Starting a Business

If you are looking at starting a business, we can support you through an exciting and challenging time. There is a lot to think about and get right as well as some pitfalls to avoid. By sitting down with an experienced business advisor, you can discuss your business idea and and get some guidance on the next steps to take.

We have helped thousands of people make the jump to become self-employed. The support we offer includes:

Preparing business plans
Applying for grants and loans
Marketing and sales
Company formation
Tax and self-assessment
Employment
Legislative requirements

It’s a broad base of practical, no nonsense advice that builds the foundations of a strong business.

Depending on where you live or what sort of business you are thinking of starting, you may be able to get help from us for free or at a subsidised rate.

Help could be on a one-to-one basis with an experienced business advisor, in a small group session or on one of our free business skills workshops.

Start Up & Grow

With thanks to funding from the European Union we are able to offer up to 12 hours worth of free start-up business support throughout Devon (excluding Torbay, Plymouth & North Devon), worth £600.

If you are thinking about or are already in the process of starting your own business then this could be the ideal opportunity to access free support from experienced advisors at no cost to you.

Find out more about the Start Up & Grow Programme >>

Download our free beginner’s guide to creating a marketing plan.

Get in touch

Please fill in your details below to have a friendly chat with one of our experienced business advisors to help you start your own business.

Other ways we can help

Starting a Business

Business Funding

Small Business Funding

Business Workshops

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Small Business Growth Event
We are hosting a free small business growth event at the Devon Hotel in Exeter. If you are running a small business this will be a great opportunity for you to hear from some inspirational speakers, learn about available business support and network with like-minded people.
You’ll get the latest information on the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) coming into force next year including what the changes are and how to prepare for it.
Ex Thorntons Chocolates boss, Peter Thornton will be openly recounting his story about the rapid growth and eventual decline of the national chain. Peter will be sharing his experience by exploring management styles, conflicts and the underlying reasons why the business failed. Being a family run business Peter will discuss his thoughts about the advantages and disadvantages of working with family members and how that affected the company.
We’ll be talking about the latest small business support and funding including the recent Growth Support Programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
There will also be an opportunity to network and share ideas with like-minded small business owners as well as a short presentation about the Buy with Confidence Scheme and how it could benefit your business.
Itinerary:
10.00am: Arrival and refreshments
10.10am: Peter Thornton, Ex Chairman of Thorntons Chocolate will share his story about the rise and decline of the national chain as well as his management lessons and thoughts on working with family.
11.10am: Short break
11.15am: Kate Doodson from Cosmic will be giving a talk on the new GDPR data protection rules and how to prepare for them.
12.15pm: Available funding and support for small businesses.
12.50pm: An overview on the Buy With Confidence Scheme
1.00pm: Free buffet lunch and networking.
2.00pm: All good things must come to an end..

Small Business Start-up Event
We are hosting a free small business start-up event at the Exeter Racecourse. If you are thinking of starting a business this will be a great opportunity for you to hear from some inspirational speakers, learn about available business support and network with like-minded people.
You’ll get the latest information on the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) coming into force next year including what the changes are and how to prepare for it.
Ex Thorntons Chocolates boss, Peter Thornton will be openly recounting his story about the rapid growth and eventual decline of the national chain. Peter will be sharing his experience by exploring management styles, conflicts and the underlying reasons why the business failed. Being a family run business Peter will discuss his thoughts about the advantages and disadvantages of working with family members and how that affected the company.
We’ll be talking about the latest small business support and funding including the recent Start-up & Grow Programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
There will also be an opportunity to network and share ideas with like-minded small business owners as well as a short presentation about the Buy with Confidence Scheme and how it could benefit your business.
Itinerary:
11.00am: Arrival and refreshments
11.10am: Peter Thornton, Ex Chairman of Thorntons Chocolate will share his story about the rise and decline of the national chain as well as his management lessons and thoughts on working with family.
12.10pm: Short break
12.15pm: Available funding and support for small businesses.
12.45pm: Free buffet lunch and networking.
1.50pm: An overview on the Buy With Confidence Scheme
2.00pm: Kate Doodson from Cosmic will be giving a talk on the new GDPR data protection rules and how to prepare for them.
3.00pm: All good things must come to an end..

