Business start up, growth and finance

It’s always daunting to start with a blank page – how will you get from a business idea to the end point of your long-term business plan? Our team of business advisers will give you all the guidance you need to get started, grow and win the necessary investment.

In the startup phase, it’s about getting the basics right, on the one hand, and producing a concrete business plan on the other. You need to decide on a business structure – sole trader, limited company, or something else? You may have to register with HMRC and/or Companies House and start filing annual accounts, tax returns, VAT returns and so on. You’ll certainly need to make sure you have robust systems and processes in place, including those for financial record-keeping.

Business planning is about defining your growth goals and mapping out how you’ll get there. A five-year plan is typical. We can help you put this plan together, asking challenging questions and providing solutions on the way. This will help you make smart decisions and spend your time, energy and money in the right way. It’s also vital in winning the confidence of banks, lenders and investors.

When it comes to realising that growth plan, most businesses need outside investment. As well as business planning, we’ll help you find potential sources of capital, make connections through our partnerships and networks and support you in bids for funding. We can also advise on bids for grant funding. And, as part of our tax return service, we’ll also make sure you’re claiming tax relief, such as research and development (R&D) tax credits, if applicable.

In the long-term, we’ll help you stay on track, monitoring performance against your growth plan using key performance indicators (KPIs) and management accounting reports.