Business support and advice

Starting Up a Business

Starting up your own business requires dedication, hard work and a profitable idea or business plan to be successful.

There are various things you need to think about including:

  • The legal structure of your business e.g. sole trader, limited company, partnership, social enterprise
  • Do you understand what business and financial records you have to keep?
  • Do you understand tax and VAT requirements?
  • Is there a demand for your product or service? Who are your competitors? Have you done any market research?
  • How will you promote your product of service?
  • Are you going to employ people?
  • Do you need business premises?
  • Do you need a specific licence to run your business? For example do you need a personal or premises licence for a business selling alcohol? Or the regulations around operating a food business.
  • Business and financial plan - have you written a business and/or financial plan so you can manage your time and money?
  • How will you fund the start up costs?

For one to one advice and support with one of our business advisors:

email: supportingbusiness@lincoln.gov.uk

or call: 01522 873341