Market Research

Market Research is key to a new business becoming a profitable entity. It anticipates and minimises risk, identifies potential customers and helps ensure success. Only about half of new small businesses will survive 5 years. To ensure yours is a survivor, learn how to research your market, identify potential clients and have a strategy for…

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Developing a Business Plan

Most people starting a new business will need to develop a formal business plan in order to access finance. But actually it is a very good discipline in itself to have an up to date business plan, whether you are starting a business, or have been trading a while. If you use a good template…

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Company Structure

The Company structure you select for your business is critical. It influences the Director’s personal liability, the ability to raise funding, impacts the liability for tax and the paperwork required. Learn which structure is the best for you, as we review the different types of company structure, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Common…

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Directors Duties

Do you understand the implications of accepting a directorship? Directors are personally liable for actions or omissions, can be disqualified from acting as a Director and can be made personally liable for the company’s debts. Did you know that as a director of a limited company, you have a duty to try to make the…

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How to raise finance for your business

What are potential investors looking for in a company? They want to see research and establish the potential risks and returns involved in investing. Do you know who to approach for finance, and how? What do they expect from you, what are the legal issues, what documentation will you be expected to sign? Should you…

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Managing your Cash Flow

Profitability is important in the long run; in the short run, cash flow has to be carefully managed to avoid running out of cash and potentially being forced into liquidation. What processes can you put in place to manage the situation, what tools are available? Learn to forecast when the business may run out of…

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Starting a Business Quiz

This quiz is designed to test your knowledge of the contents of the Starting a Business Course, part of the Management Skills series of courses. These quizzes are designed to improve your Management and Business skills. There are ten questions where you can check either True or False. You can navigate backwards and forwards to…

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