Frequently asked questions.
Thinking of starting a business? Excellent news, really. But before we get started, here are answers to some of the big questions that could be floating around your head.
Money & Taxes
Can starting a business help with taxes?
Short answer: sometimes. Long answer: if your only reason for starting a business is to dodge tax, you’re already in the wrong game. Yes, you can expense things like laptops, travel, and coffee. No, it won’t make you Jeff Bezos overnight. Founders who treat their business like a tax shield usually end up broke with a very creative accountant. Build for value, not loopholes.
Will starting a business make me rich?
If you’re starting up because you want to be rich, you’re in for a nasty shock. Founders don’t get paid for a long time — if at all. Riches might come, but usually after years of living off beans, stress, and overdrafts. Focus on building something with purpose and resilience. The money only shows up if the system works, not because you wished it would.
Will starting a business affect my benefits?
Yes. If you’re claiming state benefits, your shiny new “founder” status is going to complicate things. HMRC won’t care about your MVP, your journey, or your community — they’ll care about paperwork and earnings. Get advice before you start. Don’t bury your head in the sand.
First Steps
When starting a business, what comes first?
Not a logo. Not a website. Not begging your mate to be “co-founder.” Research comes first. Who’s your market? Do they care? Can you test it small before you go big? That’s your MVP — Minimum Viable Product. Nail it before you waste your time and money building castles on sand.
What to consider before starting a business?
Time. Money. Mental health. Do you have systems that will keep you alive when the chaos starts? Do you know your version of “brilliant” — the definition of success that works for you, not Instagram? Founders who skip this step burn out. Founders who define it stand a chance.
What are the first steps when starting a business?
Research your market
Test an MVP
Set up a basic structure (bank account, HMRC reg, insurance)
Build a support system — mentors, community, peers
That’s it. The rest you’ll learn by fire.
Building & People
When starting a business with a partner…
Get it in writing. Friendships die when money gets involved. Agree roles, responsibilities, and what happens when it all goes to shit. If you can’t have that conversation, you’re not ready to go into business together.
When starting a business, how do I pay myself?
Carefully, and usually very little. Most founders don’t take a salary early on. When you do, keep it lean. Pay yourself enough to survive, not enough to strangle the business.
When starting a business, how do I pay employees?
Don’t hire until you can. Seriously. Too many founders hire for ego, not need. If you can’t make payroll, don’t bring people on. Contractors and freelancers are your best friend at the start.
The Hard Bits
Why is starting a business so hard?
Because it’s supposed to be. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. The hardest part isn’t the product or the sales — it’s the head game. It’s the paranoia at 3am, the failures nobody claps for, the days when you want to quit. The system you build around yourself — boundaries, routines, mentors, community — that’s what saves you.
Why start a business at all?
Because the itch won’t go away. Because working for shit leaders has broken you. Because you’d rather fail on your own terms than succeed on theirs. Starting a business is survival for some of us. It’s freedom, even when it feels like a prison sentence.
Who / What / Why
Who to talk to when starting a business?
Not your mum, unless she’s an entrepreneur. Talk to founders, mentors, and people who’ve walked the road before you. Community matters — join one. Talk less to “gurus” and more to people who know the grind.
What do you need to start a business?
A clear idea of your brilliant (your definition of success)
A tested MVP
Resilience for the journey
Systems that stop you burning out
Everything else is window dressing.
Beginners & Young Founders
Starting a business for beginners
Forget the books with “for dummies” on the cover. The only way to learn is to start. Begin small. Test an MVP. Join a community of other founders so you’re not alone when it gets brutal.
Starting a business for kids / teens
Good. The younger you start, the faster you fail, and the more you learn. Sell sweets. Make apps. Mow lawns. Don’t worry about being “official” yet. Learn the hustle. Learn resilience. That’s the foundation for whatever you build later.
Final Word
Starting a business is not glamorous. It’s not tax tricks, Bali laptops, or instant riches. It’s grind, resilience, and defining what success looks like for you.
👉 Want to go deeper? Join the mailer for raw advice that cuts through the noise. Or grab Unfounded — the book that tells you the truth about the founder journey, not the startup porn.
