Writing a business plan is an essential first step in starting a business, to outline your product, your market, your customers and your competitors.
The business planning process will give you an idea of the various elements that will determine your success, from cash flow to sales forecasting to staffing structure.
A good business plan will allow you to structure your finances effectively, show potential investors the strength of your business and focus your efforts on growing your business.
A business plan is a living document that you consult periodically to help you identify potential deficiencies before they occur.
Financing options for new businesses
A bank loan is not the only way to raise money to finance your business start-up. For some businesses, equity investment, which is raising capital through the sale of shares in a company, may be more appropriate.
For equity financing, there is a growing number of investors willing to support new businesses.
For others, debt financing may be more appropriate with alternatives to banks such as peer to peer lenders or crowdfunding platforms.
Create and register a new business
All the information you need to help you start a new business, including how to create and register a company.
Starting a business requires careful preparation and research. Good advice at this stage of planning will help you avoid costly mistakes later on.
A mentor can give you honest and constructive feedback, provide useful contacts and give you valuable experience.
When recruiting new staff, you'll need guidance to help you define and describe the position, find the right candidates, conduct interviews, check references and make the eventual hiring decision.
Are you looking for enthusiastic young talent that you can train and develop for your company? The answer is to hire a work-study student. More and more companies are doing it.
An internship is a training program with work experience that unleashes the great potential of young people and prepares them for their future careers by helping them enter the working world.
Your website can be both your showcase and your business card. Your customers can find you and learn more about you. Your website is the best way to tell them more about your business. Even if you don't intend to sell your services online, having a website will benefit your business, and we can advise you on how to set it up.
Social media is a great way to connect with your customers and promote your business.
The biggest networks - like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn - are all free and have millions of users. The resources we provide will help you get started.
There are now more options than ever when it comes to promoting your business and services on the web. Whether it's through Facebook, Google or banner ads, there are many quick and inexpensive ways to get your message out to the people who matter most: your customers.