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How to Start a Business in England

Free start-up resources and useful local contacts.

Improve your chances of success!

How to Start a Business in England

Starting a business in England

If you are thinking about starting a business in England or would like to grow your existing business, we would love to help you.

Start Your Own Business in England 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

Starting a business in England

Local help for startups

There is plenty of help for startups in England but where can it be found?

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Business in England

Start a business in England
England is a fantastic place to set up and run a business... as long as it is the right business!

We have been working with start-ups in England for the past 20 years and while it is true that the economy has changed dramatically during that time, many of the key considerations have remained the same. The sad truth is that too many new businesses fail in the early stages and our hope is that we can play in a small part in reducing that number and help you avoid some of the most common pitfalls.

Find local help including business support organisations, local business networking groups and grants which are available in your area.

1. Important Considerations:

Before diving into the practical steps, it's crucial to consider some key aspects when starting a business in England:

  1. Business Idea Validation: Ensure that your business idea is viable and has market demand. Conduct thorough market research, analyse competitors, and identify your target audience.
  2. Legal Structure: Choose the most appropriate legal structure for your business, such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. Consult a legal professional to understand the implications of each structure.
  3. Business Plan: Develop a comprehensive business plan outlining your objectives, strategies, financial projections, and marketing tactics. A well-crafted business plan helps secure funding and guides your business growth.
  4. Financing: Determine the required capital for your business and explore financing options. These may include personal savings, loans from banks or financial institutions, venture capital, or crowdfunding platforms.
  5. Regulations and Licences: Familiarise yourself with the legal and regulatory requirements specific to your industry. Check whether you need licences, permits, or certifications to operate your business legally.
  6. Taxation: Understand the tax obligations associated with running a business in England. Register your business for taxes and consider seeking advice from an accountant or tax professional.
2. Organisations for Assistance:

Several organisations in England can provide valuable support and resources to help you start and grow your business:

  • Gov.uk : The official government website provides comprehensive information on setting up a business, taxation, regulations, and compliance.
  • British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) : BCC represents and supports businesses across England. They offer networking opportunities, training programs, and business support.
  • Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) : FSB provides advice, resources, and lobbying on behalf of small businesses. They offer networking events, legal support, and access to business tools.
  • Start Up Loans : A government-backed programme that offers low-interest loans and mentoring to new businesses.
3. Business Start-up Statistics for English Cities:

Below are some statistics on business start-ups in prominent cities across England:

  • London: Over 200,000 new businesses are registered in London every year (Source: Statista).
  • Manchester: Approximately 19,000 new businesses are formed each year in Manchester (Source: Manchester City Council).
  • Birmingham: Around 15,000 new businesses are registered in Birmingham every year (Source: Birmingham City Council).
  • Leeds: Leeds registers around 11,000 new businesses per annum (Source: Leeds City Council).
4. Business Networking:

Building a strong network is essential for business growth and success. Engage in the following networking activities:

  1. Attend Events: Participate in industry-specific conferences, trade shows, and seminars to connect with professionals and potential clients.
  2. Join Networking Groups: Explore local business networking groups like BNI (Business Network International) and Chambers of Commerce. These groups organise regular networking events and workshops.
  3. Online Networking: Leverage social media platforms to connect with professionals in your industry. Join relevant online communities, industry-specific groups, and actively engage in discussions.
5. Start-up Hints and Tips:

Consider the following hints and tips to enhance your chances of success:

  1. Focus on Customer Satisfaction: Build strong relationships with your customers and provide excellent customer service.
  2. Embrace Technology: Utilise technology to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reach a wider audience. Leverage digital marketing, e-commerce platforms, and cloud-based tools.
  3. Continuous Learning: Stay updated with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices through workshops, webinars, and training programmes.
  4. Seek Mentorship: Find a mentor who can guide you through the challenges of starting and growing a business. Their experience and insights can be invaluable.
Conclusion:

Starting a new business in England offers ample opportunities for growth and success. By considering the important aspects, accessing available statistics, utilising the support of relevant organisations, and implementing effective networking strategies, you'll be well-equipped to embark on your entrepreneurial journey. Remember that starting and growing a business requires resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning. Stay committed to your vision, seek support when needed, and be proactive in leveraging available resources and networks to succeed in the dynamic business landscape of England.

Local partners

We are happy to promote anyone who is prepared to offer friendly support to local start-ups.

Our local partners have been kind enough to help us and are keen to help you too.

Free Startup Resources

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!

FREE startup workshops

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.

Latest articles

You don't know what you don't know!

The prospect of starting a new business can be incredibly exciting but should be approached with care. You have probably heard scary stories about how many start-ups fail in the early stages. You can make sure that you are not one of them by learning as much as possible before you launch. Over the years, we have collected lots of articles which will show you what has worked well for other start-ups and the putfalls to avoid.

Free Startup Guide

Start Your Own Business in 2021

Download the 2024 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.

Read more about what our Free guide contains and how you can download it.
Starting a business in England

Key Contacts in England

'You don't know what you don't know' is a phrase that is so applicable to starting a new business.

England 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.

Networking

The Lonely Middle Club - From Startup Hive
Starting a business is exciting, and succeeding is rewarding, but what about the bit between? You know, that bit that’s full of self-doubt, endless repetition and feelings of being out of your comfort zone? We call it ‘The Lonely Middle’ and it’s one of the hardest parts of creating a successful business. We know, we’ve been there. So, we created The Lonely Middle Club to help you through it. Each month you get exclusive content to help give you the knowledge and inspiration to succeed. Plus, you get access to a private members-only Facebook group where you can get advice and network with small business owners who are going through similar challenges to you. If you want even more, you can download our 51 worksheets, guides, and journals all designed to do one thing, and one thing only… help you get through ‘The Lonely Middle’ and achieve your business goals. Visit our website today to join the club and benefit from our members price lock and full no questions asked money-back guarantee.
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Start-up articles

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