Business Start-up Guide

Products and Services for Business Start-ups in Glasgow

0845 609 6611

www.bgateway.com

The Process

What we can do for you

Think about your idea

Business Gateway Website www.bgateway.com

Research your idea

Start-Up Workshops

Start writing your business plan

Business Information Service

Develop your business plan

Local Advisory Support

Start up

What is Business Gateway?

Business Gateway offers assistance and advice to people starting up or growing their businesses in Scotland, providing access to publicly funded services. Business Gateway is helping new start and existing businesses to grow and prosper through a combination of online support, a programme of local workshops and events and advice to suit your specific business needs from a network of experienced business advisers.

What can Business Gateway do for you?

If youre thinking of starting up your own business in Scotland you can ask for Business Gateways help. We can support you through the crucial stages of setting up your business and during the first couple of years of development and trading. Whats more, most of our services are free.

First things first

Becoming your own boss is one of the most exciting and challenging things you can ever do. If you want to put your business dream into action, but dont quite know how to make it happen, we can help!

Business Gateway Website

Find out more about all aspects of starting up and running your business on our comprehensive website. It includes important information about choosing your legal status, legislation about your business sectorand laws about tax, insurance and employing staff. Just go to www.bgateway.com

Are you ready to run your own business?

Our online Business Start-Up Organiser is the perfect way to kick start your business dream. This easy to use tool will help you identify your strengths and spot any areas you need to work on. Itll give you a set of action points based on your own development plans each with links to the relevant section of our website and recommendations for free workshops thatll help you build the skills you need. www.bgateway.com/start-up

Workshops and Events

We offer a comprehensive range of free training for anyone thinking of starting their own business. Beginning with the entry-level Start-Up Awareness seminar, topics range through help to compose a robust business plan; finance and marketing; information on tax responsibilities; IT applications in business to a specialist workshop on franchising. To book your free place call 0845 609 6611, or follow the link www.bgateway.com/events

Getting your Business Plan right

A business plan is a written document that describes a business, its objectives, its strategies, the market its in and its financial forecasts. It has many functions, from securing external funding to measuring success within your business. But you shouldnt be daunted. The great thing about writing a business plan is you dont need to know everything before you start. It can grow and evolve, stimulating you to explore areas you may not previously have considered. To help you get started, weve put together a guide to help www.bgateway.com/businessplan

Business Information
Business Gateway can search for a wide range of business information resources on your behalf. We subscribe to an extensive list of commercial databases and are expert at sourcing free information from local and national government sources, industry bodies and commercial providers. We can also help you identify where to find important information to support your business plan. The majority of our services are free and are available to you at any stage of development.

Market Research reports:

These provide information on market size, segmentation and trends in your sector. They let you understand current issues affecting your market as well as profiling the key players in your field and highlighting product developments.

Credit Checks:
Check the credit rating of potential suppliers and customers.

Premises Search:
Find your perfect commercial property at the right price and in the best location. For the full range of the services we offer, contact the Business Enquiry Service on 0845 609 6611 or email info@bgateway.com

Planning your Finance

Every new business needs money when starting up. Business Gateway can help you work out how to finance your business. Visit the Grants & Support directory on our website to find out about your options. This includes where to go for a loan and how to tap into other potential sources of finance, such as grants or external investment. Visit www.bgateway.com/grants

Women into Business Networking Events

Women into Business (WIB) is a dynamic monthly networking programme held in a city centre venue, for female entrepreneurs from pre-start stage up to two years trading to meet, make new contacts, learn from each other and be inspired about their business. For more information and to register, please speak to your Business Gateway adviser or email wib-glasgow@go.uk.com Events are listed on the Business Gateway website www.bgateway.com/events and are free to attend.

Funding, Advice & Additional Services for Start-Up Businesses in Glasgow

Business Gateway Drop-In Sessions
Regular, no-appointment-necessary advisory sessions are hosted in our Buchanan St office by HM Revenue and Customs who give confidential tax advice; Cultural Enterprise Office who give specialist help to arts-based businesses and legal advice is available from one of our partner solicitors. Ask your adviser for details, or check the notices displayed in the window.

Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT)

Advice, support, low interest loans and discretionary grant funding for 18-25 year olds (or 26-30 year olds, with a disability) www.psybt.org.uk/Regions/Glasgow

Glasgow City Council

The Council offers a variety of initiatives which provide support for new start businesses. These include:

Supporting Sustainable New Business Grant

This is a discretionary grant of up to 1,000 designed to encourage viable, growing new businesses (trading under one year) based within the City boundary. Eligibility criteria apply and applications should be supported by a statement from a Business Gateway or Local Regeneration Area adviser. You can download an application form and guidance notes from the Glasgow City Council website at www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/Businesssupport/TrainingGrants

Small Business Loan Fund

Also known as West of Scotland Loan Fund. WSLF provides loan finance of up to 30,00 to new and up to 50,000 to existing businesses in the West of Scotland. It aims to help businesses which have good commercial proposals but have difficulty in raising finance from normal sources. The WSLF will not normally be the sole funder of a project but will operate in conjunction with other lenders and at least 50% of the funding package must come from the private sector. Other eligibility criteria apply: full details can be found at www.wslf.co.uk Ask your business adviser for more information.

Internet Marketing Check

Glasgow City Councils Business Development Team offer a free internet marketing check to eligible companies. The marketing review will assess the companys overall online performance to date. www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/Businesssupport Please note that retail businesses are not eligible for any of the above programmes.

Supplier Development Programme

The Supplier Development Programme (SDP), a local authority partnership programme was established to offer small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) the opportunity to grow and diversify through procurement. With a public sector spend of approximately 8 billion, the SDP aims to assist businesses improve their performance in winning contracts with public sector organisations. They offer information, support and training events to help simplify the tendering process. www.sdpscotland.co.uk

Small Business Bonus Scheme

Offers reduced non-domestic rates on qualifying business premises www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/Land_Property/Non-DomesticRates/Ratesrelief/

G4B Digital Enterprise Centre

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/Businesssupport/Advice_Finance/Glasgow4Business

GCC Research & Statistics facility

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/Businesssupport/Research_statistics/

GCC Business Database

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/companydirectories/GlasgowBusinessDatabase/

GCC Business@The Mitchell

http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/BusinessMitchell/

Local Regeneration Agencies

Glasgows Regeneration Agencies are registered charities which provide a range of holistic regeneration services to help the people in their communities develop their skills and find the right training or employment. They also offer a business start-up service which may include funding. To find details of your local office and how they can help, go to www.glasgowregeneration.org.uk/contact /

Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise is the countrys main economic, enterprise, innovation and investment agency, whose ultimate goal is to stimulate sustainable growth of Scotlands economy. SE provides a range of funding opportunities for start up businesses with the potential for high growth, which include the following. Ask your business adviser for more information and assistance if you are considering applying for any of these grants.

Scottish Seed Fund

An initiative introduced to improve the availability of finance for start-up and young growing companies in Scotland that meet the criteria. www.scottish-enterprise.com/invest-scottish-seed-fund.htm

SMART:Scotland
Provides financial assistance to individuals and companies to support projects which represent a significant technological advance for the UK sector or industry concerned. You must demonstrate that commercial prospects for the end product or process are good. www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/999.html

R&D Grant
Companies of all sizes may be eligible to apply for this discretionary grant, provided that they are based in Scotland, or planning to set up in Scotland. www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/1198.351.352.html

Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS)

Specialises in providing manufacturing firms of all sizes throughout Scotland with expert advice, one-to-one support, training and events. www.scottish-enterprise.com/manufacturing

Other Sources of Public Funding/Assistance

Innovators Counselling and Advisory Service for Scotland (ICASS)
Funded by the Scottish Government to provide a free, impartial and confidential service to individual innovators and businesses on the protection, development and commercial exploitation of innovative ideas. www.icass.co.uk or contact Glasgow adviser, Brian Nugent on 07714411823

Cultural Enterprise Office (CEO)

Scotlands specialist business support and development service for creative and cultural businesses. www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk 0844 544 9990

The National Endowment for Science,Technology and the Arts (NESTA)

Invests in early-stage companies, informs and shapes policy, and delivers practical programmes that inspire others to solve the big challenges of the future. www.nesta.org.uk

