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How to Start a Business in West Midlands

Free start-up resources and useful local contacts.

Improve your chances of success!

How to Start a Business in West Midlands

Starting a business in West Midlands

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

Start Your Own Business in West Midlands 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 Midlands

Local help for startups

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

Select classification:

West Midlands is a diverse and vibrant region located in central England. It encompasses a range of urban and rural areas, offering a blend of business opportunities and a rich cultural heritage.

With its strategic location, excellent transportation links, and a skilled workforce, West Midlands presents an attractive environment for entrepreneurs and business owners.

Demographics

West Midlands is home to a diverse population, which contributes to its dynamic business landscape. The region has a population of approximately 2.9 million people, making it one of the most populous areas in England. The demographic makeup includes a mix of different ethnicities, age groups, and socio-economic backgrounds, providing a broad customer base for businesses.

Major Towns and Cities

West Midlands is comprised of several major towns and cities that offer a range of business opportunities. Some of the prominent ones include:

  • Birmingham : With a population of over 1.1 million, Birmingham is the largest city in the region and a major economic hub. It is known for its diverse industries, including manufacturing, finance, technology, and creative sectors.
  • Coventry : Coventry is another significant city in West Midlands, with a population of around 400,000. It has a strong automotive and manufacturing presence and is home to several renowned universities.
  • Wolverhampton : Located in the western part of the region, Wolverhampton has a population of approximately 260,000. It has a rich industrial heritage and is known for its manufacturing, engineering, and aerospace industries.
  • Dudley : Dudley is a historic market town in West Midlands, with a population of around 80,000. It has a mix of traditional industries, such as manufacturing and tourism, along with a growing retail and service sector.
  • Walsall : Walsall is a town with a population of approximately 280,000. It has a strong manufacturing base, particularly in leather goods, and is known for its innovation and entrepreneurship.
Local Authorities in West Midlands

Local authorities can help you understand the business landscape and provide access to useful resources. They are responsible for numerous business related subjects such as health & safety, planning, business rates, and often have a department dedicated to economic development.

Business Support Organisations

If you're looking for support and guidance in starting or running your business in West Midlands, several organisations can provide valuable resources. Here are some prominent business support organisations in the region:

Conclusion

Starting a business in West Midlands, England, offers a wealth of opportunities in a region known for its diverse industries, vibrant cities, and supportive business environment. The region's large population, strategic location, and excellent transportation links make it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs and business owners.

By leveraging the resources and support provided by local authorities and business support organisations, aspiring entrepreneurs can access valuable guidance, networking opportunities, and funding options to kick-start their ventures. Whether you're interested in the thriving tech sector, traditional manufacturing, or creative industries, West Midlands provides a conducive ecosystem for business growth and success.

Remember to thoroughly research your target market, create a solid business plan, and take advantage of the resources available to you. With determination, innovation, and the right support, you can turn your business aspirations into a reality in the dynamic West Midlands.

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 West Midlands

Key Contacts in West Midlands

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

West Midlands 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.

Funding

Jerroms Corporate Finance
No matter what stage of the business lifecycle you are in, we can help you. Every business and every entrepreneur is different, so we always start by listening to you. We get you to take a step back from the day to day running of your business and think about what it is you want to achieve – both on a personal and business level. By looking at the bigger picture, we are able to structure our services so that they meet your precise needs – whether you’re looking to grow your existing business, buy another business , purchase new equipment, or if you’re thinking of selling a company and retiring in the next few years. Timing is always key, so please let us know as soon as you start to think about anything like this, so that we can plan ahead and work with you to make sure that your end goal is achieved in the most tax efficient way possible. Services we offer include advice and support with: Acquisitions; Due Diligence; Mergers; MBO/MBI; Raising Finance; Selling your Business; Valuations
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Accountancy

Jerroms Accountants and Business Advisors
Business advisers and accountants in Solihull & Bromsgrove . There are a million things to think about when starting a new business so anything that can be delegated to people who can help is a must! For those who have never been self-employed before, there’s so much to consider - deciding on the most appropriate business structure to use (sole trader, partnership or limited company), registering for self-assessment, taking on employees (that means running wages and arranging a pension scheme) - and then of course there’s things like renting premises, having insurance, raising finance or applying for an overdraft facility. It can be overwhelming - but we’re here to help you every step of the way. And once the business is set up, we can support you on an ongoing basis with your accounts and corporation tax returns, cashflow, forecasting, growing your business or anything else. Founded in 1972, we have grown steadily over the years to become a leading accountancy and business advisory practice in the region with around 100 employees. We work with over 3,000 individuals and businesses across a range of sectors, who stay in a long-term relationship with us because they trust us to give them the best advice. Our pragmatic approach and extensive skills base means we can help and advise businesses of any size or industry, but we do have particular expertise in the education, healthcare, legal, financial services and construction sectors. No matter what size, our clients really appreciate our support, the freshness of mind and specialist perspective that we bring. Every member of our team has their own distinct strengths and plays an important part in making a difference and help clients succeed in reaching their goals. Please get in touch if you want to talk more about how we can help you. We offer an initial consultation free of charge which gives us the chance to meet and discuss your needs, with no obligation.
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Web design

