Synopses & Reviews
‘As comprehensive an introduction to setting up a business as anyone could need.
The Daily Telegraph
‘The Wisden of the small business world, threaded through with common sense practical advice.
The Daily Mail
‘A must for any small business owner.
Federation of Small Businesses
Whether youre about to start your own business or have already taken the plunge and want to keep everything on track, make sure you have a copy of The Financial Times Guide to Business Start Up on your shelf.
Annually updated, this edition covers all the latest legal and financial changes you need to be aware of following the 2014 Budget. This guide takes you through every important aspect of starting and running a business, including developing your idea and getting financial backing, building customer relationships, developing your online presence and much more.
Everything you need to know to make your start up a success.
About the Author
Sara Williams is a former investment analyst and financial journalist. She has contributed many articles on tax and finance for national newspapers and for a number of years wrote for Which?, including the Which? Tax-Saving Guide and Which? Book of Tax. She is also the author of The What Investment Guide to Personal Tax and Perfectly Legal Ways to Pay Less Tax. Sara is now the executive chair of AIM-listed media business Vitesse Media Plc, which offers research, digital and social media, and event management in the tax, business and investment areas. Its titles include What Investment, SmallBusiness.co.uk, Information Age, TaxGuide.co.uk, GrowthBusiness.co.uk and Growth Company Investor. She holds qualifications in investment advice and management.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements Updates and information
1. You and your ideas
2. Who will buy?
3. A spot of coaching
4. Your business identity
5. Are you sure?
6. The business plan
7. Timing the jump
8. Less than 100 per cent
9. Off the peg
10. Franchises
11. Beating the pirates
12. The right name
13. Getting the message across
14. Getting new customers
15. Building customer relationships
16. How to set a price
17. Choosing your workplace
18. Information technology - and other equipment
19. Professional back-up
20. Getting the right staff
21. Your rights and duties as an employer
22. Your business and the environment
23. Insurance
24. Forecasting
25. Raising the money
26. Staying afloat
27. Moving ahead
28. Not waving but drowning
29. Keeping the record straight
30. Tax
31. VAT
32. Pensions and retirement
Appendix: Useful Financial Times articles
References
Index