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Review: Seven Sites for Start-ups

When you start a new business, you need all the reliable advice, support and information you can get. But where can you find it? Matt Pearce looks at seven of the best sites for start-ups.


Shortcut to:

1. Making the decision
2. Producing a business plan
3. Finding grants
4. IT and e-commerce advice
5. The low-down on marketing
6. Legal matters
7. Getting help and support


1. Making the decision

Yes, there are even websites that help you come to the decision to start up your business in the first place.

Maybe the most fun making that decision can be had at:

http://www.becauseyoucan.com/display.jsp?category=71

You'll be faced with what is effectively an interactive personality test. ' Have you got what it takes?' the test asks. To find out, you have to respond to 24 statements, indicating how strongly you agree or disagree with them. The whole thing takes a couple of minutes and is quite enjoyable - almost like a game.

Complete the test (honestly) and it will determine whether you're really ready to be your own boss, and whether you're the kind of person who can thrive as an entrepreneur. At the end you get a report pointing out your business strengths and weaknesses, assessing your business style in terms of motivation, accountability, openness, opportunism, 'visioning' and awareness. You even get a mini-report on your very own business personality that you can print out.

Sound like something out of a TV magazine? Well, some questions can appear quite obvious, and the flashy graphics could be seen as gimmicky. But actually, some very important questions are asked, and better still, this simple test does get you looking at your own motivations and qualities. It makes you examine exactly what being an entrepreneur means, and whilst it cannot hope to be 100% accurate in its diagnosis of your business potential, it's a useful tool in your decision-making. Recommended!


2. Producing a business plan

A decent business plan is critical to the success of your business. Effectively it is a tool for exploring all aspects of your proposed business - including its development, funding, management and operation. What is more, by developing a strong business plan, you will be in a good position to get key funding.

The Department of Trade and Industry's 'Business Link' site is one of the most important sources of information for start-ups, and one of its most helpful sections gives you advice on creating that all-important business plan:
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?r.l2=1073859137&r.l1=1073858805&r.s=tl&topicId=1073869162

The Business Link guide to preparing a business plan is easy to follow and comprehensive, covering aspects of the plan such as:

  • The executive summary
  • Products and services
  • Markets and competitors
  • Marketing and sales
  • Team skills
  • Operations
  • Financial forecasts
  • Presenting the business plan
  • Keeping an up-to-date business plan.

    A checklist of what the plan should include is also featured in the guide, and is particularly handy. Also of use are the links to sites with some sample business plans - there's nothing more helpful than having an example to follow.


    3. Finding grants

    It goes without saying that when setting up your business, it's worth checking out if there are any grants available to help you out financially.

    The European Information Centre offers a good-value, high-quality grant-finding service, details of which can be found at:

    http://www.waleseic.org.uk/grants.htm

    From this page, that provides an overview of the EIC service, you can follow a link to the Grantnet home page where can sign up for the Grant Finder search. Once you have completed the search, you are profiled according to your needs, location, size, etc., and this profile is then matched against a Grantnet database, which contains details of over 1000 possible sources of financial aid that may be suitable. The service takes into account both EU and UK sources of funding for your proposed project, and the database is continually updated.

    Finally you receive details of funding schemes that match your search criteria. A Grantnet report is also sent to a chosen local support organisation where you will get help with the application process. Full reports of grants are available are available at a cost: £75 + VAT, which - when you consider the funding it might lead to - is very reasonable.

    The website itself contains useful information on grant schemes available to organisations in Wales - got to: http://www.waleseic.org.uk/grant2.htm to find out more. The Commission has also published a booklet on Funding from the European Union, which can be accessed at http://europa.eu.int/comm/sg/aides/en/en.htm.


    4. IT and e-commerce advice

    For the best advice on IT and e-commerce, it's a good idea to visit the technology pages on the main DTI site that focus on best practice:

    http://www.dti.gov.uk/bestpractice/technology/index.htm

    The aim of these pages is to demonstrate how your business can become more efficient and competitive by making the most of new technologies. Best of all, the site contains case studies and self-assessment tools that help you decide on exactly what technology your business might need in the first place.

    The DTI site examines business technologies under the following categories:

  • Internet, e-mail and broadband (including information on e-mail marketing)
  • Wireless and mobile working
  • Security (including data protection advice)
  • Integration
  • Communications technologies.

    Under each of these sections you'll find guides to specific topics (available as text or PDFs). All of these are well worth reading, but a few deserve a particular mention.

    It's worth checking out the guide to e-business under the 'Internet' section: it introduces the benefits of using technology in all areas in a readable way, looking at aspects from the Internet to extranets, from e-mail to mobile communications. The search engine optimisation fact sheet is also extremely handy when you come to developing your website.

    The integration section is another essential one to read: it tells you how you can link your back office and online systems together to make your business vastly more efficient. As for the Security section, it's nothing if not comprehensive, with plenty of useful how-to guides and checklists, and a discussion of legal matters.


    5. The low-down on marketing

    About.com has come up with a rich marketing resource for SMEs which you'll find it at:

    http://marketing.about.com/library/weekly/aa060103a.htm

    On the home page you'll find a wise introduction to the subject that stresses two things: the importance of the Target Market, and the difference between the needs of SMEs and larger companies. Then, on the left, you'll find links to plenty more good advice. Under the 'Essentials' links, you'll find:

  • A glossary of marketing terms, which is extremely comprehensive
  • A guide to marketing careers
  • SME marketing basics - the bits we're interested in
  • A differentiation between marketing and advertising
  • A topic index.

    Below these links, you'll find more links to a host of 'Articles and Resources' that cover every conceivable area, including: marketing plans, strategy, tools, training, Internet marketing, branding, target marketing, sales training, statistics and research, consultancy and outsourcing, and marketing associations. Everything you could need, really.

    The site, which is continually updated with fresh material, is exhaustive in the amount of advice it presents. The articles themselves are, predictably, extremely well-written. Of particular use to start-ups will be the excellent advice on market research (especially on a budget). A good amount of space is also given to on-line marketing.


    6. Legal matters

    Produced specifically for SMEs, bizhelp24 is undoubtedly a good all-round source of information. But its section on legalities:

    http://www.bizhelp24.com/business_law/business_law_portal.htm

    ...is worth a special mention.

    These pages provide a comprehensive guide to business law information covering a range of areas. This includes general information on copyright protection, trademarks, patents, trading hours, partnerships, company names, data protection, and pensions. There is also a specific section on employment law, covering topics such as employment contracts, dismissal, redundancy, employing children, working hours, holiday entitlements, maternity leave and sick pay.

    The Computer & Internet Law pages are again very well focused. Aspects such as copyright protection online, unlicensed software, domain names, linking and meta tags are discussed in detail.

    Needless to say, it's all very well organised and presented in a straight-forward manner. The site also includes up-to-date news stories , and lists of links to other useful sites.


    7. Getting help and support

     Of course, visiting web sites is great if you need background information. But very often, what you really want is to talk face-to-face with someone who can answer your specific business questions. That's why our final recommended page is at:

    http://www.businesseye.org.uk

    What you'll find here is an interactive map of Wales that allows you to locate your nearest Business Eye centre. At the centre you'll find experts who can help you with your queries and point you in the right direction - for example, putting you in contact with support from the private, public or voluntary sectors. The service is free and well worth taking advantage of - even if your only at the ideas stage.

    For a comprehensive guide to the on-line support available to start-ups, visit our BIG WALES section.


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