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How to Start a Business in Sheffield

Free start-up resources and useful local contacts.

Improve your chances of success!

How to Start a Business in Sheffield

Starting a business in Sheffield

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

Start Your Own Business in Sheffield 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 Sheffield

Free Startup Guide

Start Your Own Business in Sheffield

Download the 2025 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.
More Information and instant download
More Information and instant download

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or considering expanding your existing business to this vibrant city, you've come to the right place.

Sheffield, known for its rich industrial heritage, world-class universities, and thriving business community, offers a promising environment for startups and established enterprises.

Demographics

Sheffield, located in South Yorkshire, is a diverse and populous city with a population of over 580,000 residents (as of 2021). The city attracts a mix of young professionals, students, and families, creating a dynamic and supportive business ecosystem. With a strong focus on advanced manufacturing, technology, and creative industries, Sheffield provides ample opportunities for entrepreneurs to thrive.

Major Suburbs

Sheffield is comprised of several distinct suburbs, each with its own unique characteristics and economic potential. Some of the major suburbs include:

  1. Ecclesall: Located southwest of the city centre, Ecclesall is an affluent suburb known for its leafy residential areas, independent shops, and restaurants. It offers a desirable location for businesses catering to the affluent local population.
  2. Kelham Island: Situated northwest of the city centre, Kelham Island is a vibrant and trendy area known for its thriving food and drink scene, creative industries, and heritage sites. It presents opportunities for businesses in the hospitality, arts, and digital sectors.
  3. Crookes: Positioned to the west of the city centre, Crookes is a lively suburb with a mix of residential and student populations. It offers a range of business opportunities, particularly for services and retail businesses.
Local Authority

Sheffield City Council is the local authority responsible for governing and developing 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:

Sheffield City Council - Business

Business Support Organisations

Sheffield offers a range of support organisations and initiatives to assist entrepreneurs and businesses. Here are some notable organisations you can turn to for assistance:

  1. Sheffield Chamber of Commerce: As a well-established business support organisation, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce provides resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy for local businesses. Sheffield Chamber of Commerce
  2. Sheffield Digital: Sheffield Digital is a membership organisation supporting the city's digital and tech sector. They provide networking events, training, and resources to help businesses in the digital industry. Sheffield Digital
  3. Business Sheffield: Business Sheffield is a service offered by Sheffield City Council to support local businesses. They provide advice, workshops, and access to funding opportunities. Business Sheffield

Whether you need guidance on business planning, funding options, or want to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, these organisations can provide the support you need to succeed.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve deeper into various aspects of starting a business in Sheffield. From understanding local regulations and licensing requirements to exploring the city's vibrant business community, we'll equip you with the knowledge and resources necessary to thrive in Sheffield's entrepreneurial landscape.

So, let's embark on this exciting journey together and discover what it takes to build and grow a successful business in Sheffield!

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.

Avant Digital
Federation of Small Businesses
ENF Solutions Limited
Commercial Finance Partnership
Balliante
Hive Mind Digital Marketing Ltd.
Ritual

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!

Local help for startups

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

Select classification:

Business advice in a group

Advice & Support
An accountant with calculator

Accountancy
A bookkeeper at work

Bookkeeping
Coworkers desks

Co-Working
Bank of England

Funding
Photo of a piggy bank

Grants
A mentor with group

Mentoring
Networking group talking

Networking
A view of a smart office

Office Services
Online marketing graphic

Online Marketing
A web designer at desk

Web Design
A nice place to work

Workplaces

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.

See: Full List of Latest Start-Up Articles
Starting a business in Sheffield

Key Contacts in Sheffield

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

Sheffield 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.

Number Crunchers (Sheffield) Ltd

Accountancy

Number Crunchers (Sheffield) Ltd
People often associate accountancy with fear, stress and confusing jargon. With all the pressures of running a business the last thing you need is more hassle. At Number Crunchers we remove your accounting and bookkeeping headaches, leaving you free to concentrate on your daily business needs. We are friendly, approachable and always here to help. We have been crunching numbers for over 24 years and have a real understanding of South Yorkshire and Derbyshire businesses. We are proud to say that some of our clients have actually been with us for all that time! We look forward to helping your business.
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Avant Digital

Online Marketing

Avant Digital
Avant Digital is a full-service web design and digital marketing agency in Sheffield. We specialise in the small to medium business sector, taking care of all aspects of design and branding, in addition to digital marketing and promotion. We build beautiful, bespoke websites that generate fantastic results to allow you to be your digital best. Our design team have experience in building websites across all platforms, including WordPress websites, Magneto e-commerce websites, Shopify and we also have a team of developers to build a custom website with specific coding requirements. Our integrated digital marketing approach will drive growth, increase your website’s organic traffic and boost your sales. Our SEO team will develop an SEO strategy by running a detailed website audit and then work to a monthly SEO work schedule to include, technical SEO, onsite and offsite SEO, improving backlinks, creating new website content and regular blog posts. Our experienced PCC campaign experts will improve your leads and sales through pay per click campaigns across Google AdWords, Microsoft ads (Bing Ads) and Facebook Sponsored Ads. So, if you are an eCommerce business or a service provider, our expert PPC team have tried & tested Ad Strategies to provide impressive results quickly.
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Federation of Small Businesses

