CHESTER BUSINESS GUIDE
Start up and run a successful small business in Chester.

DOWNLOAD

Click cover for a copy of our free start up guide (PDF)

LOCAL PARTNERS

Untitled Document

BUSINESS TIP OF THE DAY

Website names

Your website domain name (web address) does not have to be the same as your business name, but it should contain one of your major keywords, e.g. networking.
Authentic Networking.
(03-09-10)

Understand your costs

There's no point being in business unless you can make money from what you do, so understand all your costs and don't shy away from being honest about the value of your time. When you nail the costs of operating your business, you will gain a greater knowledge of the margins possible.

You don't have to re-invent the wheel, you just need to find the best way of buying and selling one to make a profit!
Ashbourne Colour Print.
(02-09-10)

How to find what IP your business owns

Every business will own some form of intellectual property. It could be the artistic design, shape, technology or brand of your product or process, but do you know how to protect and exploit these intellectual assets?

To find out more why not take a free IP HealthCheck at the following web page.

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/whyuse/business/iphealthcheck.htm

The Intellectual Property Office.
(02-09-10)

Don't rush in to committing to office space.

Office space is expensive and usually requires a long term commitment. If you have the resource, working from home keeps your overheads down and if you need a business address it's worth consideing a Virtual office which will project the right company image without the huge overheads.
voxclever.
(01-09-10)

Banks and Plan

Get a good financial plan / cashflow together and negotiate with your bank to get cheaper bank charges and an overdraft just in case you need it during the first difficult few months
Vince Lavin.
(01-09-10)

Would you like to supply a tip of the day? If so, we would be extremely grateful for your help and will be happy to include a live link to your website with every tip used.
Add your your tip

More tips

SYOB Home › Chester › Chester Business

CHESTER BUSINESS

If you run a small business in Chester or if you are thinking of starting up a new business in Chester we hope that you will find this site both interesting and useful.

It has been designed to help you find local firms and business support organisations who will be happy to give you friendly advice as well as provide the services that you may need.

Local Firms

Although there are plenty of online business directories, it can sometimes be quite difficult to find LOCAL companies who are genuinely keen to support you. For example if you are based in Chester, it makes sense to use an accountant, web designer or printer based in Chester who is prepared to help small businesses or new business start ups.

Small Business Information

You will find LOCAL information and useful contacts in these Chester pages, but we have also created an extensive library of small business information to help give you the best chance of success. The answers to 100's of the most frequently asked start up questions can also be found, including:

Q. Starting A New Business - What are the key considerations before I start?

Q. Starting A New Business - Should I buy an existing business?

Q. Running A Small Business - Why is it important to have a business plan?

Q. Running A Small Business - What is marketing?

Q. Small Business Funding - How can I raise start up capital?

See the Start Your Own Business home page for a full list of subjects covered.

USEFUL BUSINESS WEBSITES

Business Link Business Link is a free business advice and support service, available online and through local advisers. Businesslink.gov.uk helps your business save time and money by giving you instant access to clear, simple, and trustworthy information. It is developed in partnership with subject experts within government and relevant business-support organisations to help you comply with regulations and improve your performance. Whether you're starting up, already running a business, or looking to grow and develop, Business Link can help you.
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk | 0845 600 9 006

Cheshire Community Action. Cheshire Community Action is a local charity committed to providing funding, advice and support for projects designed to protect and enhance the rural – and increasingly the urban – communities of Cheshire.
http://www.cheshireaction.org.uk | 01244 323602

Cheshire West and Chester Council - Trading Standards. Trading Standards promote a fair trading environment for consumers and honest businesses in Cheshire West and Chester and helps to protect and support them. This is achieved through advice, education, working in partnership and law enforcement. Information is available for businesses about legislation and fair trading. There is also advice for businesses, farmers, motor trading companies and information about food and product safety.
http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk | 01244 603 708

Chester, Ellesmere Port and North Wales Chamber of Commerce. the North Wales & West Cheshire Chambers of Commerce. Representing 90,000 employees across West Cheshire and North Wales we are one of the leading private sector providers of business support solutions. Our client base includes large corporate businesses to owner-managed businesses in all sectors of this dynamic and diverse economic region. We offer accessable and friendly networking opportunities to assist businesses within the region to grow and thrive. we also understand the challenges faced by business owners so we offer our members free Legal advice and HR support as well as representation at local regional and national levels. Joining the Chamber of Commerce is the best business decision you wil make all year!
http://www.cepnwchamber.org.uk | 01244 669 988

Colchester Business Enterprise Agency. Services for start-up, young and growing businesses. The advice, training and support we provide helps thousands of people make a decision about setting up their own business and gives them the foundation to make that business a success. Colbea now covers the Colchester and Tendring areas.
http://www.colbea.co.uk | 01206 548 833

