STARTING UP

STANTA START-UP RESOURCE CENTRE: How do I decide on my business idea? How should I set up my business? Where can I get finance? What do I need to know about tax? How do I stay legal? Do I need a business plan and how do I create one? How can I market my business and get sales? What’s involved in taking on premises, or employees? What IT do I need? – for all these questions you can find help here.

50% of businesses fail within 4 years. When you start up, it’s good to have a clear perspective on the common mistakes new businesses make which ‘send them off the rails’. To avoid them, read STANTA’s ‘7 Reasons why businesses fail’ before you start and make sure you stay off the business casualty list.

STARTING UP or DEVELOPING

Marketing for Success. For a new business, some understanding of marketing is critical to attract those customers without which, however good your idea, no business can survive. STANTA’s Marketing for Success will set you on the right track

Many people struggle with the financial side of managing their small business. For valuable information on ;Start up costs;Start up funding; Pricing; Cash flow

Are you fully aware of your responsibilities with regard to the types of data you may be holding about your employees, customers and suppliers and how you need to protect it? For 20 FAQs about data protection.

If you are a Businesses providing digital services in the EU from 1 January 2015, VAT became payable in the member state of consumption where customers live. To better understand how this impacts your business and what you need to do about it .

Does your business contract directly with consumers? If so you should be aware of the consumer contract changes taking effect from 13 June 2014.

Are you a trader at a distance or to Home/doorstep consumers? If so you should be aware of the information you must provide to the consumer.

Most businesses rely heavily on their website to promote their business. Did you know that there will be new “.uk” Domain Names introduced on 10 June 2014? To explore your options.

DEVELOPING and GROWING

The success or failure of a business can often rest in the hands of its most valuable asset – its people. But managing them can be a challenge. For help with; People management; Recruitment,contracts,discipline and grievance; Employment rights; Hiring employees

Worried about employment issues? ACAS have produced a free tool which enables you to assess how good your current practice is and suggest improvements. Ideal for more established businesses with a number of staff, the start-up embarking on its first employment can use it to help establish good practice and to avoid problems from the start.

Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy. For information on such topics as ;Creating a Brand;Looking after your customers;Promoting your business;Sales techniques;Market research;International trade;Creating a website.

If you want to run a legitimate enterprise, you must pay tax. It’s worth understanding your tax obligations before you start up to factor them in. An extensive list of tax topics are addressed here:National Insurance, Payroll and Benefits, VAT, Corporation Tax,

Many people, including some leading business representatives, argue that small firms are over burdened by the weight of business law. For information on ; Employment Law,  Health & Safety Law, Data Protection and IT, Licences and registration; Intellectual Property

Such is the impact of information technology (IT), that nowadays it’s hard to imagine what we would do without it. There can’t be many firms in the UK, however small, that don’t use it in some way. Many businesses simply couldn’t exist without IT. To help you work your way through this and understand what you need to know and whether and when you need expert help on topics such as: Computer Hardware, Business Software, Networking, The Internet, Communications, IT Security, Buying and Managing IT, IT Support and Staff and IT Training.

BUSINESS GURUS

Want to learn what small businesses can take from the work of the great business thinkers?

USEFUL 3RD PARTY ORGANISATIONS

Finding the information you need can be daunting so we have provided a helpful directory for you.

NETWORKING GROUPS

Want to meet with like minded local business people, to share ideas and perhaps a coffee?