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Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.

What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.

While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.

Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.

From pay, hours and time off to discipline, grievance and hiring and firing employees, find out about your legal responsibilities as an employer.

Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.

Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.

Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.

With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.

As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.

Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.

Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.

From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.

Etsy sees big rise in sellers as side hustles take off

8 June 2021

The number of active Etsy sellers almost doubled in 2020 as almost two million people worldwide looked for new ways to earn money from home during the pandemic.

A new study by Money.co.uk has found that the number of people using Etsy to sell products rose from 2.69 million active accounts in 2019 to 4.63 million in 2020 as many people decided to turn their hobbies into thriving businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Big cities around the world saw a significant rise in the number of people setting up their own businesses as many people were furloughed or lost their jobs.

The findings suggest that London is the side hustle capital of the UK, with over 1.1 million products being sold by Londoners on Etsy in 2020. The most popular business category in the city is home and living (which includes homewares and crafts), followed by jewellery, art and collectibles. With each product averaging £10.57 per item, these businesses are potentially bringing income of £11 million to entrepreneurial Londoners running a side hustle.

Other UK cities where online side hustles are booming are Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Southampton. In global terms, New York has the largest number of Etsy listings, with 2.9 million in total contributing, on average, $43.8 million (£31m) to Etsy sellers.

When it comes to business types, the most popular category by far, accounting for 25% of all Etsy sellers, is home and living. This includes everything from furniture to crafts. Art and collectibles is the second most popular side hustle with 21% of Etsy sellers in this category. Jewellery comes in third place, with 15% of Etsy sellers having listings in this category. Sellers in electronics and pet supplies stand out from the crowd - the findings show that just 1% of all Etsy stores have products listed in this category.

Written by Rachel Miller.

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