How to start a business without bank support

   

This article was written by 'Secret Millionaire' Dominic List, the owner of IT and Telecoms firm, Comtact.

When he started his company in 2005, List had very little access to traditional bank funding. Instead, he used a combination of credit cards, a small loan from his father, and the proceeds from the sale of his car to get the company off the ground. The company is on course to make £5.5 million this year.

With the current problems faced by entrepreneurs and small businesses in getting access to loans, List has put together the following top tips for getting businesses off the ground without access to conventional funding.

• Website - don’t skimp on this, it’s your business front door and shop window. However, great looking five page websites can be bought for under £200 by using companies that have pre-formed templates. Remember you can always upgrade later when the business takes off.
• FFF or Family, Friends and Fools – These are the best sources to raise seed capital but also get work done. I had my Father’s accountant do the accounts for us as a favour on the understanding that if we took off, they would have us for life. We did and they have.
• Outsource – there are plenty of companies both in the UK or overseas who will do your invoicing, handle calls, provide PA services etc. They are much cheaper than you will get by hiring and also give you a ‘big company,’ feel (see tip 9).
• Work from home or in the car - I lived in a shared house at the time I started my business so my car was the only guaranteed quiet space I had. I could pretend to clients I was in my, “City office.”
• Use a forwarding address - I had perceived W1 office space for only £30 per month by using a virtual office company. Again, this will give your firm the ‘big company,’ feel.
• Beg, Borrow, Steal! - I fitted out my first three man office with pretty much all its equipment of chairs, desks, filing cabinets etc for £40 cash from a friend. I still use the same chair to this day.
• Non Geographic Numbers – 0800 or 0844 can give you national coverage and big business look for a very small outlay. These numbers can also be forwarded to your mobile to hide the fact you don’t have an office.
• Google Apps – This is similar to Microsoft, yet free to use. If I was starting again I would probably start my business on these. Again you can always upgrade later.
• Think big – in my experience, perception is nine tenths of reality. Don’t apologise for being small; every business had to start somewhere. Be big with your suppliers for good discounts. You may not have much business to give them now, but they’ll be glad to have you in a few years. Don’t be shy of asking for volume discounts.
• Customer is King – Customers are the best marketing tool you can have – and they don’t cost a penny! I figure that about 80% of my business comes from word of mouth recommendations. Companies can have huge marketing budgets, but if you look after your customers from day 1, the benefits are immeasurable.

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