The Business Gateway service in East Dunbartonshire provides new-start businesses with access to a wide range of detailed information, advice, workshops and events in areas such as: - Business Planning - Marketing - Business Finance We have experienced business advisors that can assist you through the process of starting and growing your business. You can arrange an appointment with one of our Business Gateway advisors in your local office (Kirkintilloch and Milngavie) by calling 0141 578 8530. New-start businesses are also able to access other forms of financial support: Start up Loans can provide personal loans of between £1,000 and £25,000 to individuals that have recently started a new business. In addition to the loan, you will also be able to access support for up to 12 months from a skilled business advisor. West of Scotland Loan Fund can provide a business loan of between £20,000 to £100,000, up to 50% of a start-up finance package. This is only available to incorporated businesses. There is also support for businesses that employ a young East Dunbartonshire resident in the form of a wage subsidy.

We're here to help you find the business support you need. We have gathered together information and support for all company sizes and sectors across Scotland. What is FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot? This service was established to help Scottish businesses find the public sector support they need. Information is available for businesses of all sizes – from those thinking about starting a business to large, well established companies. This website is supported by an enquiries and referral service. You can contact us by submitting an enquiry or calling 0300 303 0660. Our lines are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Landline calls cost up to 10 pence per minute, mobile costs can vary from 3 pence per minute to 40 pence per minute depending on your operating provider (source: Gov.uk). Why was this website created? This site intends to help Scottish businesses find the right information, advice and support at the right time. We will continue to add information and develop FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot and the referral service. We aim to provide all businesses with quick and easy access to all business support services provided by public sector organisations in Scotland. Who runs FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot? This is a partnership service. It started as a collaboration between Business Gateway, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland. We will eventually include all organisations who receive public funding in Scotland. We currently include services from the following partners.

The National Library of Scotland is one of a number of organisations that are here to help you with your business. We can: Guide you through the COBRA resource. COBRA stands for Complete Business Reference Advisor, and it is an excellent way to find out the basics about running a business. You can even use this resource at home if you register with us, which is free to do and just takes a few minutes Introduce you to our other business information resources and explain what each one can offer, from company data and market size, to market research and trends analysis Guide you towards a very large collection of books and articles all about running a business, marketing and management, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Get in touch by emailing enquiries@nls.uk to find out more.

As a group of business people working and campaigning together Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce is a very powerful tool. Membership of the Chamber enables businesses owners to share information and resources and to speak to people who understand the problems they are facing and who may be able to offer some useful advice and support. The Chamber offers its members monthly opportunities for networking at informal events with a programme of guest speakers each sharing their own individual specialism or knowledge with the members as well as a number of purely social events. The sharing of knowledge and resources that this facilitates can save much time and money for individual members and there are a number of other great membership benefits on offer through the Chamber ranging from business mentoring to legal support and advice. Together we create an effective crowd all working towards a healthy and prosperous business community which will benefit everyone ... and a crowd has a very loud voice! M&T Builders Merchants 22 Charlotte Street Helensburgh Dunbartonshire G84 7PH

Bute Enterprise Finance Fund is a charity funded company which provides loans to businesses and organisations in Bute, Argyll, South and North Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. Finance £10k-£200k is available with flexible repayment terms up to 10yrs. Specific emphasis is placed on businesses that will assist economic regeneration or generate and sustain employment. We can also help borrowers access other types of finance such as government funded start up loans, advise on business plans and support the growth of your business.

myscot.gov has a section dedicated to starting a business which talks you through the first steps, stage by stage.

Information on business planning, registering a company and starting a new business. Setting up - Find information on setting up a business in Scotland. Tax and registering - Find information about registering your business with HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House. Marketing your business - Information on marketing and sales for your business. Intellectual property - Find out what intellectual property is and how to protect it in the UK and abroad. Further help to start a business - Information on organisations or services that can help you start a business or help your staff learn new skills.

The Dunbartonshire chamber is a membership organisation which promotes, represents and supports all kinds of business in both West Dunbartonshire and East Dunbartonshire. Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce offers business support, networking and a host of benefits included in membership such as Chamber Legal and Chamber HR, subsidised healthcare. Our membership takes in a wide range of sectors and sizes ranging from sole trader start ups, social enterprises and public sector organisations to PLCs and some of the largest employers in the area. Starting a business in Dunbartonshire or wanting to grow an existing business? The Dunbartonshire Chamber provides the perfect starting point. We can help advise on funding, finance and training for business including the grants and loans available from our partner organisations. We can also put you in touch with essential service providers from within our membership. Whitecrook Business Centre, 78 Whitecrook Street, Clydebank, G81 1QF

Start Up Loans assign all applicants to one of our Delivery Partners and, where possible, match you with a Delivery Partner who operates in your local area. The link is to a page which lists their partners in Scotland. Please note, to ensure they can effectively support you, you will only be able to work with one Delivery Partner and you will not be able to change this once you have submitted your application.

Government-backed start up loans are available to help people who want to start or grow a business that is less than 24 months old. The UK Government has already helped over 3,700 companies in Scotland with start up loans. The UK Government has already helped businesses in Scotland with more than £30 million in start up loans. Start up loans are a great opportunity for individuals in need of a personal loan for business purposes to fund their new business. In addition to the loan you can also receive free business support and mentoring to help with starting and growing your business.

Starting a business - you may be planning to start a business or perhaps you’ve already begun. Find advice on the essentials, from writing a business plan to intellectual property on the Business Gateway website. It has a section dedicated to business start-up and this includes the opportunity to download your business plan template and guidance on: starting up a business, business support and advice, forming a company or business, intellectual property, naming a business, buying a business or franchise, Create business plan.

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's national economic development agency and a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government. To deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy, we work with partners in the public and private sectors to find and exploit the best opportunities. We support thousands of companies the length and breadth of Scotland, helping catalyse the changes in our economy that will have a long-term positive impact on Scotland's business competitiveness around the world. In doing so, we're creating significantly more, better jobs, helping people fulfil their potential. Starting a business? It can be both exhilarating and challenging getting your business off the ground. Having the confidence to take that next step is often all that’s needed. Access funding, a free business plan template, and guidance on legal requirements.

If you run a start-up business as an entrepreneur, there is a variety of help for start-ups available, and there may be extra support you can access if you come under certain categories. Much of this help takes the form of mentoring and networking - but you should also be able to access targeted advice, support and even apply for loans and grants. This guide will help explain about the sources of funding that might be available to you and where to get help, advice and training.