking the time to receive legal advice prior to beginning operating will save businesses from having to deal with any of these outcomes.”

4) Don’t be lackadaisical when it comes to employee contracts

Employee contracts must be in place from the start of any business. While it may seem like an unnecessary chore if you’re only a small team, it’s imperative to ensure that employment contracts are ready and can be signed either before or on the day a new employee starts working.

Ella Bond, Employment Law Solicitor at Harper James, said: “Since 6th April 2020, some key information for terms and conditions of employment must be provided to employees and workers from their first day. Well drafted contracts ensure this obligation is met.

“It will also help protect the Company from the outset in the event of issues arising and means that any post-termination obligations, such as covenants, would be in place from the start. And remember, anyone working for the business should have a contract, including Directors!

5) Don’t feel just because you are a new business you have no bargaining power

Often, startup owners feel that because they are a fledgling business, they do not have a strong enough position in the market to leverage bargaining power, which leads to unfair agreements, with negotiations often skewed against smaller businesses.

Sarah Gunton, Commercial Law Partner at Harper James, said: “As a small business, you may feel like you have less bargaining power than the person across the table, whether they are a supplier or a customer, and as such you may agree to terms which apportion a higher amount of risk to your business - often when the other party may be better-positioned to do so.

“This is a common mistake among startups looking to make a name for themselves, and when it is not commercially appropriate to accept a certain risk, it may be possible to argue that, if the other side wants the relationship to survive (or, indeed, thrive), they should take some of the risk.”

6) Consider using employee share schemes to improve your tax efficiency and attract talent

Employee share schemes are common in the world of start-ups, including Employment Management Incentive (EMI) schemes and, if businesses do not qualify for an EMI scheme, a growth share or other share ownership arrangement might be used.

Share schemes can help businesses in several ways, including to attract and retain talent, as well as reducing tax liabilities for both the employee and company.

Employee Incentives solicitor at Harper James, Ian Fraser, said: “Employee share schemes, whether they are EMI schemes or other arrangements, can benefit a new business in a variety of ways; they can help startups to attract and retain talent they may not have been able to otherwise, and by maximising the tax reliefs that are available businesses can improve their bottom line and shareholder returns massively."

7) Be ambitious and don’t be frightened of making a mistake

Starting out in business can be daunting and there will be times where things don’t run smoothly. But how you react when things go wrong can be critical to where your business ends up going.

That’s why Toby Harper, the CEO of Harper James Solicitors, says being ready for these moments is the vital thing to remember when starting out. He said: “Be ambitious and don’t be afraid to go for it. The pandemic may throw up hurdles, but it also presents opportunities for entrepreneurs, particularly in the tech sector, to create new products and services.

“Have a clear plan and strategy in place and can get as much advice and support you can in the early days.

“Don’t be afraid of making mistakes - often it’s those moments, and how you react, which teach you the most when starting out.