If you are thinking about starting a business in Scotland or would like to grow your existing business, we would love to help you.
Start Your Own Business in Scotland 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
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.
We have been working with start-ups in Scotland for the past 20 years and while it is true that the economy has changed dramatically during that time, many of the key considerations have remained the same. The sad truth is that too many new businesses fail in the early stages and our hope is that we can play in a small part in reducing that number and help you avoid some of the most common pitfalls.
Find local help including business support organisations, local business networking groups and grants which are available in your area.
Aberdeenshire | Angus | Argyll and Bute | Clackmannanshire | Dumfries and Galloway | Dundee | East Ayrshire | East Dunbartonshire | East Lothian | East Renfrewshire | Edinburgh | Falkirk | Fife | Glasgow | Highland | Inverclyde | Midlothian | Moray | North Ayrshire | North Lanarkshire | Orkney Islands | Perth and Kinross | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Scottish Borders | Shetland Islands | South Ayrshire | South Lanarkshire | Stirling and Falkirk | West Dunbartonshire | West Lothian | Western Isles
Before diving into starting a new business, thorough research and planning are essential. Consider the following steps:
Understanding the legal and regulatory requirements is crucial to ensure compliance. Here are some important considerations:
Access to funding and support can significantly boost your chances of success. Explore the following resources:
Building a strong network can open doors to valuable opportunities and collaborations. Consider the following networking avenues:
Here are some additional tips to help you kick-start your business successfully:
Starting a new business in Scotland requires careful planning, research, and compliance with legal requirements. By leveraging the resources and support available from organisations such as Business Gateway, Scottish Enterprise, and networking platforms like Chambers of Commerce and FSB, you can maximise your chances of success. Remember to continuously learn, adapt, and seek guidance throughout your entrepreneurial journey. Good luck!
If so, your logo, company details and link to your site could be here!
If you are based in in Scotland or offer a product or service which could help existing local businesses and start-ups, we would love you to help you reach them. Our aim is to increase the chances of every new business's success by highlighting the help that is available in the area.
You are able to add a free listing or act as our recommended local partner for only £10 per year!
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.
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!
There is plenty of help for startups in Scotland but where can it be found?
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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.
'You don't know what you don't know' is a phrase that is so applicable to starting a new business.
Scotland 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.
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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
Being self-employed or running a business does not suit everyone.
Will my business idea work? That is the million dollar question!
Finding where to start is sometimes the hardest part.
So you’ve got an idea, it seems foolproof.
Options if you need to raise money to start your business.
How to find, win, and keep paying customers - the key to business success!
How to make the most of the web. Websites, SEO, and Social Media.
Learn from and avoid the pitfalls that other start-ups have encountered.
All of our useful FREE resources for new business start-ups in one place.
This FREE start-up pack contains everything that you need to get you started.
Our FREE downloadable guides are packed with the information that you need to start and grow a your business.
