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How to Start a Business in St Ives Cambs

Free start-up resources and useful local contacts.

Improve your chances of success!

How to Start a Business in St Ives Cambs

Starting a business in St Ives Cambs

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

Start Your Own Business in St Ives Cambs 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 St Ives Cambs

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 St Ives Cambs

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 St Ives Cambs and Business Mentors in St Ives Cambs.

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: St Ives Cambs 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 St Ives Cambs 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: St Ives Cambs 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 Huntingdonshire

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 St Ives Cambs

Key Contacts in St Ives Cambs

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

St Ives Cambs 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.

Online Marketing

Orange Squash Agency
Digital Marketing * Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) * Pay Per Click * Social Media Marketing * Email Marketing * Content Marketing * Marketing Automation * Website Usability Testing * Analytics and Reporting * Video Production and Animation * Target audience analysis
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Advice

Huntingdon First
Huntingdon First is the name for the Business Improvement District, BID Huntingdon. Chequers Shopping Centre now has M&S Foodhall, Next, TK Maxx and Magnet as well as numerous independent shops. Promote your business and make use of the Promotional Space – free to BID Huntingdon businesses – and use the Business Directory to let your customers and clients know about your latest news and offers. Huntingdon First has a Facebook page where businesses and organisations can post news, events and comments.
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Marketing

Let's Do Marketing
Let’s Do Marketing is a subsidiary of Let’s Do Business Group that is here to help small businesses grow through marketing. Focussed on providing affordable and accessible support to new and small businesses, they offer consultancy and marketing services that can help you to achieve your big marketing ideas. Whether you’re just starting out with a brand new business or looking to grow, we can give you the guidance to create a marketing strategy that matches your goals. Let’s Do Marketing can also provide training to help you take control of your own marketing strategy, from learning new software and tools to creating award winning campaigns! Find out more about our services https://www.letsdomarketing.co.uk/ Want to chat about how Let’s Do Marketing can help you to level up your business? Get in touch at https://www.letsdomarketing.co.uk/contact or email us at hello@letsdomarketing.co.uk!
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Advice

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
The Combined Authority is led by the Mayor and made up of representatives from the seven constituent councils. We work with the Business Board (the Local Enterprise Partnership) and other local partners to deliver our strategic projects. Find out more here about the Mayor, the Combined Authority Board, our committees and the Business Board. You can also find out about how to join our officer teams.
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Funding

Access business finance up to £150k
Let’s Do Business Finance offers funding to both start-up businesses and businesses wanting to grow and invest in their future. Start up finance We’re one of the official Business Support Partners of the British Business Bank and Start Up Loan Company. We can offer loans from £500 up to £25k with a fixed interest rate of 6% per annum, and that includes 12 months of free mentoring to help you get off to the best start. Could you be eligible? Find out more https://www.letsdobusinessfinance.co.uk/lets-start-up Business loans Let’s Do Business Finance are able to offer business loans to help established businesses to grow. We’re accredited lenders of the Recovery Loan Scheme under the British Business Bank, and we’re able to lend from £25,001 to £150,000 on terms from 3 months to 6 years. This business finance can be used to help you secure anything from new premises, equipment, and capital, and our team can help you to assess your cash flow and finances, build your marketing strategy and more with our built-in business support which is tailored to your needs. Want to learn more about business loans, and see if you’re eligible? Visit our website https://www.letsdobusinessfinance.co.uk/ or send us an enquiry https://www.letsdobusinessfinance.co.uk/contact-us
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Advice

Huntingdonshire Business Against Crime
Huntingdonshire Business Against Crime is run by businesses for businesses and operates in Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots. The membership adopts a proactive approach to preventing and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. HBAC members include businesses small, large, national and international, charities, and local groups.
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Advice

Cambridgeshire County Council - Business
The business support page on Cambridgeshire County Council's website includes information about: Advice for business; Business continuity; Business investors and funding network; Business & IP Centre Cambridgeshire; Business Resources; Business support organisations; Employing young people; Looking for business premises; Relocating your business to Cambridgeshire; Setting up and running a business; Supporting employees with childcare.
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Networking

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce
Our accredited Chamber of Commerce was first established in 1917 and has evolved to include the entire Cambridgeshire and Stamford region. As a not for profit organisation we work entirely for the benefit of you, our member organisations, and strive to respond your needs. We are constantly developing a range of services at preferential rates and hold over 150 networking events each year across all sectors and company sizes. A key service offered by the Chamber is processing export documentation. In total 15,000 documents are processed per year. To support companies trading internationally we run a rolling programme of training courses that culminate in the nationally-recognised Foundation Award in International Trade.
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Advice

Invest in Huntingdonshire
Our dedicated team can assist you with the provision of information, help and support to ensure your relocation to, or expansion within, the district is as effortless and seamless as possible. Our service is completely free to use and, whatever your specific requirements, we can give you the information and support you need to help you and your business make the most of this dynamic area.
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Advice

Let's Do Business Group
With the ability to help businesses across all sectors, our team can offer business consultancy services to help you achieve your goals. The Let’s Do Business Group can provide virtual business consultancy services through our team of business professionals and quality assured consultants. Whether its developing a business plan or strategy, coaching or mentoring of senior staff and business owners, or just being a sounding board our team are here to help. We offer a free initial consultation so that we understand your needs, and you get to know us. We will then agree how we will work together and our fees – this could be from a one off session, a short support programme or a longer term project. We also have access to a range of other business specialists to help you with anything from Marketing to HR – so whatever your need, we can find a solution. Contact the team today at https://www.letsdobusinessgroup.co.uk/contact-us or email info@ldbgroup.co.uk
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Design

Digital Guerila
Every business needs to stand out against their competition. We do exactly that. By specialising in Visual Identity, we offer various services from Brand Strategy to Email signatures. Anything visual that you need for your business, we can help.
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Advice

Huntingdonshire District Council - Business
The Huntingsonshire District Council's website has a dedicated business section which coversc: Business rates, support and advice for business, business funding, Huntingdonshire's business strategy and more.
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Office Services

Emma Read VA & Associates
Providing valuable business support services to small business owners nationwide since 2016. From remote Personal Assistants and Digital Marketing Assistants to Virtual Assistants who specialise in working with neurodiverse clients, we help you find the RIGHT support for your specific needs. We’re your bolt-on remote team there to support you every step of the way. Winner of the "Most Outstanding Virtual Assistant Company 2022" in the Southern Enterprise Awards.
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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

Finley Design
We are not your typical website design agency, we deliver cost effective, professional websites for small businesses, startups and Ecommerce clients across the UK. A multi skilled web design agency based in St. Neots, Cambridgeshire with clients large and small across the UK. We are passionate about what we do and produce websites that deliver results from the start. We offer professional digital marketing solutions to growing companies that exceeds our clients expectations on service and results.
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Networking

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce
Cambridge has a vibrant and innovative economy and the Cambridge & South Cambs Chamber Committee works hard to ensure that the needs and concerns of SMEs are reflected in the local and regional decision-making processes. Address: Enterprise House,The Vision Park,Histon,Cambridge,CB24 9ZR
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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