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How to Start a Business in West Lothian

Free start-up resources and useful local contacts.

Improve your chances of success!

How to Start a Business in West Lothian

Starting a business in West Lothian

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

Start Your Own Business in West Lothian 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 West Lothian

Local help for startups

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

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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!

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 West Lothian

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 West Lothian

Key Contacts in West Lothian

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

West Lothian 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.

Web design

Super Simple Websites
Has web design left you scratching your head?Unsure where to start? Website DIY left you wanting to cry? Did your best friend's nephew who's a "wizz with computers" offer to do it, but now isn't returning your calls? Or maybe you already have a website, but don't have a clue what the login is, and there's no response to your emails? Don't worry, we've heard (and solved!) all these web design problems before. We offer fixed fee web design packages that are perfect for new, small, and growing businesses. They include everything you need to get online, and our clear pricing means you don't pay a penny for anything you don't need. We even offer a free homepage draft before we get started, so you can be sure you're going to love your new website.Get in touch today, we would be delighted to have a coffee and a chat.
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Networking

West Lothian Chamber of Commerce
By joining the Chamber you become part of a powerful business network that lobby on behalf of business and contribute to business legislation at a local, Scottish and UK level. As well as gaining access to various events and services specifically tailored to encourage and develop your business. Being a member of the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce gives you exclusive access to a range of opportunities that help you get ahead in business. By joining the Chamber you become part of a powerful business network that lobbies on behalf of businesses and contributes to business legislation at local, Scottish and UK level, as well as gaining access to various events and services specifically tailored to encourage and develop your business. West Lothian Chamber of Commerce Systems House Alba Business Park Livingston EH54 7EG
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Advice

Find Business Support in Scotland
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.
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Advice

The National Library of Scotland
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.
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Funding

Bute Enterprise Finance Fund
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.
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Advice

Scottish Development International
When setting up a business in Scotland, you need to register as a private limited company or a UK branch of your foreign company. Find the professional advice you need around taxes, legal and insurance requirements in Scotland.
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Advice

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

Funding and Grants for Scottish Businesses
Looking for funding to grow your business or launch a new project? We can help you navigate the funding landscape in Scotland, offer support to help your business find and access the right funding, and, in some cases, offer our own funding.
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Advice

mygov.scot - Starting a Business
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.
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Funding

Government-backed start up loans
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.
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Advice

Scotland - Support and Funding
If youre considering doing business with Scotland or youre thinking about expanding your company in a new location, Scottish Development International (SDI) is here to help. SDI is the international arm of Scotlands enterprise agencies. Our network of global offices is staffed by industry experts dedicated to helping you make the most of all the opportunities Scotland has to offer.
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Advice

Business Gateway
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.
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Advice

Scottish Enterprise - Starting a Business?
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.
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Funding

Delivering for Scotland - Start Up Loans
Delivering for Scotland website has details of the Government backed Start UP Loan scheme as it apples to Scotland.
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Advice

West Lothian Council
Whatever stage your business is at, you will find enthusiastic, professional staff at West Lothian Council's Economic Development service who can provide a full range of assistance to business. Advice & Support It often helps to talk through a new idea with an unbiased third party. Many businesses use this facility before making an approach to a bank or other potential funding body. We can also help with the business planning process in a practical way, by linking up with our Business Information Service to provide the overview or background you need. Access To Funding Our business advisers are well versed in the eligibility criteria for many of the schemes of financial assistance on offer. They'll help you search for grants appropriate for your business and have a proven track record in accessing these funds. And where financial assistance is unlikely to be forthcoming, they'll give you a straightforward answer. conomic Development staff co-ordinate a full schedule of events, seminars and programmes, including Business Gateway Start-Up and Growth workshops, designed to keep businesses informed and proficient in areas such as Management Development, Finance, Marketing and e-Business. Business Information Service Our professional approach to sourcing the information you need for your business could save you time and money and give you a real competitive advantage. The Business Information Service can benefit your company in so many different ways - whether you're just at the stage of writing your business plan, or are planning to develop and expand overseas. Property As a major owner of commercial property, West Lothian Council may be able to help meet your property requirements. We also provide a comprehensive search facility, covering all available industrial, retail and office property throughout the county.
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Advice

Help for Start-Ups - Business Gateway
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.
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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