Advice guides
Improve your business knowledge with these guides and articles, packed with practical information and learnings from our business advisers and real-life business case studies. Download one now.
Business advice guides
- Guide 1: Starting a business from home - You're ready to be your own boss and are looking forward to a new kind of lifestyle. This guide gives you the information you need to get your home business up and running.
- Guide 2: Starting a Business - Once you've made the decision to start your own business, there are a number of important factors to consider. This guide outlines the main areas you should examine to give your business the greatest chance of success.
- Guide 3: Buying a business - If you’re buying a business, you will also be inheriting a trading history, product, premises and perhaps even staff. There are a lot of potential pitfalls to be aware of and this guide will help you manage these issues.
- Guide 4: Buying a Franchise - This guide steps you through how to buy a franchise, from the initial research process to spotting danger signs, making sense of the small print and managing the expectations of the franchisee and franchisor.
- Guide 5: Cash Flow - Cash flow is one of the most important areas to get right in any business. This guide provides essential reading by looking at smart ways to manage your cash flow in both the short and long term.
- Guide 6: Hiring the right staff - Great staff reflect favourably on your business. So it's vital you make the best possible decision every time you hire. This guide takes you through the process, from recruitment and training to pay issues.
- Guide 7: Succession Planning - Succession planning isn't just for over-55s planning retirement. This guide will help you to identify when and how to draft a succession plan and provides real-life case studies of business owners who have already benefited from putting a plan in place.
Guide 1: Starting a business from homeYou're ready to be your own boss and are looking forward to a new kind of lifestyle. This guide gives you the information you need to get your home business up and running.
You'll learn:
- If a home-based business is right for you.
- The right steps to getting started.
- The best structure for your business.
- The essentials of good record keeping.
- The importance of cash flow.
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Guide 2: Starting a BusinessOnce you've made the decision to start your own business, there are a number of important factors to consider. This guide outlines the main areas you should examine to give your business the greatest chance of success. You'll learn:
- Should you start a business or buy one?
- How to write a business plan.
- What is your target market?
- Raising business finance.
- How much capital do you need?
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Guide 3: Buying a businessIf you’re buying a business, you will also be inheriting a trading history, product, premises and perhaps even staff. There are a lot of potential pitfalls to be aware of and this guide will help you manage these issues.
You'll learn:
- The pros and cons of buying an existing business.
- Looking at the business from all angles before you decide to buy.
- How does your business benchmark against the competition?
- What is the business worth?
- How to make an offer.
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Guide 4: Buying a FranchiseThis guide steps you through how to buy a franchise, from the initial research process to spotting danger signs, making sense of the small print and managing the expectations of the franchisee and franchisor. You'll learn:
- Decide if franchising is right for you.
- Carry out the appropriate research.
- Spot any danger signs.
- Understand contracts and small print.
- Put together a cash flow projection.
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Guide 5: Cash FlowCash flow is one of the most important areas to get right in any business. This guide provides essential reading by looking at smart ways to manage your cash flow in both the short and long term.
You'll read about:
- The best ways to achieve positive cash flow.
- The importance of the cash flow cycle.
- How success depends on sound record keeping.
- The early warning signs for cash flow problems.
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Guide 6: Hiring the right staffGreat staff reflect favourably on your business. So it's vital you make the best possible decision every time you hire. This guide takes you through the process, from recruitment and training to pay issues.
Find out how to:
- Find staff who are the right fit for your culture.
- Craft your recruitment ad.
- Process applications efficiently.
- Keep staff motivated.
- Manage staff pay and taxation.
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Guide 7: Succession PlanningSuccession planning isn't just for over-55s planning retirement. This guide will help you to identify when and how to draft a succession plan and provides real-life case studies of business owners who have already benefited from putting a plan in place. You'll learn:
- How to create a succession plan that works.
- How to make a smooth transition when you sell, hand over or close your business.
- The best time to start writing your plan and the benefits.
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