Duport

Duport Duport helps people start UK businesses properly. Bristol, since 1997

Company formation, sole trader registration, business addresses, domains and websites, plus a guided first year so you know what to do next.

This month's Website Spotlight is Regal Renewables, a renewable heating specialist based in Leicester, serving customers...
22/08/2026

This month's Website Spotlight is Regal Renewables, a renewable heating specialist based in Leicester, serving customers right across the UK.

Scott installs Sunamp thermal batteries, air source heat pumps and underfloor heating, all designed to cut energy bills without cutting comfort. He's a registered Sunamp installer and fully BPEC qualified, so customers know exactly who they're getting.

His new site is live, and we're chuffed he's been kind enough to leave us a review too. Have a browse, share it, or send it to anyone you know who needs renewable heating done properly. Link's in the comments below.

And if your own website could do with a refresh, just get in touch, we'd love to help.

When you set up a limited company, you have to provide a Registered Office address.This is the official address for your...
19/08/2026

When you set up a limited company, you have to provide a Registered Office address.

This is the official address for your company, it appears on the Companies House register and is where HMRC and any legal documents get sent.

A few things people often don't realise:

It has to be a real UK address, not a PO Box
It doesn't have to be where you actually work from
If you use your home address, it's visible to the public on the register
You can use a registered office service instead, so your home address stays private

We offer a registered office service if you'd rather keep your home address off the public record, link in the comments.

Did you know your registered office address is public, or is this news to you?

As a sole trader, you're not legally required to have a separate business bank account. You can technically run everythi...
12/08/2026

As a sole trader, you're not legally required to have a separate business bank account. You can technically run everything through your personal account.

But here's why most sole traders have one anyway:
- It makes your Self Assessment so much easier, business in, business out
- It looks more professional to clients
- You're less likely to miss business expenses
- If HMRC ever investigates, clean records are essential
- With Making Tax Digital rolling out for Income Tax from April 2026 (for anyone earning over £50,000 self-employed), having things separated out makes quarterly digital updates far more straightforward

If you're a limited company, it's different, you must have a separate account because the company is a separate legal entity from you.

Do you use a separate business account? What would you recommend to someone just starting out?

You've probably heard the big GDPR fines millions of pounds for large companies.For small businesses, the reality looks ...
10/08/2026

You've probably heard the big GDPR fines millions of pounds for large companies.
For small businesses, the reality looks quite different.
But it's not nothing either.

The ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) can:
Issue reprimands and enforcement notices
Require you to change how you handle data
Fine you, smaller fines for small businesses, but still very real

The most common causes for small businesses?
Sending unsolicited marketing emails, not securing customer data properly, and not having a privacy policy in place.

The ICO's first step is usually a warning and a request to put things right, not an immediate fine. But it's a lot less stressful to get it right from the start than to fix it under pressure later.

📌 Better to sort it now than deal with it down the line.

Welcome back to Brilliantly Bizarre Businesses! This week, getting paid to sleep. Yes, that is actually a thing. 😴Sleep...
08/08/2026

Welcome back to Brilliantly Bizarre Businesses!

This week, getting paid to sleep. Yes, that is actually a thing. 😴

Sleep study participants volunteer for clinical research where scientists monitor rest patterns, brain activity, and sleep quality overnight. It ranges from wearing a smartwatch at home for a couple of weeks, right through to a full residential stay in a clinical unit, with meals, entertainment, and a free health check included.

It's not quite a business idea as such, but proof that the world will pay you for almost anything.

Swipe through to see what's involved, whether it suits you, and what you could earn.

And if your idea is a little more conventional, we can help you make that official too. 😊 duport.co.uk

Would you do it? Tell us below!

Limited companies can claim a wide range of expenses to bring down their Corporation Tax bill, but a lot of directors mi...
05/08/2026

Limited companies can claim a wide range of expenses to bring down their Corporation Tax bill, but a lot of directors miss out on some of them.

A few worth knowing about:
Director's home office costs (apportioned for business use)
Business mileage, claimed at HMRC approved rates
Mobile phone, as long as the contract is in the company's name
Training and professional development
Pension contributions, which are actually very tax efficient
Staff and client gifts, small gifts up to £50 are tax free for the recipient and still bring down your Corporation Tax bill

The golden rule to remember, the expense has to be "wholly and exclusively" for business purposes.

Know a fellow business owner who might be missing out on some of these? Tag them below.

If your website collects any personal data, even just through a simple contact form, you're legally required to have a p...
03/08/2026

If your website collects any personal data, even just through a simple contact form, you're legally required to have a privacy policy.

It should cover:
What data you collect and why
How long you keep it
Who you share it with
How people can ask you to delete their data
Your contact details

It also needs to be easy to find, usually linked in the footer of your website.

It's one of those things that's easy to overlook when you're setting up, but it's a legal requirement, not a nice to have.

Go check now, is yours easy to find?

Welcome back to Brilliantly Bizarre Businesses! This week, furniture upcycling. And we'll be honest, it's not quite as b...
01/08/2026

Welcome back to Brilliantly Bizarre Businesses!

This week, furniture upcycling. And we'll be honest, it's not quite as bizarre as a pet food taster or a professional line stander, but there is real money to be made. 🛋️

The idea is simple. Hunt down tired, unloved pieces from charity shops, car boot sales, and Facebook Marketplace. Sand them back, paint them up, reupholster or restore them, and sell them on for two or three times what you paid.

What surprises a lot of people is how many different ways there are to earn from this. You could go self employed and flip pieces on the side, pick up restoration work as a skilled tradesperson, or even run workshops for a charity or community project.

Swipe through to see what's involved, whether it suits you, and what you could realistically earn.

It's creative, flexible, and keeps perfectly good furniture out of landfill. And if you're already doing it regularly and making money, it might be time to make it official as a sole trader. We can help with that. 😊 duport.co.uk

Have you ever upcycled a piece of furniture? We'd love to see your before and after! 👇

Ever heard of the Trading Allowance?Most people haven't, but it's worth knowing about.If you earn up to £1,000 from self...
29/07/2026

Ever heard of the Trading Allowance?
Most people haven't, but it's worth knowing about.

If you earn up to £1,000 from self-employment or selling things in a tax year, you don't need to tell HMRC about it or pay any tax on it at all.

That covers things like:
Selling handmade items
Occasional freelance work
Car boot sales
Renting out your driveway

Go over £1,000 and you'll need to register as a sole trader and file a Self Assessment.

A lot of people ask about this with Vinted. If you're just clearing out your own wardrobe and selling things for less than you paid for them, there's nothing to declare, no matter how much you sell. It's only a different story if you're buying or making things specifically to sell on for a profit and that profit goes over £1,000 in a tax year, that's when you'd need to register and file a return.

Know someone with a little side hustle on the go?
Tag them below, this could save them a headache.

One of the first decisions every new business owner has to make, sole trader or limited company?Sole TraderSimplest way ...
27/07/2026

One of the first decisions every new business owner has to make, sole trader or limited company?

Sole Trader
Simplest way to get going, you can literally start today
You and the business are legally the same thing
You're personally responsible for any debts

Limited Company
A bit more admin, annual accounts and confirmation statements
The company is legally separate from you
Can bring tax advantages as things grow
Sometimes looks more established to clients

Neither one is right for everyone, it really comes down to your income, how much risk you're comfortable with, and where you want the business to go.

We've got a free quiz that helps you work out which one suits you, link in the comments.

Address

2nd Floor, 5 High Street, Westbury On Trym
Bristol
BS93BY

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441179502667

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