In December 2018 Forbes Magazine placed the UK as number 1 in its list of Best Countries for Business. There is no doubt that the UK offers tremendous opportunities for businesses to be set up and to thrive. However the fact that this is so well recognised means that it is also probably the most competitive country on earth for businesses. You need to make sure that all aspects of your UK operation are run to the highest professional standards in order to succeed. The aim of this article is to give you some tips as to how to setup a company in the UK. Visa. If you do not already have the right to live and run a business here you will need a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa. For this you will need to invest a minimum of £200,000 in your new business and employ yourself and take on at least two members of staff in the first two years. Business Idea. You need to start with an idea of what product or service you want to sell. The first step is to think who … [Read more...]
6 Important Technological Considerations For A Start-Up
1. Watch the cash! Obviously, for a start-up, this goes well beyond spending money on technology, but it’s important to keep it in mind when choosing software. Where possible, invest in systems that allow you to pay monthly with no tie-in. Even if you feel that your business requires something more bespoke and specific in the medium term, selecting Pay-As-You-Go systems initially can pay dividends. Initial use of a Pay-As-You-Go system will allow you to test your requirements and then purchase a more bespoke solution from a more informed position. Consider things like dedicated or hosted servers, and shared environments, so that you are not spending money on in-house servers and so on. Rarely are these necessary nowadays, and in fact they can limit your flexibility. The online environments are usually available for a monthly fee as well, and this helps cash flow as well as limiting risk. If your requirements change, or if the business fails, you are faced with a relatively small … [Read more...]
Joined up thinking for business support for SMEs?
A few days ago I moaned about the lack of joined up thinking in business support for SMEs in the South. At that point there was to be one stop on the Startup Britain (http://startupbritain.org) bus tour in the region but it was closed to the public! This bizarre state of affairs has now been corrected and the following public announcement was made on the Startup Britain blog: Our morning visit to the Portlade Aldridge Community Academy in Brighton on the 19th of September is now open to the public! Portslade Aldridge Community Academy Chalky Road Portslade, Brighton BN41 2WS We have also arranged an additional afternoon event on the 19th of September from 2-4pm at the Falmour Campus at Brighton University. The Checkland Building University of Brighton Falmer, Brighton BN1 9PH Business advisor's and professionals will be on board giving invaluable, first-hand advice ranging from everything including social media, to finance, technology and accountancy. We look forward to seeing you … [Read more...]
Isn’t it time there was a little more joined up thinking in support for small businesses?
Why is money for enterprise not invested in areas where enterprise produces the best returns? Today’s announcement of the second round of enterprise zone investment was disappointing for those who believe that this investment needs to be placed in areas where the best returns can be had. The government, in its wisdom, has agreed to the plans of a number of organisations for the creation of Enterprise Zones in a variety of areas. The majority of this investment is going to areas where arguably there is not the culture of enterprise and entrepreneurship.One enterprise zone that has been agreed is in Oxfordshire, David Cameron’s back yard! And yet one of the most deprived areas of the country, believe it or not, is Bognor Regis, a town known for its long hours of sunshine and very high unemployment rates. The Coast to Capital LEP put forward a plan for the establishment of an advanced manufactiuring Enterprise Zone for this area and it was rejected. On another note, another of the new … [Read more...]