Advice

Federation of Small Businesses
Federation of Small Businesses Membership Adviser for South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. Providing comprehensive support to businesses and start-ups.
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Sheffield City Council Business

Advice

Sheffield City Council Business
Sheffield City Council's website contains a page dedicated to local business. If you a run a business in the area are thinking about starting a new business do have a look as there is masses of useful information. 1 Union Street, Howden House, Sheffield S1 2SH
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ENF Solutions Limited

Accountancy

ENF Solutions Limited
I will build my service to you around your needs. I want to get close to your business and deliver the best service. I can to help you achieve your business goals. I am on your side! I am an ACCA qualified accountant with 20 years experience advising the small business owner on their taxation and statutory obligations. I have broad experience with a variety of businesses. I have a friendly and approachable style and I will always try to find the answer to your problem.
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Starting a business in Sheffield

Advice

Starting a business in Sheffield
Startups is a long-established web portal dedicated to helping new business owners. It contains a section dedicated to Sheffield along with lots of other useful information.
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Sheffield City Region Growth Hub

Advice

Sheffield City Region Growth Hub
Are you thinking of setting up a business? Or already taking the first steps with your own company? Wherever you are on the journey to being a successful entrepreneur, Sheffield City Region Growth Hub can help you. To make that happen the Growth Hub is working with a range of organisations and individuals to encourage entrepreneurship and provide important support for Start-Up businesses whilst enabling early stage businesses to be sustainable longer term and to grow.
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Startup Support in...Sheffield

Advice

Startup Support in...Sheffield
Sheffield based early-stage startups and entrepreneurs take note - here's the lowdown on key startup support and help available where you are... Away from the established startup hubs like London, the support for setting up a business isn’t always so clear. It’s not a lack of support, just a quieter ecosystem that takes a little more work to unearth. We want to help with this by highlighting what some cities, which might not spring immediately to mind at the mention of ‘startups’, have to offer.
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Hive Mind Digital Marketing Ltd.

Web design

Hive Mind Digital Marketing Ltd.
We are a digital marketing agency fusing creativity and technical expertise to deliver world class digital products. We are your team of developers, designers and marketing experts. Delivering web design & development, hosting & management and digital marketing services.
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Ritual

Design

Ritual
Ritual is a full-service graphic design, and art studio, located in the heart of Sheffield, UK. We believe that the creative process is anything but linear, and embracing unpredictability often sparks fresh perspectives. We challenge conventions by finding innovative approaches to everyday topics. Inspired by the fusion of old and new tech, our work blends modern design with the artistry of historic crafts. We keep it local - we know that supporting our neighbours is supporting our community. We prioritise collaboration, working closely with our clients to fully grasp their unique needs and requirements. Driven by the skilled graphic designer and artist, Lauren Wild, Ritual also collaborates with a diverse network of creatives at Studio II Collective, led by Ryan Dean. We offer a dedicated, hands-on experience every step of the way. When you choose us, you are not hiring a team; you are entering into a true partnership. We also keep it green - we invest in eco-friendly practices because we know we are investing in our planets future. Our passion for environmental responsibility drives every aspect of our practice, ensuring we operate as mindful as possible. Every step we take reflects our dedication to a greener future. Our services: BRANDING Logo Design Brand Style Guides Brand Management Art Direction Visual Identity PRINT Posters Packaging Annual Reports Publication Design Book Design MORE Illustration Signage Motion Graphics Animation Murals
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Sheffield City Region

Advice

Sheffield City Region
The Sheffield City Region is ambitious. We are seeking to transform our economy, to connect our businesses and people to economic opportunity, to build a stronger, greener and fairer economy, and to strengthen our reputation as a place where people want to live, work and invest. Sheffield City Region, 11 Broad Street West, Sheffield S1 2BQ
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Commercial Finance Partnership

Funding

Commercial Finance Partnership
Access to Business Finance: Secured Loans, Unsecured Loans, Commercial Mortgage, Revolving Credit, Invoice Discounting, Recovery Loan Scheme. Asset finance: Hire Purchase, Leasing, New Purchase, Refinance, Capital Raising, Recovery Loan Scheme. With over 130 years of COMBINED EXPERIENCE, we have the know-how you need.
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Balliante

