smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Trying to hire staff

There’s no getting round the fact that great ideas are...
Have your say »

RSS

Q: I would like to start a business as an international property agent. I have a clear plan of what the business will do but don't know where to start, can you please help me?

Aug 16 2006

Email a friend

Answered by: Philip Wilkinson Ask a question

Many people dream about starting their own business but it only becomes a reality for those really determined entrepreneurs. That said, planning, research and budgeting are also vital to ensure your success.

Before you do anything you need to know how well your business idea will be received in the market you’ll be operating in. Is your unique selling point really unique? The only way to really gauge your potential success is to carry out some market research. Look at the size of the market and your main competitors to find out if there is a demand for your product or services. Done properly, and incorporated into a full and honest business plan, this will confirm, or not, the viability of the business.

Getting impartial expert advice is essential when starting a new business venture. Call Business Link for London on 0845 6000 787 for more information on how we can help you start up and stay in business.

Comments [1]

Comment by Owino nicholas

Saturday 10th March 2007

Thanks Alison, your piece of advice has focused my thoughts towards starting a business alone. It seems to cover all the basics. Simon Owino, Makerere University in Uganda. May your advice see many into the business world.

Report this comment

Prize Draw

Free prize draw!

Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Avery® Quick&Clean™ Business Cards to offer five lucky readers the chance to win a copy of BBC Dragons' Den James Caan's new book The Real Deal and a pack of Avery® premium heavyweight business cards. To enter the prize draw, simply answer our question here

Polls

Q & A

Business development expert

Ashley de Safrin, Business Link in London Ask a question

Business technology issues

Chris Lindsay, BT Ask a question

Sales and Marketing tips

Jackie Jarvis, MarketingCo.biz Ask a question

News

smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Rates lowest in 300 years

The Bank of England has reduced interest rates to their lowest level since it was founded in 1694.

New start-up programme approved

Lord Peter Mandelson has given the go-ahead for a new £35 million scheme to create over 12,500 new businesses in the north-west.

Tax third-biggest expense for SMEs

Cash-strapped SMEs are spending a significant proportion of expenditure on taxation, research by debt protection group Creditsafe reveals.

Tax return scam warning

Just weeks before the deadline for filing tax returns, fraudsters are targeting individuals with scam emails.

Firms' gender pay gap figures to be revealed

Companies may be forced to publish figures on the pay difference between male and female employees, in changes to the government's equality bill.

Poor health and safety could see firms go under

Health and safety could make or break a company, as one expert warns firms which play at it will find it hard to survive the current climate.

Entrepreneurs adding a day to their working week

Entrepreneurs are adding eight hours to their working week in a bid to counter the effects of the recession, new research shows.

Lack of credit 'could lead to 1930's-level recession'

The lack of credit is the biggest concern facing businesses in 2009 and could lead to the recession reaching levels seen in the 1930s, one expert asserts.

Businesses should conduct health checks

Firms should conduct a company MOT to ensure they are maximising cashflow, marketing and business opportunities and are able to survive the current tough conditions.

Rate cut should be 1%

The monetary policy committee should cut rates to one per cent this Thursday but this alone will be inadequate and should be backed up with other, far-reaching policies, one organisation states.

SMEs lacking pension schemes

The vast majority of SMEs do not offer workplace pension schemes, according to a survey by advisory body the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA).

Guides & Tips

Tune into remote working

Forthcoming legislation is set to extend the rights of employees who wish to work from home. Here Ollie Chivers, head of business marketing at T-Mobile, and SmallBusiness.co.uK, show you how to get remote working right

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) can mean staff are being properly utilised

How to get more from your customers

No matter what your business, when it comes to sales the customer is king. Having a good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system in place can help you increase turnover today as well as spot where tomorrow’s sales might come from.

Redundancy is not the only option

Many SMEs will have to control staffing costs over the coming months. Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Simon Kite, a partner at chartered accountants Saffery Champness, to offer some tips on how to cut costs and avoid the redundancy route

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.