Business guides

Starting up in business can be daunting with lots of issues to consider. We offer you guidance and support for a range of issues from writing a business plan to understanding the legal implications of starting up on your own.

Running your own business requires a wide range of skills; you will need to be able to cope with competition and negotiate deals with suppliers.

Growing a business may well involve consuming financial resources faster than profits can replenish them, and many otherwise healthy businesses fail because they run out of cash. These guides help you avoid cashflow crises and ensure your business is adequately financed.

Growing your business can mean recruiting members of staff to support you. You will need to understand the recruitment process, what to do when the new person joins your business, and the legal implications.

One of the basic needs of a business is to market and sell its product or service. Long-term business success is based on the ability to build a growing body of satisfied customers. We give you a general introduction to marketing and selling in your business.

Many people have a dream of running their own business, but you might not know how to start, or perhaps don't believe you have enough of the skills or experience you need. Franchising could help you be providing a route into business using a tried-and-tested formula.

As a business owner, where you trade or operate from is one of the most critical decisions you face. The choice will depend on a number of factors, including company size, type, anticipated growth and where your customers are based.

We all make mistakes but sometimes the law is not very forgiving - ignorance of it has never been a defence. Here are a few common pitfalls to watch out for when running a business.