Start Your Own Business in Hampshire

If you are thinking about starting a business in Hampshire or would like to grow your existing business, you have come to the right place!

Start Your Own Business in Hampshire contains masses of free resources and the useful information that will help give your venture the best chance of success. It also highlights local organisations who offer friendly business advice and services that you need.

Our most popular LOCAL subjects are: Business Advice & Support, Where to Find Grants, Funding for Your Business, Local Networking Groups.

We have been helping start-ups and existing business owners in Hampshire since 2005 and a list of key local contacts can be found below.

Everything that you will find on the site is free and a good place to start is our free start-up pack, a series of factsheets which cover all of the key considerations, relevant templates, links to other useful resources and our free downlodable 'Start Your Own Business' guide.

Hampshire Locations Covered

How to Succeed

The sad truth is that far too many new businesses start-ups fail in the early stages and our aim is to try and make sure that you are not one of them!

To help with this, we have broken down the start-up process into simple steps which highlight the things that have worked for other start-ups and the pitfalls that you need to avoid.

FREE Start-Up Pack

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

It is a common trait amongst entrepreneurs to just want to 'get on with it'. However, if you want to maximise your chances of success, it is worth putting in time and effort before you start to ensure that you have set-up correctly.

Start-up checklist
Step-by-step guide
Business plan template
Personal budget planner
Cashflow forecast template
Marketing plan template
Guide to business networking
Start-up map
Web & SEO Checklist
Start-up map

Download Pack

One-time registration required but this unlocks all of the free resources on the site.

FREE Start-Up Pack

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

Start-up checklist
Step-by-step guide
Business plan template
Personal budget planner
Cashflow forecast template
Marketing plan template
Guide to business networking
Start-up map
Web & SEO Checklist
Start-up map

Download Pack

FREE Book

Start Your Own Business In Hampshire

This free 180 page book is packed with information and contact details designed to help you start or grow your business successfully.

We have been running SYOB for over 10 years now and have accumulated an enormous amount of information which could make the difference between success or failure.

Starting a business is easy but keeping it going and making a profit is a completely different proposition. The good news is that there are tried and tested 'rules' which have consistently proved to work.

As the old addage says 'you don't know what you don't know'!

Download Now

FREE 'Start & Grow Your Business' Book

This 2020 Edition is packed with the information that you need to start or grow a business in Hampshire

Overview - easy to follow step by step guide
Advice - where to find help and support
Business planning - are you ready?
Market research - is there a gap in the market?
Business set-up - choosing the right structure
Premises - work from home or premises?
Finance & funding - your funding options
Accountancy & tax - tax and VAT explained
Business networking - tips and local groups
Getting online - online marketing, social media
Employing staff - how to find and recruit
Law & insurance - the key considerations
Common mistakes - and how to avoid them
Business directory - useful contacts

You can download the whole of this 180 page book now free of charge. We are sure that you will find it both interesting and useful. The 2020 edition is packed with useful hints and tips, relevant, easy to read guides to all of the relevant subjects, real-life examples, and lots of contacts to enable you to get off to the best possible start.

Download Free copy

Start-Up Services

We are keen to see you succeed and can recommend the following...

Business Plan Review

If you have already prepared a business plan, but feel it needs a professional 'eye' to look over it before presenting it to a bank or investor, or you’re worried that it simply isn’t up to scratch, then we can help.
Find out more

Mentoring

A professional business mentor is an invaluable resource for businesses of all shapes and sizes, so stick with one and they will help you to grow from a start-up to an established business.
Find out more

Business Opportunity

Discover how you can earn a lifelong income by helping people get an all together better deal on their Gas, Electricity, Landline, Broadband and Mobile services. People like you have changed their lives!
Find out more

Start-Up Loans

We have partnered with Transmit Start-Ups to deliver the Start Up Loans scheme to UK entrepreneurs. This is a government backed scheme, providing repayable loans and mentoring to individuals in the UK with a viable business idea but no access to finance.
Find out more

Hampshire For Start-Ups

We started in Hampshire!

Not only does Hampshire play home to this site, it welcomes over 7,000 new businesses every year (that number grows to almost 10,000 if you include Portsmouth and Southampton which are Unitary Authorities in their own right). Start Your Own Business (SYOB) started life over 13 years ago as a newspaper called Start Your Own Business in Hampshire and has now branched out to cover the whole of the country, in fact, even further afield than that.

How does this help you? Well, it does mean that we know what support is available in the area and are more than happy to share!

Solent Growth Hub

The Solent Growth Hub offers businesses in the Solent LEP area simplified access to a range of information, advice and support services provided nationally and locally. Helping individuals, organisations and businesses - from start-ups to established operations to find funding, support initiatives and services that can best help them achieve their growth potential.

