Guides
Plain-English guides on selling online (fees, postage, profit and tax) and on websites, hosting and domains for small businesses.
Website guides for small businesses
WordPress and website builders compared, plus hosting, domains and backups, explained in plain English. Want us to handle it for you? See our website services.
WordPress vs Squarespace vs Wix vs Shopify
UK prices, good and bad sides, and which one suits which small business.
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WordPress pros and cons
The good and bad sides of WordPress for a small business website.
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WordPress vs Squarespace
UK prices, upkeep and which one fits your business.
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WordPress vs Wix
Costs, ease of use and what happens if you want to move later.
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WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
What the difference is, what each costs and which to choose.
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How to choose web hosting
A plain-English UK checklist: backups, support, security, real price and how to avoid getting locked in.
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Shared hosting vs VPS vs WordPress hosting
What each type means, who it suits and what to watch for.
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Domain names: choose and register one
.co.uk vs .com, who holds the domain, and how to register and renew without mistakes.
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Website backups: what to back up
What to copy, where to keep it and how to test a restore.
Read the guide →Browse guides by topic
Every guide in one place. Pick a topic, or scroll for the newest guides.
Selling fees
What eBay, Etsy, Vinted and Depop really take.
- eBay UK fees explained: private vs business sellers→
- Etsy Fees UK Explained (With a Worked Example)→
- Vinted Fees for UK Sellers: What You Pay and What Buyers Pay→
- Depop Fees for UK Sellers Explained (2026)→
- eBay vs Etsy vs Vinted vs Depop: UK Seller Fees Compared→
- Is It Worth Selling on Etsy? A UK Seller’s Reality Check→
Pricing, profit and tracking
Price with confidence and know your real profit.
Postage
Cheaper parcels and Christmas posting dates.
Tax and VAT
HMRC, Self Assessment, allowable expenses and VAT, in plain English.
- Self Assessment for online sellers: the 31 January 2027 deadline→
- Allowable expenses for online sellers: what you can claim→
- Do You Need to Tell HMRC About Your eBay Sales? (UK Guide)→
- Vinted and HMRC: do you pay tax on Vinted sales?→
- Etsy tax in the UK: what makers need to know→
- Do You Need to Register for VAT as an Online Seller in the UK?→
- Landlord expenses spreadsheet: what to track in the UK→
Christmas and money
Budgets, the big dinner and keeping track of your money.
Latest guides
WordPress vs Squarespace vs Wix vs Shopify: which is best for a UK small business?
Read the guide →: WordPress vs Squarespace vs Wix vs Shopify: which is best for a UK small business?Four platforms, one table: 2026 UK prices, what each is best at, and a simple way to choose for a service business, a shop or a portfolio.
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: what is the difference?
Read the guide →: WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: what is the difference?Same name, different deal. What WordPress.com and WordPress.org each mean, what they cost and which one a small business should choose.
WordPress vs Wix: which is better for a UK small business?
Read the guide →: WordPress vs Wix: which is better for a UK small business?Wix is the easiest drag-and-drop builder; WordPress gives more control and lower running costs. Prices, pros and cons and who each one suits.
WordPress vs Squarespace for a UK small business
Read the guide →: WordPress vs Squarespace for a UK small businessA plain-English comparison of WordPress and Squarespace for UK small businesses, with 2026 prices, what each does best and which one suits which business.
WordPress for small business: the pros and cons
Read the guide →: WordPress for small business: the pros and consWhat WordPress does well, where it causes headaches, what it really costs a small business each year, and when Squarespace or Wix is the better choice.
Allowable expenses for online sellers: what you can claim
Read the guide →: Allowable expenses for online sellers: what you can claimWhich costs eBay, Vinted and Etsy sellers can take off their sales, what you cannot claim, the flat rates for working from home and mileage, and expenses vs…
Etsy tax in the UK: what makers need to know
Read the guide →: Etsy tax in the UK: what makers need to knowSelling handmade or digital products on Etsy is trading. How the £1,000 allowance works, when to register, what Etsy reports and the costs you can take off.
Vinted and HMRC: do you pay tax on Vinted sales?
Read the guide →: Vinted and HMRC: do you pay tax on Vinted sales?When Vinted reports sellers to HMRC, why clearing out your wardrobe is usually not taxable, and what to do if you buy to resell.
Self Assessment for online sellers: the 31 January 2027 deadline
Read the guide →: Self Assessment for online sellers: the 31 January 2027 deadlineWho needs to send a tax return for online selling, the key dates for 2025 to 2026, what goes on the return and what happens if you miss…
Christmas dinner timeline: work back from serving time
Read the guide →: Christmas dinner timeline: work back from serving timeHow to plan a Christmas dinner timeline backwards from the time you want to eat, with an example running order for a 2pm dinner.
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