DSL Business Finance

A Scottish based Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) which aims to finance small businesses in West Central Scotland that have been unable to access funding from traditional funding source. www.dsl-businessfinance.co.uk 0141 425 2930

Shell LiveWIRE
An online community for young (16-30) entrepreneurs starting a business, offering help, advice and award opportunities. www.shell-livewire.org 0845 757 3252

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

The FSB in Scotland campaigns for a better social, political and economic environment in which to work, learn and do business. There are many benefits to SMEs to joining including banking, insurance and legal services. www.fsb.org.uk 0141 221 0775

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce

A membership organisation committed to improving opportunities for Glasgow businesses, providing training, networking, a regular newsletter, business directory and many other benefits. www.glasgowchamberonline.org.uk 0141 204 2121

Poppyscotland
The Small Business Loans Scheme is open to ex-service men and women who require financial assistance to get their business idea off the ground. www.poppyscotland.org.uk/index.php/content/show/howwehelp/businessloans

Scottish Arts Council

Offers support to individual artists for research and development, training, production and presentation/promotion of work. www.scottisharts.org.uk 0131 226 6051

Partick Works Ltd (PWL)

Assists in the economic regeneration of the Partick area and potentially wider neighbourhoods through the provision of workspaces. www.partickha.org.uk/works 0141 357 3773

Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS)

A Scottish Government programme which aims to promote and facilitate the development of successful co-operative enterprises across Scotland. CDS offers expert support to existing co-operatives and employee-owned enterprises which wish to grow and develop their business. www.cdscotland.co.uk

Supply2Gov is the official government lower-value contract opportunity portal, created specifically to provide
small businesses with visibility of public sector contract opportunities typically below a value of 100,000 http://supply2.gov.uk/

The Commonwealth Games Business Portal brings together contractors and suppliers and
provides businesses of all sizes with the opportunity to find out about and compete forGames related contracts http://www2glasgow2014.com/businessportal

Public Contracts Scotland: find details of contracts with Scottish Local Authorities, NHS Scotland, the
Scottish Government, Agencies and NDPBs, Higher and Further Education and Emergency Services http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/

Ministry of Defence Contracts:

http://www.contracts.mod.uk/introduction/index.shtml

The Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFG) facilitates additional bank lending to viable
Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)which lack collateral to secure a normal commercial loan. The Government provides the lender with a guarantee for which the borrower pays a premium. Accredited lenders administer EFG and make all decisions on lending: http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/enterprise-and-business-support/access-to-finance/enterprise-finance-guarantee

Employer National Insurance Contributions holiday is available to new businesses for a limited
period and subject to meeting certain conditions. New businesses may be able to qualify for a reduction of up to 5,000 of the employer NICs that would normally be due - for each of the first ten employees they take on http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemld=1085763708&type=ONEOFFPAGE

Office Addresses:
170 Buchanan Street, Glasgow G1 2LW George House, 1st floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow G1 2AD Phone 0141 572 8484

Other Useful Websites:

HMRC www.hmrc.gov.uk Federation of Small Businesses www.fsb.org.uk Scottish Chambers of Commerce www.scottishchambers.org.uk PSYBT www.psybt.org.uk Scottish Government www.scotland.gov.uk Franchising www.whichfranchise.com/scotland

Business Gateway is designed to assist commercial enterprises. For information concerning Social Enterprises, Not For Profit/Charitable/Voluntary organisations, you may wish to visit the following sites:
Firstport http://www.firstport.org.uk/ CEIS http://www.ceis.org.uk/ SCVO http://www.scvo.org.uk/ Glasgow Regenaration http://www.glasgowregeneration.org.uk/

Whats the next step?

Start turning your plans into reality. Go to www.bgateway.com to complete your Start-Up Organiser and book a place at one of our Business Start-Up Workshops.

We look forward to hearing from you.

0845 609 6611

www.bgateway.com

Business Gateway services are delivered by Local Authorities, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government, with the support of associated partner organisations. Maximum call charge from BT landline is 3p per minute. Call costs from other networks may vary. Text costs vary depending on your mobile operator. Reference to other service providers and links to their websites are provided for the convenience of users. All information reproduced in this brochure is accurate at the time of going to press.