If you are thinking about starting a business in Cumbria or would like to grow your existing business, we would love to help you.
Start Your Own Business in Cumbria contains resources and the information that will help give your venture the best chance of success. It also highlights organisations who offer friendly advice and the services that you are likely to need as a new startup or local business owner.
Grants | Networking groups | Business advice | Mentoring | Co-working spaces
Getting it right from the start can help to prevent problems later.
To help you with this we have created a vast selection of resources and they are all completely free!
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or already running a business in the area, this web page is designed to provide you with valuable information and resources to support your journey to success. Cumbria, located in the North West of England, offers a unique business environment with stunning landscapes, a thriving tourism industry, and diverse economic opportunities.
Cumbria is a county known for its breathtaking natural beauty, including the Lake District National Park and its UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As of the latest available data, the estimated population of Cumbria is around 500,000 residents. The county encompasses several major towns and cities that contribute to its economic growth and cultural heritage.
To navigate the business landscape effectively, it's essential to be familiar with the local authorities that govern different aspects of running a business in Cumbria. Here are the key authorities in the county along with their website links for further information:
Cumbria provides a range of resources and support networks for businesses at every stage of their journey. Whether you need assistance with funding, advice, networking, or general guidance, these organisations can be instrumental in your success. Here are a few noteworthy organisations dedicated to supporting businesses in Cumbria, along with their website links:
We hope this guide provides you with a solid foundation for starting or running a business in Cumbria. Explore the rest of our website for more detailed information, guides, and additional resources that will help you on your entrepreneurial journey in this stunning county. Good luck!
And your copy here for only £10 per YEAR!
If you can help existing local businesses and start-ups, we would love you to promote you as our recommended local partner for the area. This will give you maximum coverage (including your logo, name, description and a 'dofollow' link here) on an exclusive basis.
"Two heads are better than one."
Whether you have been trading for some time, are new to the market or are just thinking about starting a business of your own, it has been proven that your chances of success are considerably improved if you seek support from an experienced business advisor or mentor. You can find out more about both options at Business Advice in Cumbria and Business Mentors in Cumbria .
"Money makes the world go round."
Running out of money is one the most common reasons why businesses fail. This risk of this happening to can be avoided (or minimised) by careful planning and cashflow forecasting. If you need additional funds to start or keep your business going, you can learn more about your options and download our free funding factsheet at: Business Grants and Business Funding .
"It's not what you know, it is who you know."
Does the idea of business networking fill you with delight or dread? Either way, it can be beneficial for both your business and you as an entrepreneur. See Business Networking in Cumbria for details of local groups and our free Networking Factsheet.
"Home or away?"
Working from home is appealing to many new business owners but not practical for many others. Even if you are running a business by yourself, you might like to consider the option of 'hot desking' or co-working in one of the many flexi-workspaces that have emerged in recent years. Find out more at: Co-Working and Business Premises
Where to find help and support in the area.
If you are thinking about starting a business, our FREE three-hour ONLINE workshop is definitely for you!
Open to everyone, our sole aim is to increase your chances of success. We do that by explaining:
The reality of running a business; the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them; which legal status is likely to be most suitable; funding, grants and managing your money; business planning and cashflow forecasting; finding and keeping customers.
Download the 2023 edition of our Free Start Your Own Business guide
An interactive step-by-step guide which also includes all of the most important subjects covered in an easy-to-read way with links to useful online articles and relevant contacts.
The idea of starting your own business can be incredibly exciting and who can blame you for being tempted?
However, the sad truth is that far too many new enterprises fail in the early stages. Our aim is to make sure that you don’t become one of them.
This guide explains the key start-up subjects in simple English.
There is also plenty of help available in the area and much of it is free - please do make the most of it.
'You don't know what you don't know' is a phrase that is so applicable to starting a new business.
Cumbria is a great place for start-ups but your chances of success are dramatically improved if you make the most of the support that is available locally. Click on logos to visit their websites.
Accountancy
Web design
Advice
Networking
Networking
Advice
100's of free startup articles
We have created a collection of 100s of startup articles to help anyone with whatever stage they are on with their business journey. Hundreds of thousands of people have gone before you and we can learn from what they got right and avoid the things that have been proved not to work so well.
You can see the full list of 'articles' at: How to start a business
Being self-employed or running a business does not suit everyone.
Will my business idea work? That is the million dollar question!
Finding where to start is sometimes the hardest part.
So you’ve got an idea, it seems foolproof.
Options if you need to raise money to start your business.
How to find, win, and keep paying customers - the key to business success!
How to make the most of the web. Websites, SEO, and Social Media.
Learn from and avoid the pitfalls that other start-ups have encountered.
All of our useful FREE resources for new business start-ups in one place.
This FREE start-up pack contains everything that you need to get you started.
Our FREE downloadable guides are packed with the information that you need to start and grow a your business.
