Starting up a business
If you are considering starting up a new business, you need to think about a number of factors including business structures, business planning, finding and keeping customers, funding, and tax and legal issues.
Top content within Starting up a business
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Starting a business: the basics
If you are considering starting up a new business, you need to consider a number of factors to ensure the best chance of success, including researching your business idea, business planning, funding and finding and keeping customers.
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Starting a business from home
This guide will help you decide whether starting a business from home is right for you.
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Starting up: common mistakes and how to avoid them
Being aware of some of the common mistakes new business owners make, and more importantly, how to avoid them, will improve the chances of your business succeeding.
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Funding support for start-ups
Before approaching anyone for external finance when starting up a business, you should consider your funding options, how much finance you need and if you can use some of your own money.
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Starting a part-time business
You may want to start a part-time business if you need to balance work with family commitments or want to test the market for your business idea.
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Start your business in the Highlands and Islands
There are a number of support services available to start-up businesses, social enterprises and co-operatives in the Highlands and Islands.
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Starting a business as a non-UK national
You can start a business in Scotland as a non-UK national if you are from the European Economic Area (EEA). If you are from outside the EEA, you will need to get a visa.
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Innovation start-ups
An innovation start-up exploits a new business idea. You take personal ownership of an idea and need to think about a number of factors to ensure the best chance of success.
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Starting and growing a rural business
Rural businesses can get support from various networks and schemes, including social enterprise organisations and the Scottish Government.
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UK Welcomes business
Setting up business if you're new to the UK - registering, financing, employing staff and paying tax
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Choose the right legal structure for you
Introduction to the common types of legal structures for businesses.
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Starting up: consider your exit strategy
Planning your exit strategy can help you to maximise the value you get from your business. This includes thinking about the different exit options available.
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How I chose the right name for my business
How Arctic Farm came up with their name.
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Starting a social enterprise
Social enterprises are businesses with social aims. They trade in competitive markets and use their profits for community benefits.
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Family-run businesses
Starting a family business can bring valuable benefits compared with other businesses. Challenges can be channelled to become positive forces for business growth and success.
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Starting a business in tough economic conditions
By choosing the right type of business and conducting it in the right way, your business could thrive when economic conditions are tough.
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Start up diaries: 1. Getting started
Meet Ruth, Nick and Hannah as they explain how they started in business.
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Here's how I started
Yolanda Hinchliffe from Suka Sport talks about how she set up her business structure.
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Register your new business with HMRC
Register your new business with HM Revenue & Customs in 1 transaction - Self Assessment, VAT, Corporation Tax, PAYE for employers, HMRC
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Setting up a social enterprise
Starting a business that helps people or communities - types of legal structure including community interest companies and co-operatives
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Here's how I used my skills and experience to launch my own business
Vinnie Morgan talks about how he set up Mango Creative Studios.
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High growth start-up support
Start ups with high growth potential can receive business support from Scottish Enterprise through the High Growth Start Up programme.
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Match your business skills and experience
Discover how your skills and experience can help you start up.
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Commercial Property
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have a wide range of commercial and industrial property available for sale or lease throughout the Highlands and Islands.
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Taking the plunge
Follow John as he starts a business and help him choose the best way forward.
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Start up diaries: 2. First steps
Learn about how Ruth, Nick and Hannah get on with their new businesses.
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Why work for yourself?
Looks at the reasons why starting a business might be right for you.
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From a love of hats to a head for business
With help from Business Gateway, Morag launched Momo Chapeaux, a Lochaber based company that offers unique, stylish, and handmade hats.
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Start up diaries: 5. One year on
See how the start-up businesses are doing one year on from starting up.
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Property - Enterprise Park Forres
Stretching over 100 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, this sustainable development is sited one mile east of Forres and just 15 minutes away from Elgin, and benefits from excellent local amenities and easy access to the A96.
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Property - The European Marine Science Park
The European Marine Science Park is the ideal location for start-up businesses, spin-out businesses and small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
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VentureNavigator online business support service
VentureNavigator is a free online business support service offering business information resources and business assessments for creating and growing a new business.
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Business Gateway helps inventor get the green light
The greatest inventions are often inspired by the simplest of things and an opened jar of mayonnaise provided ‘inventor’ Pete Higgins with his Eureka moment.
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Start up diaries: 4. Highs and lows
Ruth, Hannah and Nick talk about about the ups and downs of their businesses.
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Start up diaries: 3. New horizons
How Ruth, Hannah and Nick are moving on with their businesses and how things can change.
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Property - Hatston Industrial Units
Six new industrial units were completed in March 2012 at Hatston in Orkney and are now available to businesses working in or related to renewable energy sector.
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Business support for graduates and students
If you are a student or graduate, registering with the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) gives you access to their unique support network, business advisors and online resources to help you create a new business or social enterprise.