First Steps to Self-Employment with Confidence
This is a free workshop specifically for women living in rural areas to help gain confidence in becoming self-employed.
Being self-employed can be a great way to make a living, working the hours that suit you and an opportunity to do something you enjoy. Knowing where to start and having the confidence to make the transition can be daunting which is why we have created this free session to help you get started.
During the session, you will be able to talk your ideas and issues through with one of our experienced business advisors as well as receive practical advice on topics such as business planning, marketing and finances.
It’s also a great place to meet with like-minded people, make contacts, share experiences, receive support and encourage each other to work through business ideas. By the end of the session you should be more confident and prepared to get your business idea off the ground.

Starting Your First Business Website
A modern website is not just about delivering great quality content and building customer relationships, it’s about connecting with your customer base and expanding it.
This free workshop will look at the key principles that make a great website. By the end of the session you will have a good understanding of the different website solutions available. You’ll also look at the typical costs of creating a website as well as how to build your own site that is effective and delivers a great user experience.
You will cover:
What makes a good website?
Hosting your domain and email
Typical costs for websites
Open source vs closed source
Building your own site

Completing Your First Self-Assessment
A necessity and legal requirement for every business, to submit your financial information from your business / self-employment annually.
This free workshop will take you through step-by-step how to prepare your self-assessment form, including:
What information do you need to tell HMRC?
What are eligible business expenses?
What do you have to include as income?
What records do you have to keep and retain?
What are the timetables that you need to meet?
What does the self-assessment form look like?
At the end of the workshop you will know how to maintain your records and how to complete your assessment form.

Digital Marketing Basics
In this workshop you will learn what digital marketing is and how you can use it for your business.
SEO – Learn what Google looks for when ranking your website and how to get above the competition.
Blogging – The importance of content marketing, why you should set up a company blog and how to do it effectively.
Social media – An overview of of the platforms and how best to use them.
PPC – A look at Google Adwords and using pay-per-click adverts to promote your business online.
Email marketing – Email is alive and kicking and why you should be using it.

Beginners Guide to Marketing
Want to learn how to attract and retain customers?
This interactive workshop will take you through a simple, step-by-step process to jump start your marketing strategy and give you the tools to attract more customers.
You’ll learn the ‘7 P’s of marketing’, how to understand your target market and customers needs, as well as how to develop a great brand for your business.
You will also be given some surefire ways to generate excitement for your products and services. This will include website and mobile marketing ideas, advertising methods and email marketing.
BIP Advisor, Jane Tope has an excellent track record in helping businesses to piece together a ‘bite sized’ and effective marketing strategy. Her unique approach allows you to look at your business through fresh eyes, in an informal and highly participative environment.

Small Business Start-up Event
We are hosting a free small business start-up event at the Exeter Court Hotel. If you are thinking of starting a business this will be a great opportunity for you to hear from some inspirational speakers, learn about available business support and network with like-minded people.
You’ll get some great tips on using digital marketing, including social media, SEO and email newsletters as well as the latest digital trends to help you to achieve your business objectives.
Merry Whittaker, co-founder of the clothing keepsake company Love, Keep, Create will share the story from start-up to Dragons Den success story. Merry and her business partner started with an idea in 2013 that has grown into a thriving business. Earlier this year they landed a £50,000 investment from BBC Dragon, Deborah Meaden and have also appeared on ITV’s This Morning show. Merry will share what really happens on the programme and how Deborah has helped them enormously with their business.
We’ll be talking about the latest small business support and funding including the recent Start-up & Grow funded by the European Regional Development Fund. There will also be an opportunity to network and share ideas with like-minded small business owners.
Itinerary:
10.00am: Arrival and refreshments
10.10am: Nina Goodwin from Cosmic will be giving a talk on effective digital marketing and tools for small business.
11.00am: Short break
11.15am: Merry Whittaker, co-founder of the clothing keepsake company Love, Keep, Create will share the story from start-up to Dragons Den success story.
12.15pm: Available funding and support for small businesses.
12.45pm: Free buffet lunch and networking.
2.00pm: All good things must come to an end…
For volunteer business mentors only:
2.00pm to 3.30pm: Gary Nicholls will be showing you a powerful way to build a strong business model using the Business Model Canvas. Using illustrative case studies you will learn how to practically apply this proven methodology and framework to any new or existing business. Video overview of the Business Model Canvas >>

