Small Business Help & Advice

Smallbusinesspro offers practical help, guides, resources, tips and ideas for all small businesses based in the UK. Whether you are self employed sole trader or run a limited company we have all the advice you need to make your venture a success.

Are You Ready to Start Your Business?

One of the very first things you'll need to do is firm up the type of business you want to start and to create a business plan for your new venture. Your plan including how you are going to get customers through marketing activities is a key document that shows your path to profitability. You may also need it to get finance and a bank account.

You can get ideas and templates for your plan in the how to start a business section that provides ideas and opportunities available for new entrepreneurs with step-by-step guides on starting up, developing your own skills and building a business during a recession.

Additionally there are many business utilities you may require such as electricity, gas, broadband, telephone and office space.

Business Financing Guides

Most new businesses need some form of finance and with the current credit crunch are finding it more difficult to get loans from banks. However there are other financing options available such as invoice discounting and factoring that are covered in our guides in the small business finance section.

All the banks offer various periods of free banking so ensure you get the right bank account by reading our small business banking guides. If you have customers visiting you, provide professional advice or employ staff then ensure you have the correct level of liability insurance to mitigate against potential claims. Business insurance is actually excellent value for money so ensure you shop around.

Marketing Ideas to Get More Customers

Finding new prospects and driving more sales from existing customers is difficult. Our marketing and sales guides help with ideas for advertising and promotions as well as advice on targeting the right customers in the first place. These also cover areas such as branding, free ideas, leadership and negotiation skills.

New Articles Recently Added

Read the latest postings to Smallbusinesspro:

• small business utilities
  A guide to the type of utilities your business may require including gas electricity and perhaps you need help with a serviced office
• courier van insurance
  How to get get affordable van insurance if you are working as a courier owner/ driver
• Best business savings accounts rates
  Some of the best business bank accounts for savings - the banks and the rates
• Best business deposit accounts rates
  The best places for deposit bank accounts for business including current rates