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How to Start a Business in Marlborough

Free start-up resources and useful local contacts.

Improve your chances of success!

How to Start a Business in Marlborough

Starting a business in Marlborough

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

Start Your Own Business in Marlborough 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 Marlborough

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!

Starting a Business in in Marlborough

Business advice and support

"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 Marlborough and Business Mentors in Marlborough.

Funding and grants

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: Marlborough Business Grants and Business Funding

Business networking

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 Marlborough for details of local groups and our free Networking Factsheet.

Business premises

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: Marlborough Co-Working and Business Premises.

Finding new customers

Paying customers are the lifeblood of any business. Knowing how to find, satisfy and retain them is vitally important and best achieved with the help of experts in the field.

Accountancy, tax and law

While starting a new business is very exciting, this should not disguide the fact that there are some very important legal responsibilities that must be considered. See: Bookkeeping, Accountancy, Financial Planning and Law

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 Wiltshire

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 Marlborough

Key Contacts in Marlborough

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

Marlborough 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

Work Wiltshire
Visit our one-stop website, containing a huge amount of education, employment, training and apprenticeship information
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Advice

Wiltshire County Council
Wiltshire county Councils website contains a section dedicated to business advice and support. Here youi will find information about business raters, health & safety, licenses and permits, CSE, trading standards, commercial waste, food safety, economic, DBS. There are also links to relevant support organisations and sources of business funding. It is run by the Economic Regeneration. Economy Regeneration Wiltshire Council County Hall Trowbridge Wiltshire BA14 8JD
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Advice

The Enterprise Network
The Enterprise Network (TEN), a £5.2m initiative led by Wiltshire Council with Government and EU funding, is nurturing new and growing small and micro businesses in Swindon and Wiltshire by supporting them right from the first ‘light bulb’ moment.
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Advice

Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub
The Growth Hub is an exciting new online community developed exclusively for the businesses of Swindon and Wiltshire. The Hub directs you to a wide range of impartial business support and advice, as well as providing valuable insights, access to events, specialist programmes and funding to help your business thrive. The Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub provides you with a single gateway through which to access support, whether you are starting, running or growing your business. Using the Growth Hub you can find direct support from our telephone helpline or arrange a face-to-face meeting with an experienced and impartial Business Adviser. Their business support helpline number is 01225 402096
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Marketing

SouthWest Business
A good place to keep up to date with business news for Swindon and Wiltshire. They have a free newsletter and opportiunities to advertise your business.
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Advice

Starting Up - Swindon & Wiltshire LEP Growth Hub
A great start-up resource which includes: * An introduction to Business Regulations and Starting Up * Business Opportunity Factsheets * Choosing the Right Legal Structure * Selling Goods Online * Starting a Business in Wiltshire * Talent for Wiltshire Employers * Start Up Resouirces
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Advice

Inspire
Inspire is the trading name for the Wessex Chambers of Commerce, a not for profit organisation representing SME businesses across every sector of the local economy. Our mission is to inspire, motivate, inform and support businesses throughout their life cycle, from Start up, to growing enterprises and right up to our large corporate success stories. We are funded from our partner and member subscriptions and from service contracts with the Department for Business Communities and Local Government. There are a number of ways in which your business can engage with us. We offer a range of business services from discounted or free products and networking opportunities through LEGACY MEMBERSHIP, as well as our CLIENTS. There are also opportunities to join us as PARTNERS to work with us on delivering the above to the business community. Our experienced team come from diverse and varied business backgrounds and, between them, have a wealth of knowledge and expertise together with an enviable hub of contacts to put at the disposal of your business. Whats more, our services are heavily subsidised, confidential and impartial.
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Networking

WiltsHour
Welcome to the directory website of the #WiltsHour - a free weekly networking event for Wiltshire businesses held on Twitter every Monday evening from 8-9pm. Bulldog Websites founded and sponsor the #WiltsHour and WiltsHour.co.uk to offer local free marketing to local businesses, helping you to promote your Wiltshire business and gain new followers and friends. This is a great new networking event - take part from the comfort of your sofa after a hard days work. Come along and join us - simply tweet about your business, new products, offers, or just say hi! using the hashtag #WiltsHour and well do the rest!
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Grants

