Friday 25 November 2011

Business Link's online support for start-ups

Going freelance or launching a new business may be the most exciting step you’ll ever take in your professional life, but there can be a rather daunting list of issues to consider, from writing your business plan to your legal obligations when becoming an employer. Although we can help our clients manage their tax and accounting, when it comes to other issues, we often recommend they take a look at the excellent information provided by Business Link at www.businesslink.gov.uk.

Since closing all its high street offices, the government’s Business Link service has been reinvented as a useful online resource for advice on everything from finding a professional mentor, to health and safety regulations and even how to market and sell your products or services. Best of all, it’s completely free.

There’s a range of interactive online tools on the site – including how to assess your company’s performance; a recruitment checklist for when you are taking on new staff; and a guide to measuring your sustainability with tips on how to cut your costs by running a greener business.

We particularly like the flash video tutorials and case studies, which provide inspiration and advice through interviews with successful entrepreneurs and Business Link advisors. If you’ve invented a fantastic new product, you might want to find out how to protect your idea with a trademark, for example; or maybe you’d like to discover how to benefit from cloud-based computer systems; or perhaps take your business to the next level and learn more about the challenges of pitching to potential investors.

For the complete start-up directory of online tools, e-learning resources and video case studies and tutorials go to: https://online.businesslink.gov.uk/hub/action/render?pageId=learningdirectory&r.l1=1075193173&r.s