If you are considering starting your own business or buying a franchise then the organisations listed below will be able to provide assistance.
Business Link
Business Link’s website includes lots of valuable resources offering information on the following areas:
- Access finance in the Eastern Region
- Business names and structures
- Buying a business
- Choosing and setting up premises
- Taxes, payrolls and returns
- Becoming an employer for the first time
- Sales and marketing
- Financial control, operations and transport
- Contracts and suppliers
- IT and e-commerce for start-ups
- Importing and exporting
- Protecting your business and ideas
The website also contains details of Business Link events and workshops specifically geared towards those looking to start-up their own business.
Contact Business Link:
VentureNavigator
- VentureNavigator is a free and impartial online business support service for start ups, small businesses and entrepreneurs. VentureNavigator enables you to test your business ideas and get tailored feedback, access a library of relevant business resources and get advice from an online community of entrepreneurs and business owners.
- Web: www.venturenavigator.co.uk
Essex Libraries Business Information Service
- This service provides wide ranging information enabling research and analysis of markets, competitors, products and suppliers. Full market research and marketing databases are available
- Tel: 01245 492535
- Web: www.essex-business.info
The New Ideas Programme (part of the Essex Innovation Programmes)
- This programme offers free high quality specialist business support to budding entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas that they want to develop. The programme looks to particularly support business ideas which involved the application and/or development of scientific know-how, new technology or new approaches to engineering or design.
- Tel: 01245 430350
- Web: www.essexinnovation.co.uk