The Startup Edit toolkit.
We test the tools so you don't have to. Curated picks for UK founders — banking, bookkeeping, invoicing, hiring, and the apps we use to run this site. Discover our new interactive tools like the Side Hustle Idea Generator.
The best UK business bank accounts for side hustlers (tested)
We opened five and ranked them on fees, app quality, and how fast you can actually start trading.
More in Tools
The £0 tech stack: free tools to run your UK side hustle in 2026
Invoicing, accounting, scheduling and email — all on the free tier.
Marcus Thorne
28 Mar 2026
Tide referral code REFER200: full review and £200 offer guide
Use Tide referral code REFER200 with the official partner link, then read our in-depth review of Tide’s business account features, eligibility and offer terms.
Startup Edit Team
21 May 2026
Capital on Tap promo SETTINGUP: full review and 7,500 points guide
Use Capital on Tap promo code SETTINGUP to claim 7,500 bonus points, then review the card’s 1% cashback, fees, eligibility and best use cases.
Startup Edit Team
21 May 2026
Capital on Tap review: is the 1% cashback actually worth it?
We ran £14k through the card over 90 days. Here's the real maths, the catches, and how to claim 7,500 points with code SETTINGUP.
Priya Aldridge
14 May 2026
FreeAgent vs Xero vs QuickBooks: the honest 2026 comparison
We ran the same business through all three for a quarter. Here's what actually matters once you're past the free trial.
Startup Edit Team
02 Apr 2026
Xero quickstart: from blank to first invoice in 20 minutes
Chart of accounts, bank feeds, and the three reports you actually need every month.
Marcus Thorne
14 May 2026
The Notion stack we use to run Startup Edit (templates inside)
CRM, content calendar, monthly close — five free templates you can duplicate today.
Chloe Simms
12 May 2026
Canva Pro vs free: which one is worth £109.99 a year?
We rebuilt our entire brand on each. The five features that only matter once you're past month six.
Startup Edit Team
10 May 2026
The 2026 AI stack for UK founders: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini
What we use each for — drafting, contracts, code, and the £20/mo subscription we actually kept.
Priya Aldridge
08 May 2026
Free UK accounting software: Wave, Pandle and the catches
Three free options that handle Self Assessment — and what you give up vs paying £19/mo for FreeAgent.
Marcus Thorne
06 May 2026
1Password vs Bitwarden vs Dashlane for a one-person business
Shared vaults, contractor handoff, and the security mistake that costs founders client trust.
Chloe Simms
04 May 2026
Project management for solo founders: Linear, Todoist, Things
We tested all three for a month. The one that actually reduced our open-tab count by 60%.
Startup Edit Team
02 May 2026
CRM for solopreneurs: Folk, Attio, and a Notion alternative
When a £29/mo CRM beats a free Notion board — and when it really, really doesn't.
Zara M.
30 Apr 2026
Email marketing for UK founders: Beehiiv, Substack, MailerLite
GDPR, deliverability, and which platform pays you when your list hits 1,000 readers.
Priya Aldridge
27 Apr 2026
Best mileage tracker apps for UK sole traders (2026)
MileIQ, Driversnote, FreshBooks — battery drain, accuracy, and HMRC-ready exports compared.
Marcus Thorne
25 Apr 2026
Receipt scanning apps: stop losing tax-deductible expenses
Dext, AutoEntry, and the free Tide / Mettle scanners. The one that handles HMRC's 6-year rule.
Chloe Simms
23 Apr 2026
E-signature tools: DocuSign vs PandaDoc vs free options
What's actually legally binding in the UK — and the free option most freelancers should use.
Startup Edit Team
20 Apr 2026
Tide vs Monzo vs Starling: Which handles UK bookkeeping best?
We compared the top three digital banks on their receipt scanning, tax pots, and accounting integrations.
Startup Edit Team
20 May 2026
FreeAgent Quickstart: Connecting your bank and first expense
Get your accounting sorted in 20 minutes. A walkthrough for UK founders using FreeAgent.
Marcus Thorne
20 May 2026
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