The government has announced proposals to simplify the process for small businesses to receive business advice.

Small business minister Margaret Hodge says the proposals would address the concerns held by many small companies that the wide array of business support schemes is confusing.

In the future, the government's Business Link advice service would be the first port of call for all the government's business support.

A 12-week consultation will take place that will take the views of regional development agencies, local authorities and other bodies into account. It should mean that the costs of business support marketing and administration, which are often needlessly replicated, will be cut.

'We want to take some of the hassle out of getting help to run a business,' says Ms Hodge.

'By cutting down the number of support schemes without cutting the amount of support we believe we can do that. Simpler, easier to use and understand support while cutting back on unnecessary duplication. It's simple common sense for both business and the tax-payer.'

Business Link currently has a 91 per cent customer satisfaction rate for its services, according to the government.