From Idea to Legal Structure: Setting Your Business Up Right

You must be based in Oxfordshire and have completed Enterprise Oxfordshire’s Business Support Tool since the 1st of November 2025 to attend this event. If you purchase a ticket without completing this, your ticket will be cancelled. Business Support Tool - Enterprise Oxfordshire Business

One of the first big decisions for any new business is how to set it up – and it can feel confusing fast. In this free webinar for Oxfordshire pre‑start entrepreneurs, we’ll demystify your options and help you choose the structure that fits your idea, values and ambitions.
Should you be a sole trader, a limited company, a CIC or CIO, or even a cooperative or mutual? What difference does it actually make for tax, funding, risk and control? And how do your social or community goals influence the best choice?

This 30‑minute webinar (plus 30 minutes for questions) from Enterprise Oxfordshire is designed for pre‑start entrepreneurs in Oxfordshire who want a clear, jargon‑free overview of their options before they register anything.

We’ll cover:

• What it really means to be a sole trader – and when this is a good starting point

• Key features of a limited company – including liability, directors and basic tax implications

• When a Community Interest Company (CIC) or Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) might be right for social or community‑focused ventures

• The basics of cooperatives and mutuals and how they can be used to “anchor wealth” locally

• How purpose, risk, funding, tax and governance all shape the best structure for you

• Practical next steps and where to get further support and advice in Oxfordshire

You’ll leave with:

• A clearer understanding of the main legal structures available

• A sense of which options best fit your idea and values

• Questions you can take to an accountant, solicitor or adviser before you commit

Who is this for?

• Anyone in Oxfordshire with a business, social enterprise or community idea who hasn’t yet registered

• Founders at the very early stages who want to check they’ve chosen the right structure

• People exploring co‑ops, CICs, CIOs or mutuals as alternatives to a standard limited company

Your Speaker:

Anthony Parsons is the Managing Director of ALP Synergy Ltd and a recognised business and environmental innovator. Driven by a clear mission, Anthony is committed to supporting 10,000 small businesses to start, grow, and thrive as part of a sustainable and fair economy by 2030.
With deep expertise in the UK SME landscape, Anthony provides strategic insight and hands-on delivery to small businesses and the organisations that serve them. He works closely with Economic Development Directors in councils and growth hubs, helping them maximise the impact of business-growth funding and effectively engage every local type of SME.
Anthony brings a uniquely grounded perspective, shaped by his own experience of founding, scaling, and ultimately closing several ventures across the retail, not-for-profit, and charity sectors. This real-world journey informs his practical, empathetic, and straight-talking approach to business support.