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Radian

Do you have a business idea and passion that you want to turn into a reality? Are you currently self employed and need to update your knowledge about running your business? Radian EST invite you to ‘Go Your Own Way’! See our website for more details.

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Oaktree Accountants Limited

Oaktree Accountants Ltd are a thriving local firm catering to the accountancy, taxation, payroll and advisory needs for businesses and individuals across Hampshire and the surrounding counties. With our excellent eye for detail, you can spend more time doing what you do best, run your business. Founded in 2003, Oaktree was built by our directors Sarah Robinson and Lucy Macginnis, who envisioned accounting without the jargon. They pictured a fresh, friendly and informal approach to accountancy which, in 2019, continues to put our clients at ease. We boast a diverse clientele of all shapes, sizes and industries, from young families to retired couples, from start-ups and sole traders through to partnerships and well-established limited companies. We pride ourselves on ensuring every client receives the upmost trust-worthy and professional advice tailored to their individual needs and their developing business goals. Working closely with the directors, our team strive to empower our clients and strengthen their confidence in running their business. We are committed to looking beyond the numbers so we can find them the best possible opportunities and give specialised business advice based on their accounts and projections. With our clients at the forefront of what we do, client satisfaction is integral to our work. Oaktree Accountants Ltd offer a friendly and welcoming service combined with a wealth of experience and extensive skillset to offer not just accountancy but advisory services. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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Morlan Gil

How can HR help your business move forward? Have You Ever Employed Someone You Wish You Hadn’t? If You Employ Staff From time to time you’ll have Human Resources issues. You would like the confidence and reassurance of knowing that you are legally compliant. That all of your HR policies and procedures are in place and that you are protected should problems arise. If You Have an HR Problem It clearly needs your immediate attention, but you are not sure of the best way to proceed. The way that will lead to the outcome you want, with the least cost and minimum disruption to your company. If You Run a Growing Company You need an experienced and professional Human Resources partner to whom you can outsource all of your HR responsibilities, without incurring the cost of a permanent staff member EXCELLENT SUPPORT Jim has worked with Fraser Freight for 5 years as our retained HR Adviser. In that time he has provided quality, professional support on the full range of Human resource issues form employing staff, managing performance and dealing with staff problems. He has been flexible in his approach, always giving advice based on the needs of the company. I would happily recommend him. If you are looking for HR support, you should speak to him.

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Inspiring Enterprise

Inspiring Enterprise helps unemployed people and graduates in North Hampshire and South West Surrey develop the skills and confidence they need to build their own business or social enterprise. We understand that starting a business or community enterprise isn’t for everyone. But we also know there are people out there who just need a chance and have what it takes to make a success of their own life or change the lives of those around them. Being a socially funded project, we are required to have a few criteria for the people and projects that can receive our support.

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Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

Hampshire Chamber is a business support organisation. We assist businesses raise their profile, get connected to new customers and contacts, keep them up to date with relevant business information and are a voice for the business community at local and national Government level. We organise over 100 events ranging from speed networking, breakfast briefings on economic issues, behind the scenes visits, and workshops that enhance your skills. Call us for chat or have a look at our website.

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Digital House Marketing & Design Agency

A House Full Of Digital Marketing Experts…. Here at Digital House, we all love digital marketing! We’re passionate about doing it better than anyone else. With Digital House you don’t just get a design agency, you get a whole team of digital experts supporting the growth of your business in the right direction. We understand your business with a passion. Our team are dedicated to our promise of delivering an increase of enquiries and to building your business to the next level. The combination of our expertise and the way we work is what sets us apart from others. We’re refreshingly honest and our customers stay with us because they want to – we have no tie-in clauses. Based in Tadley near Basingstoke, covering North Hampshire. Free Digital Insight Workshop Free digital insight workshop to get more from digital marketing. We take the mist away from what is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), AdWords, Social Media, E-Newsletters, Google Maps and Google My Business, giving you plenty of tips on how to make digital marketing work for you. Venue: Our offices at Heath End House, Tadley, RG26 3SD

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FSB Wessex

FSB Wessex is the local branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). It was formed in 1974 as the National Federation of Self Employed and represents the interests of small and medium-sized businesses locally and nationally. They offer a great package tailored to your needs if you are thinking about starting a business in the area. Contact: Neil Eames Development Manager Neil.Eames@fsb.org.uk

Hampshire County Council

Visit the business section of the Hampshire County Council website to find local support, Hampshire business directory, Hampshire Ambassadors, support for rural businesses, economic facts & figures, Invest in Hampshire, find a business premises. The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8UJ

Photo of Hampshire courtesy of Start Your Own Business under a Creative Commons Attribution licence