Start Your Own Business

More than 640,000 new businesses are started each year in the UK and most don’t grow much, they pretty much stay as one person enterprises, which suits their owners. Others are more ambitious, they want to take on staff, win many more customers, expand their operation, grow their business and take it to new heights. But growth isn’t a given. You have to work hard to achieve it. You must make good...

The best start-up advice usually comes from the best-placed experts of all – those who’ve actually been there and done it. In this Start-up Story episode, we speak to Surlender Pendress, co-founder of the Love Writing Company, which is based in the West Midlands. It sells innovative writing pencils, erasable colour pencils and washable crayons developed specifically for children’s hands, created t...

Instagram is the world’s seventh most-visited website. Some 1.22bn people use Instagram each month, with 18 to 34 year olds making up the biggest share of Instagram’s audience. About 90% of Instagram users follow at least one business, and reportedly, half of its users have discovered new brands via Instagram. When you get it right, Instagram can be a superb, low-cost way to market your business t...

Making sure that you have the right tech can enable your new business to quickly get established and grow. If you don’t have the required IT hardware and software – it will hold you back. In this episode, we speak to leading small-business technology expert, Richard Hillsdon, of Caerphilly-based IT consultancy Tekeez, which provides IT systems, remote support and advice to small-business customers...

The best start-up advice usually comes from the best-placed experts of all – those who’ve actually been there and done it. In this start-up story episode, we speak to Troy Johnson, co-founder of Sweet Dee's Jerk (Juici Jerk at the time of recording), award-winning Caribbean food brand, kitchen and meal-kit maker, which is based in Tooting, South London. Sweet Dee's Jerk also sells its delicious sa...

Offering superior customer service is a proven way that small businesses can be more attractive to customers and lure them away from larger and more established competitors. But any commitment to offering superior customer service has to be firm and consistent throughout your business. In this episode, we speak to leading customer service expert Stephanie Edwards of Wiltshire-based Customer 1st, s...

More than 640,000 new businesses are launched each year in the UK and the popularity of starting up continues to grow. But significantly rising costs means many people will have to try to start their own business with little or no money. In this first episode of our third series, we get top money-saving start-up tips from Lucy Cohen of Mazuma, leading provider of low-cost, subscription-based accou...

In the UK, small businesses are reportedly owed more than £23.4bn in unpaid invoices. That’s an eye-watering amount that creates significant cash flow problems for many business owners. Late payment remains a big problem for SMEs, with many large businesses particularly bad at paying their small-business suppliers on time. This can have disastrous consequences. Research by the Federation of Small...

Whether it’s via a market stall, shop, garage, restaurant, café or a range of other settings, being able to sell successfully face-to-face is key to success. It comes more naturally to some rather than others, but by adding knowledge and experience, most can get much better at it. In this episode, you can pick up some tried and tested face-to-face selling tips from sales expert Glen Williamson, wh...

Potentially it can be a legal minefield with costly consequences if you get it badly wrong when recruiting and managing staff. There is a wide range of legislation with which employers must comply if they want to stay out of trouble. In this episode we speak to employment law specialist, solicitor Hannah Thomas of Markel Law. She explains how small businesses often get into legal difficulties when...

As well as being better for the planet, being a net-zero business can bring a range of bottom line benefits. However, according to FSB research, although most small firms are concerned about climate change, only one-in-three has a plan to help tackle it. In this episode, consultant Graham Oakley explains how his business ensures that it is net zero and sustainable, while providing practical advice...

Digital advertising can enable businesses of all sizes and ages to attract customers. Its popularity continues to grow. About £10.5bn was spent on digital advertising in the UK in the first half of 2021 – 42% higher than in H1 2019. Paid search makes up 36% of UK digital advertising spend, followed by digital display on 27%. In this episode, digital marketing expert Charlotte Sheridan explains the...

Some small-business owners don’t claim their full allowable expenses, which means they end up paying too much tax. Other small business claim for costs to which they’re not entitled, which can lead to problems if HMRC finds out. In this episode tax expert Mike Parkes provides a valuable introduction to claiming allowable expenses aimed at sole traders and freelancers, including those related to op...

Running your own small business can bring many highs and lows. It can be very stressful at times, too. In this episode, esteemed expert Sir Cary Cooper provides practical advice on dealing with stress when running a small business, while explaining the dangers to yourself and your employees if you fail to manage stress and disappointment effectively. Sir Cary Cooper is the 50th Anniversary Profess...

The history of family business Grasmere Gingerbread dates back to 1854, when Victorian cook, Sarah Nelson, invented Grasmere gingerbread and started selling it locally. Third-generation owners Joanne and Andrew Hunter now run the and Yasmine is their daughter. As well as gingerbread – which is said to be the world’s best – Grasmere Gingerbread sells award-winning rum butter, toffee, fudges, chocol...

Such has been digital marketing’s rise to prominence that you could be forgiven for believing that there’s no point in bothering with offline marketing when it comes to trying to attract new customers to your start-up or small business. But for many start-ups and small businesses, tried and tested offline marketing techniques continue to offer excellent returns, enabling them to attract and retain...

Advice on achieving the right work-life balance, managing your time, feeling supported and safeguarding your health and mental wellbeing. Running a small business can be highly demanding and working alone can make you feel isolated. In this episode, Christine Husbands joins us to offer tips on how to take better care of yourself, so you and your new business benefits.     ...

An introduction to selling online, whether via marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon and Etsy, or your own e-commerce or general website. In this episode we speak to online selling expert, Chris Dawson, who talks about the advantages of selling online and guides us through selling via popular marketplace platforms.    Chris is co-founder and editor of Tamebay, leading source of intellig...

An unmissable introduction to the all-important business of online marketing and digital marketing methods you can use to attract and retain customers. In this episode we speak to Aggie Meroni to find out all about social media marketing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, search engine marketing, so you stand a better chance of people finding your business via search engines such as Google, and o...

Pick up top tips and learn key start-up lessons from the biggest experts of all – those who’ve actually been there and started their own business. In this episode we speak to Lee DeSanges, founder of Birmingham-based Baked In Brick, a business he launched in 2015 from his garden shed. Soon Lee was cooking and selling BBQ chicken tikka wraps out of a modified Mini Cooper, as well as wood-fired styl...

Why it’s important to spend as little as possible when starting a business, where to get funding and tips on cash flow management and setting prices. In this episode we speak to Guy Bridge to find out about the pros and cons of various sources of start-up funding. Is it possible to start a business with little or no money? What can you claim for when running your business from home all or some of...

Why a brand is much more than just colours, fonts or slogans and how to come up with a great business name. In this episode we speak to Liz Mosley to learn the importance of creating a strong, distinctive brand when starting a business. We hear about the importance of brand values and how to create a distinctive brand identity.  Liz is the host of the popular Building Your Brand podcast, whic...

Pick up top tips and learn key start-up lessons from the biggest experts of all – those who’ve actually been there and started their own business. In this episode we speak to Eve Kekeh, London-based founder of Bundlee, the UK’s first and most popular baby clothing rental subscription service. Eve explains why she started her business and retraces her start-up journey, sharing key lessons that she...

The pros and cons of the main business formation options and how to legally register your new business. In this episode, we speak to expert Carl Reader, who talks through the main options for forming a business, how to register and the steps you need to take before reaching that point. He also touches on whether you need to register for VAT, business bank accounts and working with an accountant. C...