Starting Up - Business Support Sussex
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Starting Up
Planning
So, you wish to start a business? The very first step is a business plan. Often when starting up we focus on the service or products as it’s what we know best, the business just being a facility to market this. Creating a business plan doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming but it is vital.
Your business plan is a decision making tool and is useful for highlighting goals or objectives and how you achieve them. There’s no fixed layout for a plan, it just needs to be understandable, objective, have clearly defined goals and the methods employed to reach those goals. You can start by opening up a Word document and begin typing away.
A good business plan will also highlight your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis) and will be an important gauge of risk for reaching goals, particularly if funding is being sought. The principle behind this is to identify areas where support is needed and counter these weaknesses with clearly defined methods which overcome them.
Your business plan will predominantly revolve around bringing a product or service to market. As part of the business plan you’ll need a marketing plan. Similar to a business plan in principle, your marketing plan will need to highlight a few important points with regards to the business; a summary, a SWOT analysis, objectives, strategy for reaching objectives, a clear action plan, a budget and a means of measuring performance.
By writing this down the model of the business, the operational demands, any initial costs and any apparent weaknesses will start to become clear. Don’t worry if you have trouble either understanding this or answering all the questions, do what you can.
Planning Support
However, there is support. Bill Shearer, Director here at eBiz Consultancy Ltd knows all about business and marketing plans and is always happy to answer any questions you may have. Getting a business plan wrong will cost you far more than an hour or two with Bill who can write the plans, argue the business case, analyse the markets and assist with identifying sources of funding. Call Bill on 07747 110124 for more information.
Ten Sixty Six Enterprise (Hastings & St. Leonards)
Ten Sixty Six Enterprise (www.1066enterprise.co.uk) is the Chamber of Commerce for the Hastings and St. Leonards area and provide free, confidential start-up advice. Why not give them a call on 01424 205500, tell them who you are, what your plans are and they’ll make an appointment so you can bring your plan along and talk to their advisors about your business.
Business Link (South East)
With Business Link (www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast) you’ll receive expert advice on starting up your business. They provide many workshops and consultation services to assist you so check out their website for more information or call them on 0845 6009006.
East Sussex Enterprise Gateway
If you have a passion to start your own business but feel it’s bigger than you can deal with, too hard, you haven’t got the funds, you’re unemployed or just need some focus, contact the East Sussex Enterprise Gateway. They’re designed to assist you to determine if going into business is the right thing to do and will support you should you do so. Part of Business Link, the Gateway is a great first call to the fledgling entrepreneur. Contact them on 01444 259329 or visit their website for more information.
EDEAL (South East)
EDEAL offer free, confidential and impartial advice on starting your business. Covering all of Sussex, they provide a range of services on all aspects of business. This service deals with social enterprises, non-profit organisations as well as the private sector commercial enterprises. Visit EDEAL’s website at www.edeal.org.uk or call them on 01323 489800 for more information.
Bizzfizz (Hastings)
A national business coaching service, Bizzfizz Hastings is delivered by Clive Gross and provides free, one-to-one business advice and on-going support. Visit the Bizzfizz Hastings website at www.bizfizzhastings.org.uk or call Clive for a meeting on 01424 205509 or 07771 645263.