So you've got an idea for your business - now what? The Shell LiveWIRE website can help you on your way to starting a business by offering funding, advice, inspiration, networking and promotional tools.
Writing a business plan (or project plan) is a great way to gather all your thoughts and ideas together in one place, no mattter how poorly formed they might be at this stage.
Every business needs money - for capital investment and to provide working capital. Some people have enough money themselves to invest in all that the business requires; others have nothing and expect to borrow everything. Some recognise the need to raise equity from third parties.
Banks are cautious and want to lend as little as possible - and expect to see a modest level of gearing. Money from different sources has different costs - partly reflecting the different risks. How do you decide the best source? And how do you achieve a reasonable balance between different sources?
You might provide great products or services but without sales then you won't make enough money to survive in business. Not everyone is a 'born saleperson' but it's vital that you learn a few basic sales techniques as soon as possible.
"Management" can be defined as "the efficient and effective use of resources to achieve results with and through the efforts of other people." In this section we will look at managing IT for business, sustainable development, training, tax and a raft of other issues which you are likely to come across as your buiness grows.
Information and communication technologies (ICT) is an umbrella term that covers all advanced technologies in manipulating and communicating information.
If you work with personal data, then you should be aware of data protection issues, particularly your requirements under the Data Protection Act 1998.
The term Intellectual Property (IP) refers to the ownership of (new) ideas, and the rights of the people who had those ideas to exploit them commercially or artistically. These rights rarely apply to the ideas themselves, but to the material or artistic forms that they take. In other words, in most cases, the idea has to take some kind of ‘physical’ form before it is protected. Examples of intellectual property include: inventions, musical recordings, computer programs and books.
Good prototypes can refine a product or a service, reveal potential problems in the design and convince doubters that an invention is worth taking to market.
The businesses featured below have all been supported in some way through Shell LiveWIRE. Whether they have entered the awards or been active participants in our Discussion Forum and Social Network - they have all been successful in starting their own businesses.
Shell LiveWIRE Publications include research carried out as part of the programme, plus recent marketing and promotional items.
Finding a suitable training provider can be difficult. With thousands of individuals and private companies throughout the UK offering their services, this section provides links to websites that can not only help you find the right training, but also provide information on grants and funding that you may be eligible for...
When you are planning to start in business you may wish to work from home or find you need to take on premises and consider the additional obligations this entails.
