1) Starting a new business - an introduction

Welcome to Bytestart’s comprehensive small business set-up guide, featuring all the information you need to get your commercial venture off to a healthy, solid start.

From choosing the right name for your company and drawing up your first business plan, through to up-to-date taxation advice, banking and insurance tips, each subject is addressed in the guide.

We also look at the vital character traits you’ll need to survive in business. Determination and originality are key. Equally, so is the ability to organise your time and to put the requisite effort in during the early days.

As with any new commercial venture, success can never be guaranteed, but our aim is to minimise the trickier elements involved in setting up on your own. We’ll forewarn you of the most common pitfalls, including failure to research your market in sufficient detail and not setting aside enough funds for tougher financial times.

Starting up even the smallest business can be a daunting prospect. But take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. In fact, of the four million businesses currently in operation in the UK, more than 99.3 per cent are categorised as “small,” with fewer than 50 employees.

In order to keep this guide as compact as possible, where we’ve not had enough room to include every last detail, you’ll find a link taking you to the most relevant Bytestart articles and external websites.

Good luck with your business idea!

Click on the links at the bottom of each page to navigate through our guide.

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