Start Up Advice

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There are many reasons why you would want to start a business, however starting and running your own business is not right for everyone. Also if you get it wrong it can be costly not only in financial terms but in health and personal relationships.

There are a number of ways to check if you have got what it takes to run a business and various organisations you can speak to, initially however there is quite a lot you can do yourself and should do yourself.

This part of the site will lead you through a number of exercises and point you in the direction of some research you can undertake, and will frequently question you on your idea and its application in the market place. 

The decision to start your business or not remains yours all we ask is that you make the decision with as much knowledge at your disposal as possible - we accept no liability for your decision, but would like to welcome you as a member should you take that giant step into self-employment.

Trial trading or test trading is often used to see if you have a product or service which people will buy - you will need to decide what exposure this will need from you both in the way of capital which may not be recoverable, time and other resources. If you do decide to do this make sure you do things legally (HMRC etc.), and have the right insurance (trade or professional bodies can be useful here).

1^st Question - Why?

You can use the following links to help you move your idea forward - you do not have to follow all the links but even if you feel you have done this already it may be worth looking at the information to check that you have not missed anything.

Links:

Start Up Offers - additional offers for those setting up/recently started a business.

Why? & that burning question you want answering

Business Planning - including an example of a simple Business Plan

Marketing Plan

Financial Forecasts - link to Business Link for information on what you need to include.

Case Study - Glide (Funding Entrepreneurs)

If you are looking to set up your business from home - check out Enterprise Nation.

Other links - for the under 31's :

Shell Livewire - http://www.shell-livewire.org/news/ - the UK's biggest online community for young entrepreneurs starting a business.

Princes Trust - http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/ The Business Programme helps people to explore and test their business ideas, write business plans and start their own businesses or achieve alternative goals in education, training or work.

For the over 50's :

Prime Business Club - http://www.primebusinessclub.co.uk/ People of any age can set up in business, but it’s particularly useful for the over 50s as there are not a lot of other options. Despite legislation supposedly outlawing age discrimination, older people still face difficulty finding an employer willing to give them a job.