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How to Start a Business in Hull

Free start-up resources and useful local contacts.

Improve your chances of success!

How to Start a Business in Hull

Starting a business in Hull

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

Start Your Own Business in Hull 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 Hull

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!

If you're considering starting or growing a business in Hull, you've come to the right place.

Kingston-upon-Hull, commonly known as Hull, is a vibrant city located on the northeastern coast of England. With its rich history, diverse demographics, and growing business opportunities, Hull provides an excellent environment for entrepreneurs.

Demographics

Hull is home to a diverse population, offering a range of opportunities for businesses to cater to different consumer needs and preferences. Understanding the demographics of Hull will help you tailor your products or services to the local market effectively.

Major Suburbs

Hull consists of several major suburbs, each with its unique characteristics and potential for business growth. Here are some notable suburbs in Hull:

  • City Centre: The heart of Hull, the city centre offers a bustling environment with a mix of retail, hospitality, and professional services.
  • Hessle: Located to the west of Hull, Hessle is known for its picturesque views along the Humber River and its thriving local businesses.
  • Cottingham: Situated to the northwest of Hull, Cottingham is a popular residential area with a vibrant village feel and a range of local businesses.
Local Authority

Hull City Council is the local authority responsible for governing and supporting businesses in the city. Their website provides valuable resources and information for businesses, including licensing, permits, and economic development initiatives. You can access the business section of their website for specific guidance and support:

Hull City Council - Business

Business Support Organisations

Hull offers a range of organisations that provide support and resources for entrepreneurs and businesses. Here are some notable organisations you can turn to for assistance:

  • Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce: The Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce offers networking opportunities, business support, and advocacy for local businesses. Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce
  • HullBID (Business Improvement District): HullBID works to enhance the city centre's business environment and promote economic growth through various initiatives and events. HullBID
  • University of Hull Business School: The University of Hull Business School offers business support, mentoring, and access to research and expertise for startups and SMEs. University of Hull Business School
Conclusion

Starting a business in Kingston-upon-Hull can be a fulfilling and lucrative endeavor. With its diverse demographics, vibrant suburbs, and support from the local authority and business organisations, Hull provides a favorable environment for entrepreneurial success. By leveraging the available resources, networking opportunities, and guidance, you can navigate the process of starting and growing your business with confidence.

Remember to conduct market research, develop a robust business plan, and tap into the support network offered by the local community. With determination, innovation, and the right support, your business in Hull can thrive and contribute to the city's economic growth.

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.

Free startup guide

Start Your Own Business in Hull

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 Hull

Key Contacts in Hull

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

Hull 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.

Advice

Hull City Council Business
The Hull City Council website has pages dedicated to supporting local business. If you have a business in Hull, there are a range of organisations to support you and help your business grow. Their aim is to support you to ensure your investment and business interests are successful. The Enterprise Support Team provides a point of contact for anyone seeking business support. They can offer business support and advice on sources of assistance including grants, raising finance, starting and expanding a business, workshop programmes and tailored business advice.
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Accountancy

DSS Accounting
At DSS Accounting we can help you to help your Business grow and increasing profitability. This could be simply providing advice, point of contact for HMRC or actively becoming a member of your team to work on certain projects. Our Business support covers...... Company Formation * Help choosing Company name * Company structure advice (directors and shareholders) * Registered office facility * HMRC registration (VAT, PAYE and Tax) * Deadline reminders * Advise software Support * Business strategy * Business advice * Business plans * Training
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IT

Oughtred & Harrison IT Services
Oughtred & Harrison IT Services is a long established East Yorkshire company. Many businesses rely on our years of expertise and knowledge to ensure they are secure and monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We specialise in getting start-up companies up and running efficiently and safely so that you can concentrate on running your business and not having to worry about I.T. We work with you to design IT systems that are robust, reliable and affordable. We are also friendly and approachable, if you have any concerns over your I.T, we are always happy to meet up for a chat and a cuppa!
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Bookkeeping

CBA Financials
Running your own business ? Snowed under with the paperwork ? We are specialists in providing quality financial services with outstanding support. Our expert personalised service can take care of all your bookkeeping and financial needs, quickly and efficiently. Why not contact us to see how we can handle the financial paperwork, leaving you to do what you do best... Run YOUR business.
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Marketing

Assured Marketing LTD
Assured Marketing offer Small Local Businesses comprehensive digital marketing services that are refreshingly priced. We are taking the knowledge and experience gained working with the UK’s largest companies and offering this to our local SMEs. With a strong culture of championing entrepreneurship in the region we hope to create a local commercial sector who are ready for the digital age. We offer a range of high quality bespoke services including SEO, PPC, Social Media Marketing, Website design and much more.
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Office Services

Admin Made Easy Ltd
Admin Made Easy is a small team of Virtual Assistants that provide small business owners and startups with all manner of tasks from social media support, blogging, back-office admin tasks, bookkeeping, payroll, and HR support services
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Advice

Invest Hull
The Hull and Humber area offers a broad range of business incentives and support, including loans, grants, advice and skills. Hull benefits from 30 Enterprise Zone sites, designed to stimulate the development of new investment opportunities across a range of local industries. Companies operating from these sites can benefit from simplified planning guidelines and financial incentives in the form of reduced business rates worth up to £255,000 over five years, or Enhanced Capital Allowances for companies on certain sites within the Port of Hull estate.
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Advice

