BUSINESS PLANNING Ok, so you have made the decision - starting a business what next? well the ideal scenario is off course you just start trading and bobs your uncle.. sadly not as easy as that is it, but lets take this step by step together and get your new business into production. So the first thing to think about is will you be trading as - i.e. Joe Blogs T/A Joe Blogs cleaners, in other words self employed or will you be a limited company as a director.. So, there are many people who go through life working the 9-5pm grind. This is perfectly fine and these people are the workforce that drive the UK business, but in the UK today more and more people are taking the plunge and going it alone in business and perhaps believing they are risking “life and limb” when in reality they are not. Going into business in the UK is far easier than in other EU countries, here you get help starting up, you can get staff through the job centre and receive grants and much more.   To be a success in business then is only about planning and belief in oneself. Sounds obvious and simple.. Because it is. Let’s look at the key factors of a starting a successful business plan.   Name Your Product:   This may seem obvious but many people don’t really know all about the business they are looking to start-up, here we have the necessity of research. You need to research the service or business you are looking to start, research is three quarters of the battle, this comes before you spend any money on investment for items like computers, laptops or even premises, you MUST understand the business you are looking to start before you can successfully launch it.     The Business Checklist:   I have prepared a checklist we can be used by anyone, it shows the steps to take to get your business off the ground and basically you just tick off each box as you complete each part of the list. Uploading this business checklist very soon.   Search the competition:   Using Google you can search what others are doing in the line of business you are interested in. For example lets say you was looking to start a florists in Kent, searching on Google for florists in Kent returns 2.5 Million websites and companies offering this service. Your next step would be to look at the top listing website and examine the products they offer and the prices they advertise, if they are members of Interflora or relevant franchises and note how they present there products for purchase. This will give you confidence to pursue your own business as you have seen a successful one.   In the example above we would then stay on Google and type Interflora, which will then bring up there details. On there site we can email or call them and find out how we get involved. There are fare more steps to this which I  will provide as an EBook called “Your Business Start” The point here is RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH.. as a final point to the example above, there is a way of running a florists without a shop..more to follow on this. The product: (Internet Based  Business) You must clearly define the product  or products you are going to manufacture and/or  offer for sale - (if you buy and resell the product(s) then always research the suppliers getting 3 quotes whenever possible) It could be said that one could get a bank loan and buy stock in but that can be risky especially if its a perishable item(s) so the primary thing then would be research the products and the market and ensure your have the correct storage facilities for your stock. In addition, the ideal scene you may want to aim for is selling the product quoting a realistic delivery time and then when going to see Mr. bank manager presenting him with confirmed orders, this may well strengthen the case for a loan or overdraft. We have a section on this site covering grants, well worth a look. Logo Essential, essential, essential your logo is your companies identity and really states you exist. A typical quality logo should set you back around £99 + VAT, sure there are cheaper options but you get what you pay for. Some companies who design logos make the logo with cheap clipart and then offer you it cheap, say as little as £25. What are you getting for that £25, a cheap looking logo of poor quality, like a dog a logos for life not just for xmas! Stationary The must have item namely letterheads, business cards and compliment slips. These are the primary items with your logo to get started in business and a quality print indeed forwards the professional service you offer. Website Ok so you have your logo and letterheads etc next comes the website. You may question here why the website, what about leaflets.. there is a reason. A quality website, if done correctly and promoted can bring in leads very quickly. The thing is, if your websites done - and it need not take long, it can generate interest and enquiries thus getting you off the ground and trading from as little as £229 + VAT - recommended link this does not include a shopping cart which can vary in price due to the number of products you wish to sell. Leaflets So this can be a tricky one, you can design your own leaflet but don't design it in PowerPoint or MS Word, these programs work in RGB a very old style of colours, your best bet is to get a professional designer to do the leaflets for you or a print company. Next is how to distribute the leaflets, this again can be hit or miss and the best advice would be the Royal Mail they will deliver the leaflets for you at a set rate so you can then budget for the cost of this knowing exactly the cost involved. Business Start up Packs These are ideal for the complete solution to start your business and include all items listed above. These start-up packs are competitively priced, click here to see them.