IT

Balliante
At Balliante our focus is to ensure you work better, faster and more accurately, using technology. Our job is to give you the automation tools to work smarter, in less time. We provide strategic IT Consultancy to review your business, deliver IT Support together with Web Development and CRMs to make your business shine. Your IT equipment, web and data management is cared for under one roof, backed up by a team of experts to keep your thriving. We excel at problem solving by providing the tools and techniques for a hassle-free IT environment. We understand how important your business is, so we look after it all, freeing up your time to concentrate on your customers.
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Cannon PR

Marketing

Cannon PR
Cannon PR are a results drive PR company, based in Rotherham and helping business throughout the UK
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Starting and Growing Your Business in Sheffield

Advice

Starting and Growing Your Business in Sheffield
Business Sheffield offer a comprehensive service designed to help businesses thrive and grow, whether they be start-up or established. From a series of start-up sessions aimed at those thinking of going into business, through to a suite of workshops covering topics as diverse as digital marketing (inc websites, social media etc) selling on Amazon, terms and conditions, employing people for the first time, selling face to face, telephone selling and more, our sole aim is to help you develop a successful business. We also offer on going one-to-one support from highly experienced and knowledgeable advisors, as well as the possibility of an appointment with a commercial lawyer or accountant if you have a particular problem or query. There is no charge for any of the services we offer If you are looking to start a business, become self-employed or already have a business operating in the city that you want to grow, Business Sheffield are here to help you. Email or call us at BusinessSheffield@sheffield.gov.uk 01142 245000.
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Sheffield Chamber of Commerce

Networking

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce
The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation that provides business support. For over 150 years, we have supported, connected and represented businesses of all sizes in Sheffield, our vibrant and innovative city. Our vision is to make this great city the best place in the UK to start, grow and run a successful and sustainable business. And with the help of our members, we are leading the way in making that a reality. City Centre Membership Hub: Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, Cubo Sheffield,v38 Carver Street, Sheffield, S1 4FS
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The Lonely Middle Club - From Startup Hive

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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Business Sheffield

Advice

Business Sheffield
Business Sheffield are part of Sheffield City Council in the 'City Futures' department, and are therefore funded by public sector budgets. Our aim is to achieve growth for the city - in the widest sense of the word.Whilst economic growth is the most tangible measure of this, place branding is also about the intangibles, and so we work with community organisations, cultural providers, educational institutions and many other private and public stakeholders on collaborative projects that seek to promote the city as an inclusive, progressive and unique place for people to live and work in, as well as visit.Tel: 0114 224 5000E-mail: businesssheffield@sheffield.gov.uk
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Advice

Business Sheffield
Business Sheffield wants to help business thrive in Sheffield. Whether you are looking to establish your own company, an established company who is looking to expand, or a company who is looking at investing in Sheffield, we are here to help. To find out more about the range of support that is available to businesses, phone 0114 224 5000 to speak to a member of our Business Gateway team.
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Advice

Sheffield Enterprise Agency
Our professional range of services includes ongoing one-to-one counselling sessions with accredited business advisors, a business skills training course, tailored practical workshops and seminars and two years continued aftercare for your new business. All this is free of charge to anyone living in Sheffield or setting up a business in the Sheffield area.
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Law

Irwin Mitchell Sheffield
Irwin Mitchell has a wide array of legal offices across the country; one of these offices is in Sheffield, England. This office serves a number of geographical areas including not only the City of Sheffield but also South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The Sheffield office of Irwin Mitchell practices collaborative law. The family team members at the Sheffield office number 16 while the resolution members number 14. There are a variety of types of law practiced by Irwin Mitchells Sheffield office. These include pension cases, probate law, personal injury, conveyancing and litigation. Also practiced here would be property, commercial, employment, insurance and regulatory law. The legal team at Irwin Mitchells Sheffield office can provide advice on cases whether they are national or international cases. They have provided legal representation for a variety of high profile candidates too. The office here is also well known for their services in dealing with divorce. Divorce is a very stressful time for those involved and Irwin Mitchell understands that in these situations, most couples want the matter handled deftly and quickly. These situations also involve dealing with financial matters as well, so Irwin Mitchells Sheffield office has financial advisors on retainer that help provide consultation in regards to the financial consequences of divorce. The Sheffield office of Irwin Mitchell also provides other areas of assistance in relation to divorce including asset protection. Many divorces also involve children so they are qualified to provide legal advice regarding custodial matters. In some marriages pre-nuptial agreements were made prior to the marriage, Irwin Mitchells lawyers can help in these situations too.
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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

FREE Start-up Pack

This FREE start-up pack contains everything that you need to get you started.

Startup Pack

Start-up Guides

Our FREE downloadable guides are packed with the information that you need to start and grow a your business.

Startup Pack