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
How to track your net worth in the UK
Read the guide →: How to track your net worth in the UKWhat to include when you track your net worth in the UK, how often to update it, and a simple worked example with round numbers.
Landlord expenses spreadsheet: what to track in the UK
Read the guide →: Landlord expenses spreadsheet: what to track in the UKThe columns and categories a UK landlord expenses spreadsheet needs, which costs HMRC allows, and how long to keep your records.
Christmas budget per person: a simple UK method
Read the guide →: Christmas budget per person: a simple UK methodWork out a Christmas budget per person from what you can afford, with a worked £600 example and a simple way to split gifts by tier.
Website Backups for Small Businesses: What to Back Up and How to Test It
Read the guide →: Website Backups for Small Businesses: What to Back Up and How to Test ItWhat to back up for a small business website, where to keep copies and how to test a restore, based on NCSC advice for small organisations.
Domain Names for Small Businesses: How to Choose and Register One (UK)
Read the guide →: Domain Names for Small Businesses: How to Choose and Register One (UK)What a domain name is, who holds it, .co.uk vs .com, and how to choose, register and renew one for your UK business without mistakes.
How to Choose Web Hosting for a Small Business (UK Checklist)
Read the guide →: How to Choose Web Hosting for a Small Business (UK Checklist)A plain-English checklist for choosing web hosting in the UK: backups, support, security, real price and how to avoid getting locked in.
Shared Hosting vs VPS vs WordPress Hosting: Which Does a Small Business Need?
Read the guide →: Shared Hosting vs VPS vs WordPress Hosting: Which Does a Small Business Need?Shared hosting, managed WordPress hosting, VPS and dedicated servers explained in plain English, with who each suits and what to watch for.
Do You Need to Register for VAT as an Online Seller in the UK?
Read the guide →: Do You Need to Register for VAT as an Online Seller in the UK?The £90,000 VAT threshold, the two registration tests and what counts as turnover, explained for small UK online sellers.
Free Postage or Charge Postage on eBay UK? What Keeps More Profit
Read the guide →: Free Postage or Charge Postage on eBay UK? What Keeps More ProfitDoes free postage change your eBay fees? A worked example for UK sellers shows what you keep with free, charged or too-low postage.
Is It Worth Selling on Etsy? A UK Seller’s Reality Check
Read the guide →: Is It Worth Selling on Etsy? A UK Seller’s Reality CheckWhat you can sell on Etsy, what the fees cost on a £28.50 sale, and how to work out your profit and your time before you start.
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