Starting a business
We know starting your own business is an exciting time, and you’re likely to have lots of questions relating to funding, customers, suppliers, legal matters, premises and much more.
We’re here to help businesses in Ryedale with signposting to initial start-up advice. You’ll find useful links and suggestions below for setting up a business, and we can introduce you to local experts when you need specialist guidance.
Advice and next steps
Writing a Business Plan
Your first step is to research and write a business plan. A good business plan keeps it simple. You can find templates for writing a business plan and further guidance from GOV.UK.
You need a business plan if you’re looking to secure any funding to support your start up. Even if you don’t require funding, a business plan is an essential working document to go back to and reflect upon once you have started trading.
Use your plan to:
- Set objectives, and show how and when you will measure your performance against those objectives.
- Consider the steps you need to take to develop your business and what barriers might get in the way.
- Think about the potential risks and how you will manage those. Do you have a Plan B?
Market Research
This is the first step to focus on when developing your business plan. Think about the information you need and the best way to collect it.
Market research helps you identify your target customers. Does your product or service fulfil their needs in a volume that enables you to operate a business? Compare your proposition to what already exists in the marketplace.