SWEF Business Grants
Are you 18 -30 and self employed, running a business or thinking of starting one? Wiltshire Community Foundation is working in partnership with the SWEF to provide grants of 2,000 to young people in Wiltshire and Swindon who are, self-employed, running a business or thinking of starting one in the next 6 months. As part of the programme there is the opportunity to join a network of peers who are also in the early stage of starting their business to share ideas, experiences and learn. To be eligible to apply individuals need to be: aged 18 to 30 living in Wiltshire or Swindon planning to start their business within the next 6 months or if they are already running one have been trading for no more than 2 years. Grants can be used towards capital items and running costs such as stock, equipment or materials, rent or business-related bills Our application process is simple and straightforward, and many previous applicants have told us that it helped sharpen their business plans and gave them the confidence to succeed. For further details and to apply visit our website www.wiltshirecf.org.uk/grants-and-support/individuals/south-west-enterprise-fund/ If you have any further questions please contact us on 01380 738985.
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Advice

Business West
Starting a business is a rewarding, challenging experience. But its one that you don’t have to face alone. Whether you’ve got a business idea that you would like to explore further, or you’ve been trading for up to a year, we can help you gain the advice, knowledge and funding needed to improve your chances of success. From one-to-one support, to workshops, to helping you apply for a start-up loan, we are here to help.
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Networking

Wiltshire Chamber of Commerce
Wiltshire Chamber of Commerce connects businesses from across the county and works in partnership with charities, the public sector and Government to help your grow your business and stimulate local economic growth. Under the directorship of Ian Larrard, who is also Director of the Swindon Initiative, Governor of Swindon College and Chair of Swindon BID, Wiltshire’s businesses are brought together to collaborate and profit from sharing knowledge, goods and services. Wiltshire Chamber members enjoy a number of benefits including: * Raise your profile online, in the press and among your peers * Opportunities to find new business and advance your sales pipeline * Network with experienced and influential business leaders in the local area and beyond * Have your views represented at a local and national level to decision makers who listen * Gain preferential access to training, advice and support services to help your business grow Plus, as part of Business West, Wiltshire Chamber provides a local access point to government funding, business services and support, as well as other business opportunities available via your fellow members.
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Accountancy

AMS Accountancy Ltd
We are a firm of Chartered Accountants based in Swindon. We work with all small and new businesses in the local area and with Freelance Contractors throughout the UK. We are approachable and technically up to date so you can rely on us for good practical advice that is jargon free. Good luck with your business and we hope to meet you.
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Online Marketing

Enterprise Online Marketing Solutions
In todays connected world Digital Marketing and the World Wide Web forms an essential part of business marketing. You need to be easy to find in all the places that your existing and potential customers are likely to visit and make sure that you are professionally representing your business. You want more sales, more leads, phone calls and enquiries, more newsletter subscriptions andor more downloads! To achieve these ambitions, you need an effective website, effective Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to make sure that you appear in Google, Bing and Yahoo search results as well as an active presence on all the Social Media sites that your clients are likely to be using Using a range of affordable and effective Digital Marketing I can ensure that your business is easy to find by your customers.
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Networking

Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership
The Swindon & Wiltshire LEP has been formed to develop the economy of the sub-region. Its primary focus is to create wealth, jobs and new business opportunities by forging a meaningful partnership between the private and public sectors. Their initiatives will be driven by business through their engagement in the partnership.
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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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Coaching

MONKHOUSE & COMPANY
Monkhouse & Company are a team of UK-based business consultancy experts led by Scale Up founder Dom Monkhouse. Get in touch with them today to help your business grow consistently year on year.
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Accountancy

Wise-Bookkeeping Services
This year...Dont leave your bookkeeping till the last minute. Refreshing, User friendly approach. Book your free bookkeeping review today. @WiseBooksSN8 or info@wise-bookkeeping.co.u
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Networking

Business Biscotti Marlborough
Building relationships takes time and effort, but the rewards are limitless. At Business Biscotti Marlborough we are passionate about true networking. Not just making lots of contacts and filling up your business card box, anyone can do that. Its about communication, trust and building relationships that lead to enduring friendships and mutually rewarding business opportunities.
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Marketing

Marlborough News Online
Marlborough News Online was launched in 2011 as a voluntary project with the aim of providing news that readers need to know about their community - its people, its events and whats likely to happen in the near future. We provide a distinctive voice for Marlborough and its surrounding villages. We also report on Wiltshire-wide issues that will affect people in the area - such as the health of the NHS, local political changes, planning decisions, elections and Wiltshire Council services. Our overall purpose, in the wake of cutbacks that have hit the existing local media and local government, is positive: to promote the areas citizens, organisations and business enterprises. We want to give them a focus and share their achievements as well as their problems.
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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