HTDL Ltd
WERE A LEADING DESIGN AGENCY IN BIRMINGHAM WARWICKSHIRE AND LONDON CREATING BRANDS, BUILDING WEBSITES AND TRANSFORMING BUSINESSES. We've been building brands, developing websites and implementing digital strategies helping clients achieve their goals since 1988. With offices in the heart of the UK and London as well as an international network, it’s what’s made us a top 10 design agency, the leading European design agency for some big international brands and also led to us being on the rosters for some other great blue chip clients. Were passionate about everything we do, we dont over promise; we let our work do the talking. Well guide you on a branding or digital journey and if you let us, well tell you about some of amazing success stories where we've influenced amazing business transformations to record sales figures. Were an experienced design agency, digital agency, web agency and a creative agency all rolled into one.
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Advice

Sustainable Business Support Hub
SWM can support your business in the following ways... Funding: Each year we promote over 800 million funding accessible by organisations in the West Midlands. Sign up for our e-newsletter for a monthly update straight to your inbox. Membership: Joining SWM is a way of raising the profile of your organisation. Our members have access to strategic, practical and profile-raising benefits including an annual review, members only networking events, and a wide range of promotional opportunities. Many of our members also provide products and services aimed at improving your sustainability. . Networks: SWM run many networks aimed at sharing good practice and learning from peers. They are free to join and will allow you to make useful connections with a wide range of other organisations. Support: SWM are independent and provide advice to organisations who want to improve their sustainability. We can help you plan for a more sustainable future bringing benefits to the economy, the environment and society. Our case studies provide examples of some of the support projects we have worked on. Communications: Our communications share details of funding, events, support and news to help your organisation become more sustainable. Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter to keep up to date.
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Utilities

Edanpower
Edan Power are committed to changing the way businesses and homeowners currently source their energy and communication requirements, via new greener solutions that also provide significant cost savings for businesses and residential dwellings. We offer our customers a total turnkey solution providing a strategic development, financing, design, installation, monitoring and maintenance package. We provide a consultative service utilising all available funding opportunities, including grants and investor schemes, often with no upfront Capex investment required. The ever increasing risk of Increases energy bills for UK business and homeowners means more and more people are looking to find alternative solutions to reduce their energy bills. The commitment by all world governments to reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels due to global warming, is significantly increasing the demand for renewable energy and all associated technologies. Our aim is to provide a sustainable future for the world our future generations, with bespoke and cost effective options for our clients
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Accountancy

TaxAssist Accountants
We take care of the time consuming paperwork and tax filing requirements so our clients can focus on their business. We also offer access to a whole range of financial and other services tailored specifically for the small business owner and Individuals needing to file tax returns or tax advice. Our clients tell us we are different from other Accountants and earn their trust by: 1. Providing fixed fees agreed in advance, so there are no nasty surprises 2. Meeting clients at a time and place of their convenience 3. Being proactive in looking for tax saving opportunities 4. Offering easy payment options to ease cash-flow We take pride in getting to know our clients and offer a complimentary initial consultation
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Funding

Beer & Young
Beer & Young is an award winning corporate finance business raising capital for UK based SMEs. Since 1998, we have been securing investment for business owners and entrepreneurs typically between £150,000 and £5 million, in equity and debt, where the enterprise value has been anywhere from £0 to £20 million. We achieve this largely through our mature network of over 700 investors mainly comprising HNW investors, coupled with some smaller family offices and corporate investors. On average we accept 50 clients a year, most of whom are trading businesses looking for growth capital, turnaround investment, or seeking a discreet acquisition or disposal. You can see a number of recent completion case studies on our website at www.beerandyoung.com. Our team has a wealth of experience in dealing with SMEs, and we are always happy to talk over any business issue or opportunity. We are a referral driven business, and likewise we refer clients where we can to professional contacts. In the first instance please contact Simon Donegan via email at simon.donegan@beerandyoung.com
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Advice

Invest in the West Midlands
The West Midlands Growth Company exists to support inward investment into the region, creating new jobs and opportunities for its population. Our Investment support team consists of specialists in the areas outlined by the West Midlands Combined Authoritys local industrial strategy, which identifies five key sectors in the local economy, supporting four key areas of the local economy.
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Advice

West Midlands Growth Company
Advice, updates and support to help businesses plan and respond to COVID-19 have been collated below. Through the following links, businesses can find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply. The West Midlands Growth Company will continue to monitor and update this page, based on the latest Government guidance and resources. Support is on offer for businesses and employees in the West Midlands, including free, online resources. Baskerville House, 2 Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2ND
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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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Networking

Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce is steeped in history having been established for nearly 200 years but, like the business environment over the decades, it has changed and adapted accordingly.Todays Chamber is a modern, innovative, membership-based business support organisation that exists to connect its members to opportunity. Birmingham Chamber is an accredited member of the British Chambers of Commerce and over the years has established itself to become the prominent independent business voice in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Address: 75 Harbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3DH
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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