East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise. The Chamber serves the local business community in five Cheshire towns – Alsager, Congleton, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich, Sandbach, and surrounding areas. The Chamber exists to provide a quality business support service to help local businesses grow and succeed.
http://www.congletonchamber.co.uk | 0800 915 9040

Federation of Small Business Manchester & North Cheshire. The Federation of Small Businesses is the UK's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Formed in 1974, it now has over 200,000 members across 33 regions. In addition, Member Services is committed to delivering a wide range of high quality, good value business services to members of the FSB. Regional office: PO Box 220, Wilmslow, SK9 6WX
http://www.fsb.org.uk | 01625 583123

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Greater Manchester Chamber is the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK with over 5,000 members. We provide first-class business support to companies of all shapes and sizes through a range of sector-based membership services and networking opportunities, specifically tailored to meet the needs of your business.
http://www.gmchamber.co.uk | 0845 602 9469

Learning and Skills Council - Cheshire and Warrington. The Learning and Skills Council exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. We have a single goal: to improve the skills of England’s young people and adults to ensure we have a workforce of world-class standard.
http://www.lsc.gov.uk | 0845 019 4163

Learning and Skills Council - Greater Manchester. The Learning and Skills Council exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. We have a single goal: to improve the skills of England’s young people and adults to ensure we have a workforce of world-class standard.
http://www.lsc.gov.uk | 0845 019 4142

Manchester Business Directory. If you are a business based in Manchester and you can add your company details to the Manchester Directory for FREE.
http://www.manchesterbusinessdirectory.co.uk | See site for more details.

Manchester City Council. A range of services is available from the Commercial Library to support your business. Pre-start and start-up business support; Starting and growing a business in Manchester; Locate or invest in Manchester; Business support: staff recruitment, retention and training. Ground Floor, Central Library, Manchester, M2 5PD
http://www.manchester.gov.uk |

Manchester Enterprise Centre. Information Services; MBA Recruitment; Conference Facilities; Incubator.
http://www.mbs.ac.uk | 0161 306 8484

Manchester's Investment and Development Agency Service. MIDAS, acting on behalf of the ten Local Authorities of Greater Manchester, aims to attract inward investment into the City Region by promoting Manchester as a leading European business location as well as a complementary proposition to the UK’s capital, London.
http://www.investinmanchester.com | 0161 877 3000

Marketing Manchester. Visit Manchester is the tourist board for Greater Manchester. Our tourism challenge is to create a City that delivers a better quality of life for the three million people who live or work here. It's as simple as that. Visit Manchester is a division of Marketing Manchester, the agency charged with promoting the city on a national and international stage.

http://www.themanchestertouristboard.com | 0161 237 1010

Medway Education Business Partnership Medway Education Business Partnership is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. We obtain funding from a variety of sources, to link schools and students to employers and the wider community, to better prepare them for working life and citizenship, and in so doing provide a stronger and better motivated local workforce.
http://www.mebp.org | 01634 204 634

New Economy Manchester. Manchester's Commission for the New Economy are the lead strategic body for the Manchester City Region economy working with our partners to bring future economic prosperity to Greater Manchester. Find out more about New Economy and the work we do.
http://neweconomymanchester.com | 0161 236 7222

North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry. North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry is independent, not-for-profit, and politically impartial. It comprises businesses and organisations from all areas of commerce and industry. It is owned and managed by business for business. It offers business services, runs networking events and lobbies government on business issues. It is big enough to speak on your behalf at local, regional and national level, and small enough to retain the local knowledge and information to help your business. It is part of a regional, national and global network. It is the leading business support organisation in north Hampshire and is the most powerful business club in your area
http://www.nhcci.co.uk | 01256 352 275

Resources for Business. RfB are event organisers with a passion for people. Focusing at all times on the needs of the participants, we deliver professional event management support that ensures your conference, meeting, or training programme runs seamlessly and achieves its objectives. Working with the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors, we organise events ranging from small training courses through to large international congresses.
http://www.rfb.co.uk | 01625 267 880

Salford Foundation. Salford Foundation is affiliated to a grant-giving charity that supports children and young people seeking to pursue personal and learning development opportunities that would not normally be available to them because of family financial constraints.
http://www.salfordfoundation.org.uk | 0161 787 8500

Top Trades People. Find local tradesmen - Save time and money by using our free service to find free quotes from local Manchester tradespeople. Post your job, get free quotes, pick the best Manchester tradesman for your work and review the job quickly and easily with Top Trades People. Plumbers, plasterers, electricians, tilers, roofers, security specialists.
http://www.toptradespeople.co.uk | 0845 519 0028

If you offer a product or service that can help new business start ups or existing small businesses in Chester, we would love to hear from you. (Free listing)

Image courtesy of Nigel's Europe under a Creative Commons Attribution licence.

Don't order your new
telephones until you
have looked at this
SPECIAL OFFER
for start ups.

Chester Home | SYOB Home | Free Listing | Contact Us

Business advice & information for small business & new business start ups.