Help needed re setting up business

[Dior]

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[Kibby]

learn to make tea?

[Mothernature]

Help is @ hand

[Miaou]

I went on a local business start-up course, run through my local college, and it was brilliant - we did all sorts about how to set up and run your accounts, deal with advertising, set realistic targets etc. You would also need to do some kind of Health and Hygiene course too. May be worth looking at your council's information on this sort of thing, either website or in your local library.

[open]

Not been there, but you could try working in a cafe/teashop for a bit just to learn the pitfalls? And get them to pay for your Hygiene course too?

[Fran1]

I was going to say the inland revenue do some very useful leaflets and a big file to explain starting up a business and i see they also have info on their website that Mothernature has led you too!

Plenty of research within the area to help you draw up a business plan (which you will need to show the bank) and to prove that it is viable.
Check out the competition.

Work our your financial figures and check it can cover costs and earn you enough to live on. There are some good examples around on how to do this and how to write the plan as well.

[Metrobaby]

Well done you and your DH for taking the plunge . I highly recommend getting in touch with your local Business link. They should run a short course on most things you need to know. The one I went on was a 3 half day ones. You have to pay but it is a very nominal fee. Also have a look in your local Thompson directory at the local information pages. I found a course that was funded by my local council that was free. It was run over 3 days and was fantastic.

Very best luck with your new venture

[nasa]

good for you Dior - I can really see the attraction in that. not real advice to add but good luck and let us know how you get on, I shall be watching with interest.

[Dior]

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[SenoraPostrophe]

I know a couple of people who have done this successfully, and one who failed.

It seems to me that the key thing is to make a proper business plan and keep an eye on all costs. Borrow as little as you can, even if that means the decor/fittings are not quite what you imagined.

Sounds obvious I know, but lots of people don't do it.

Also double check anything Business Link tell you with an accountant - they misadvised DH on tax and caused all kind of problems.

[mrsflowerpot]

Get on the Business Link mailing list for training days to see what they offer. I went on a VAT and book-keeping course with ours that was run by a local accountant and it was really helpful, and cheap too, less than £30 as I recall.

I agree with SP that you have to check what they tell you, and they are more useful for some things than others, but they are good for the real basics, such as helping you with a business plan if you don't know where to start and giving you an overview of what the banks offer. If you're eligible for any sort of help with funding or if you're in an area that attracts extra funding for business start-ups (you'd probably have to be employing people for this to kick in though) they will be able to tell you about that too.

[Dior]

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[mrsflowerpot]

Then in that case you possibly won't find a planning-type meeting with Business Link that helpful, when dh went to see them he had his business plan all sorted and was quite clued up about his plans, and he said it was a bit of a waste of time. They are really geared up for people who don't know where to start. They might be helpful with premises perhaps, and it's worth asking them about grants etc (eg if you're in an area where encouraging tourism is high on the agenda then there might be something), but you can ask them that on the phone I would think. And their training courses can be quite good as I said.

I did get a good book from them about starting a business that covers all the basics from what sort of company to set up to employment issues, which is a good starting point for most things. You can get it through their website, it's basically a print compilation of all the helpsheets on the web.

[lowcalCOD]

oh please call it "chinchilla's"

[Dior]

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