Humber Business Growth Hub
ou have a new business idea and want to progress this further but aren’t sure what steps should be taken. We can point you in the right direction of where to get help with essential research and turn your idea into a business. The Growth Hub can help you write your business plan, give guidance on what business structure you should adopt. Negotiate your way around the complexity of registering your business with HMRC and companies house and how to find an accountant. Find help with developing you sales and marketing Strategies. Help is available for developing your online business and social media platforms. The ultimate guide to basic business accounting from Sage Advice gives detailed advice on how to manage your money.The Enterprise Allowance can provide money and support to help you start your own business if you’re getting certain benefits. There is lots of helpful advice for recruiting and hiring staff. Discover how a business mentor can help you start your business. Find free legal advice for trading standards. We also have a mine of information in our Knowledge Centre. The new Government Business Forum provides extensive support for people who are starting out in business. Sage have the ultimate small business toolkit, which includes a business & cash flow forecast template. If you are looking for funding for your business our Finance pages can help. NIBusinessInfo have advice for people who are looking to Start a Part time Business. HMRC have help and support for company directors. We also have advice for setting up a Social Enterprise company. We have a team of Start up Business Advisors who can help you start a business.
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Payroll

Payroll Bureau
We are a payroll preparation bureau who can handle all of your payroll calculations and deductions. Dealing with attachments of earning, student loans, SSP, SMP, SPP, SAP as well as the normal deductions for national insurance, tax and pensions. Payroll deadlines? Legislation? Confusion? The Payroll Bureau is dedicated to resolving these issues professionally, accurately and promptly. We can take over your payroll worries. Payroll is our business. We pride ourselves on our reputation for reliability and efficiency. Let us take over this time-consuming chore and help your company run more effectively.
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Grants

Test Marketing Grants for Young Entrepreneurs
The Youth Enterprise and Micro Biz Team at Hull City Council has established a funding pot with the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank that enables the issuing of a Test Market Grants. These are usually normally between £350 and £500, although more may be granted in exceptional circumstances, for aspiring young entrepreneurs in Hull until March 2025 or until the funding pot is depleted. Successful candidates will be encouraged to mentor future young entrepreneurs in the city, and to work with us in promoting enterprise in schools and colleges.The completed applications need to be submitted by email to charles.cracknell@hullcc.gov.uk Invest Hull, Hull City Council, Guildhall, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU1 2AA
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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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Web design

ThriftySites
We are the trusted web design solution because... Our clients say so. Please take a few minutes to read customer reviews on Google about ThriftySites and you will see why most of our clients come to us through personal recommendation or because they have used our services before. Our excellent reputation is your guarantee of professionalism, helpfulness, and friendliness. ThriftySites have more 5-star Google reviews than any other web designer in the Humberside region, with over 95% giving full marks. All of our customers say we provide great work that is clearly explained from the start with the help of easy, effective communication.
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Advice

Humber LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership)
The Humber LEP is a business-led partnership with education and four local authorities working together to promote and develop the area surrounding the Humber Estuary, and provide strategic economic leadership to create jobs and deliver growth. The Humber region is experiencing an economic, social, cultural and infrastructural renaissance and the LEP is at the forefront of driving growth and prosperity. To achieve these we focus on creating an infrastructure to support growth, supporting businesses to succeed anddeveloping a skilled workforce.
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Advice

Acorn - The Hull Business Development Fund
Acorn -the Hull Business Development Fund Limited is a gap funder, operating across a large geographic area and committed to finding ways to support the financially excluded with commercial funding. We look for a viable business project which will create employment and provide a sustained benefit to the economy.
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Networking

Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce
Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is the result of a series of amalgamations of smaller, more localised Chambers of Commerce. The Hull Chamber was formed in 1837 and is one of the UKs oldest Chambers of Commerce, but its core objectives remain the same - to help strengthen the local economy by supporting our members in their business endeavours. Address: 34 - 38 Beverley Road, Hull, HU3 1YE
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Accountancy

AQ Accounting
AQ Accounting specialises in new-start businesses. We work with the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) and the University of Hulls Enterprise Centre, offering advice and support to people setting-up and starting-off in all sorts of businesses. In the pre-trading and year 1 phase, owners always need a lot of support to get some momentum going and move in the right direction from an accounting and financial perspective. In year 2 things start to take shape and in year 3 comes confidence and better stability. AQ takes a long-term view and, in offering a fixed price deal so you dont get a big bill when you can least afford it, accepts that in year 1 we spend a lot of time with you and make very little profit - thats just the way it needs to be with start-ups. Give us a ring, have a chat, and see if we can help. Thank you Phil Waters, ACA
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Advice

Sirius Business Advice Centre
Sirius is a unique partnership established by BP at Saltend, investing in the economic future of the local area. Sirius can offer business loans for local people seeking to establish a business in the area, or to expand an already successful business in Hull and the surrounding areas.
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Advice

Sirius
Sirius can offer business loans for local people seeking to establish a business in the area, or to expand an already successful business in Hull.
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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