Founded in 1986, Business Matters is the UK's longest-established and largest business magazine, with 49,874 paying print subscribers*. It is read by the managing directors and owners of UK small and medium-sized businesses. They come to us for news, practical advice and interviews with the people who have built successful companies.

We publish a monthly print magazine, a news website, daily and weekly emails and a podcast. We also run events, five business awards and the Female Founders 250 list.

02 · Reach

Our audience in numbers

Our email data can be segmented by company size, sector (SIC code) and region, so a campaign can go to the whole audience or to the part of it you need.

04 · Editorial

What we cover

05 · Calendar

Editorial features 2027: January to June

Issue

Feature

What it covers

January On sale 1 Jan

The 2027 survival map Twelve dates that will define your year

Every SME deadline of 2027, month by month, from the new unfair dismissal rules to the EU AI Act, with the cost and a “do this now” action for each.

February On sale 5 Feb

Six months to get it right Hiring under the new rules

Redesigning probation, onboarding and performance management as the unfair dismissal qualifying period falls to six months. Plus: Launch of the Business Workplace Awards 2027

March On sale 5 Mar

Cash is king again Funding growth when money gets dearer

Where to raise money as rates rise, from banks and the British Business Bank to private credit, and what a 60-day payment cap means for cash flow.

April On sale 2 Apr

Who gets the business? The great handover

Selling, employee ownership, buy-outs or passing it on, with the tax on each route, as unused pensions enter inheritance tax from 6 April. Plus: Business Champion Awards 2027 winners

May On sale 7 May

Female Founders 250 The women building British business, ranked

The UK's leading female founders ranked from 1 to 250, with profiles and the seven marquee award winners.

June On sale 4 Jun

The yellow jersey economy Cashing in on Britain's summer of sport

A playbook for hospitality, retail, transport and events firms to profit from the Tour de France, the Ashes, Wimbledon and The Open. Plus: Best in Business 2027 winners

05 · Calendar

Editorial features 2027: July to December

Issue

Feature

What it covers

July On sale 2 Jul

Hire an agent Your first AI employee

AI agents that run whole workflows, from bookkeeping to customer service, with real costs, lessons learned and the governance a small firm needs.

August On sale 6 Aug

The defence dividend How small firms win a slice of rearmament

How firms outside defence can win MoD work as it aims to lift its annual spend with SMEs to £7.5bn: registration, accreditation and first contracts.

September On sale 3 Sep

The UK's best places to work Business Workplace Awards 2027: rated by their own staff

Up to 100 UK employers rated highest by their own staff, plus Business Workplace of the Year, and what the best did differently.

October On sale 1 Oct

The 20p revolution Getting ready for the circular economy

As deposit return goes live on 1 October, the full green-compliance picture, from packaging fees to the carbon border levy, with typical costs.

November On sale 5 Nov

The UK's Top 50 Most Innovative Companies Business Innovation Awards 2027

The UK's 50 most innovative companies and 32 sector and theme top-10 lists, revealed on 4 November.

December On sale 3 Dec

The best of rural Britain Rural Business Awards 2027: the winners

All 17 category winners from the 4 November awards night, set against the year's rural business story.

06 · Optimum

Optimum 2027: four issues, four themes

Each issue goes out with Business Matters and carries all six sections, built around one theme.

07 · Rates

Print advertising

Position

Rate

Trim size

With 3mm bleed

Double page spread

£5,586

420 x 297mm

426 x 303mm

Outside back cover

£3,780

210 x 297mm

216 x 303mm

Inside front or back cover

£3,160

210 x 297mm

216 x 303mm

Full page

£2,814

210 x 297mm

216 x 303mm

Half page, landscape

£1,974

210 x 148mm

216 x 154mm

Half page, portrait

£1,974

105 x 297mm

111 x 303mm

Quarter page

£945

105 x 148mm

111 x 154mm

08 · Rates

Website advertising

09 · Rates

Email advertising

Solus email: your message, and only yours

Sent to just over 85,000 subscribers who accept third-party emails, with 100% share of voice. Open rates average above 28%, and 8% to 9% of those who open click. Sends can be split by company size, sector or region, at the same price as the full send. Copy is due 48 hours before the send.

The podcast

In Conversation with Richard Alvin

An average of 10,000 listens per episode, on all major podcast platforms and YouTube. Sponsorship and branded episodes available.

11 · Awards · Black-tie finals

Recognising the entrepreneurs, SMEs and fast-growth companies that make the UK economy work.

Category partnership: from £20,000, with an in-depth online case study on every finalist in your category.

Black-tie final

Championing the businesses that power rural Britain.

Headline, category and supporting partnerships: prices on request.

11 · Awards · Winners' celebrations

Naming the UK's best places to work: up to 100 employers chosen by their own staff, plus 10 headline awards. Awards cannot be bought.

Ranking the UK's most innovative companies in 32 lists, each with a top 10, judged by an independent panel. Not pay-to-play: sponsors take no part in judging.

11 · Awards

Put your name to the UK's best suppliers to small business: more than 100 awards across 16 sectors, won on client and small business survey evidence. Awards cannot be bought.

The list

Show your support for the UK's leading female founders, with the top 250 ranked on merit, plus seven marquee awards. Places cannot be bought.

12 · Working with us

Booking and supplying copy