This free two-day programme will guide you through what is required to start a business, including registration, best legal structure, and basic marketing, and will then cover what you need to know in the first twelve months of running a business, including tax, grants and general business planning.

Topics include:

• Reviewing the best legal structure for your business
• What is self-employment and how do I register?
• Naming your business
• Information and tools to help you research your idea, identify your target market and your competition.
• Branding IP and promoting your business
• The tools to implement a successful sales strategy.
• Understanding your business start-up costs and raising finance
• Pricing
• Developing financial forecasts to assess the viability of your business idea
• Income Tax, VAT and Corporation Tax
• Accountancy Records and Invoicing
• GDPR and Insurance
• What is a Business Plan/Cashflow?
• Do I need a Business Plan/Cashflow?
• Where do I start?
• Using a Business Plan for gaining finance
  

It is a grant funded programme which is administered by Worcestershire County Council who also offers grants of up to £5,000 at a rate of 40% match funding to eligible SMEs.

The two days are led by an experienced Rock Solid Consulting Advisor and is delivered as part of the Enterprising Worcestershire Programme

This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Worcestershire County Council is part-funding, delivering, and managing this project on behalf of the Worcestershire District Councils (Bromsgrove District Council, Malvern Hills District Council, Redditch Borough Council, Worcester City Council, Wychavon District Council, and Wyre Forest District Council).