This section is all about the day-to-day skills you'll need to keep your new business on track.
Use the links on the left to find out more...
However scary these look, you'll soon get the hang of them - and there are lots of people who can help you as well.
You've had your idea, you've been creative, you've got the right attitude and you know how to deal with people. You're in business at last! Now let's look at getting to grips with the day-to-day realities of being your own boss and the necessary planning and business skills you'll need to get off the ground.
This covers things like business plans, finding premises, managing money and tax, keeping records, employing people, legal matters and making the most of IT. It also involves getting a balance between your business and personal life.
They're issues you must deal with, but it shouldn't take too long to get your head round them. And the big thing to remember is that these days you don't have to do all of this yourself. There's lots of free help and advice to be had from your local business support service as well as your bank, and you can always get professional help from an accountant or solicitor if you need it - at a price, of course.
But that could well be a price worth paying when you've got other more critical business issues to deal with.
...get help!
