Posted: Mon 24th Feb 2014
Last year was a cracking year for starting a business. Over half a million got going in the UK alone. If you want to be your own boss this year, the latest edition of our StartUp Kit is all you'll need - and it's out now.
The StartUp Kit is written by Enterprise Nation founder and business expert Emma Jones - and what's different about it is it's really friendly, it's not scary at all, and it takes you through all the steps of starting your own business - from coming up with an idea, to writing a business plan, managing your finances, building a website, making sales and making some noise.
Over 162 pages, Emma offers practical advice, links and tips, alongside the personal stories of 12 small businesses owners, who share their reasons for getting started - and the advice they found useful on their business journeys.
We wrote about Esther Thompson, who appears in the new edition of the StartUp Kit on our blog. Esther's business Tea Huggers fills a gap in the market for high-quality herbal tea. Her business plan, she says, is an evolving process:
"When my business plan was in decent shape, I managed to speak to some experts in the industry who helped me refine my ideas and strengthen my proposition. I went through so many different versions of the business plan, but each time it became stronger and stronger."
Whether you have a business and a plan that you'd like to brush up, or no idea where to start, the StartUp Kit will guide you through or top you up on the skills you need to turn your good idea into a great business. It starts with a foreword from Lord Young, who is Enterprise Adviser to the Prime Minister, and includes advice from experts that include Dan Wilson on turning an eBay hobby into a business, Greg Simpson on the 'art of PR', and small business lawyer Jo Tall, who'll make sure you keep everything legal.
The StartUp Kit has been the UK's best selling business kit since 2011. Now in it's fourth edition, you'll find even more practical advice and inspiration, including:
Sales, marketing and financial plans
Business plan and press release templates
Advice on crowdfunding in the UK
Best, free cloud apps for your business
Additional ways to make money from your website
Links to online marketplaces to sell your products and services
Special offers from leading business brands that will save you money
Coming Up with an Idea
Research the Market
Write a Plan
Register the Company
Protect the Brand
Take Care of Household Admin
Your Tech SetUp
Working 5 to 9
Starting on a Budget and Straightforward Finance
Create a First Impression
Make Sales
Make Some Noise!
Attract Customers Back
Focus on What You Do Best and Outsource The Rest
Keep the Business in Balance
Support
The StartUp Kit is supported by these great business brands:
Take the first step to successfully starting and growing your business.