| Starting a new business can be a very | | | | |
| exciting time, you are going to be your own | | | | There are a lot of agencies who can advise |
| boss, decide what and when you do things, | | | | you on some, or all, aspects of starting a |
| manage the purse strings, and in fact you are | | | | business. Some of these will charge you for |
| in control of everything. Are you really in | | | | their advice whilst others offer them free of |
| control of the situation though, you have to | | | | charge. |
| deal with everything yourself so you have to | | | | |
| stay focused on what you want to do and why. | | | | Business link is one of the agencies and |
| All business startups need advice; sometimes | | | | advice is free and assistance with funding |
| they need advice on where to get advice, so | | | | might be available in the right |
| the budding entrepreneur has to be able to | | | | circumstances. They have a large database |
| listen as there is more to running a business | | | | that will help you find a grant or subsidy |
| than understanding, or loving, the subject. | | | | that suits your business and let you know |
| | | | what makes a business eligible to receive |
| Like a chess game, success in small business | | | | one. Interactive tools help you identify the |
| starts with decisive and correct opening | | | | capital and incentive allowances that your |
| moves. And, although initial mistakes are not | | | | business can claim and identifies online |
| fatal, it takes skill, discipline and hard | | | | transactions available to your business and |
| work to regain the advantage. | | | | explains how to register and enrol. |
| | | | |
| When you plan to start a business you do not | | | | They can even help with introductions to |
| plan to fail but statistics show that 70% of | | | | reputable suppliers. A bad supplier speeds |
| business startups fail within the first 3 | | | | the downfall of a lot of business startups |
| years of trading. This is for a variety of | | | | who really need to rely on good stock and |
| reasons but they mainly hinge around business | | | | reliable delivery dates. |
| and financial planning. Basic mistakes like | | | | |
| starting the business with insufficient | | | | There are a lot of schemes that are |
| financial backing or working capital to | | | | interested in funding business startups, for |
| taking too much of the profits to remunerate | | | | example Option 2 funding offers 50% matched |
| the owners are often the downfall of the | | | | funding for projects to expand business. |
| business. | | | | Other funding schemes are often available |
| | | | based on regional location and industry type. |
| A way to increase your chances of success, | | | | These include grants to help with business |
| take the time up front to explore and | | | | development, and they are available from a |
| evaluate your business and personal goals. | | | | variety of sources, such as the government, |
| This information will be useful to help you | | | | the European Union, Regional Development |
| build a comprehensive and well | | | | Agencies, Business Links and some charitable |
| ¬thought¬ out business plan, the | | | | organisations. |
| blueprint for you business. | | | | |
| | | | So if you do not want to be a an addition to |
| Every business needs a business plan, for | | | | the failure statistic investigate all the |
| business startups the first part of the | | | | funding opportunities available to you, |
| business plan might be where to find out how | | | | whether you go to a commercial organisation |
| to write a business plan and what it should | | | | or go for free advice from an agency such as |
| include. The process of developing a business | | | | Business Link. Be sure to listen to their |
| plan will help you think through some | | | | advice, they have been dealing with business |
| important issues that you may not have | | | | startups for years; this is your first time. |
| considered yet. Your plan will become a | | | | |
| valuable tool as you set out to raise money | | | | Adrian Lawrence is the webmaster of Article |
| for your business, no investor will even look | | | | Alley a popularfree content directory |
| at you if you have not got a business plan. | | | | websites. Please feel free to republish this |
| It should also provide milestones to gauge | | | | article providing this resource boxremains |
| your success. | | | | intact with a working hyperlink to our site. |