Small Business Growth Event
We are hosting a free small business growth event at the Exeter Court Hotel. If you are running a small business this will be a great opportunity for you to hear from some inspirational speakers, learn about available business support and network with like-minded people.
You’ll get some great tips on using digital marketing, including social media, SEO and email newsletters as well as the latest digital trends to help you to achieve your business objectives.
Merry Whittaker, co-founder of the clothing keepsake company Love, Keep, Create will share the story from start-up to Dragons Den success story. Merry and her business partner started with an idea in 2013 that has grown into a thriving business. Earlier this year they landed a £50,000 investment from BBC Dragon, Deborah Meaden and have also appeared on ITV’s This Morning show. Merry will share what really happens on the programme and how Deborah has helped them enormously with their business.
We’ll be talking about the latest small business support and funding including the recent Growth Support Programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
There will also be an opportunity to network and share ideas with like-minded small business owners.
Itinerary:
10.00am: Arrival and refreshments
10.10am: Nina Goodwin from Cosmic will be giving a talk on effective digital marketing and tools for small business.
11.00am: Short break
11.15am: Merry Whittaker, co-founder of the clothing keepsake company Love, Keep, Create will share the story from start-up to Dragons Den success story.
12.15pm: Available funding and support for small businesses.
12.45pm: Free buffet lunch and networking.
2.00pm: All good things must come to an end…

Barrel Top Wagons
Company name: Barrel Top Wagons
Client name: Jo Henderson
Website: www.barreltopwagons.co.uk
Products / services offered: Bespoke carpentry and timber lodges.
The Challenge
What challenges or needs did you face that led you to look for business support?
After trading for 3 years it was time to assess the business and get a good overall picture of how best to proceed. I was keen to get outside assistance in this from experienced business mentors. Our sale were not as high as we would have liked and we were concerned we were not hitting out target market because our product was too ambiguous.
What impact did these problems have on you or your business?
Lower than desired sales. Not enough traffic to our website.
The Journey
How did you hear about Business Information Point?
I have known BIP for several years now.
Did you look anywhere else for advice before coming to us?
I attended a women’s networking session before going through this process for this business.
The Solution
Can you briefly describe what support you received and whether this addressed your challenges / needs?
Graham Woolcock gave me a very helpful assessment of the business, our strengths and weaknesses, the areas to work on and a better focus on the direction we should take.
What were the benefits of this support for you and your business?
We have re-worked the website, been more pro-active in seeking out sales in the right market, attended lots of shows and seen an increase in sales.
Were there any obstacles or difficulties while trying to implement the support or advice?
No, none whatsoever.
What has been the measurable impact on your business? Any specific figures? i.e. increased business skills, increased efficiency, increased productivity, jobs created or safeguarded, reduced costs, increased sales, improved cash flow, improved systems.
Improved cash flow
Increased sales
Better, more targeted, marketing
Summary
Please summarise your overall experience with BIP
Helpful, knowledgeable, conscientious, prompt, professional, a really good service to have in the area. I’d be a bit stuck without them.
What advice would you give a business owner looking for similar support?
Go straight to BIP. I have passed this advice on to many people over the years and indeed got a message this morning from someone who has taken that advice saying “Thank you – they are amazing!”

Flyonix
Company name: Flyonix Limited
Client name: Ben Bailey
Website: www.flyonix.co.uk
Ben Bailey, a director of Flyonix realised that they must improve their business and marketing strategy if they were to remain ahead of the competition. After recommendations from colleagues it was decided that Business Information Point could provide the support and advice needed to expand their online presence and generate more sales.
Growing Competition Leads Flyonix to Address Their Business and Marketing Strategy
Having been one of the first businesses in their industry, offering a full range of film production services as well as manufacturing a range of specialist, remote camera equipment, Flyonix faced growing competition from companies able to grow more rapidly with a better marketing strategy.
“Our business was growing a lot slower than we predicted, and with most of our team coming from a more hands on background, we required support in the everyday comings and goings of business.”
BIP Helps with Online Strategy and Grant Application
With an expert advisor on board, a full business diagnostic was carried out to identify which areas needed to be addressed to move the business forward. This included support in applying for grant funding.
As digital marketing was going to be a key area to the business, Ben was referred on to the Superfast Business Programme to attend specialist workshops and support on how to maximise their business presence online to drive more sales.
Grant Success and Huge Jump in Sales
The support Flyonix received from BIP led to a successful REG grant application via Devon County Council of £30000 as well as successfully applying for a Rural Growth Network Voucher valued at £400 towards their online strategy.
“The benefits of the support have been huge, we have seen a huge jump in our online presence, as well as more and more enquiries about our services each day.
Our turnover and shop sales have increased significantly over the last 6 months, which can only be put down to the advice and help we have received from BIP and their partners, and the knowledge we have gained from every aspect of their service.”
The Future for Flyonix
Although being in a highly competitive sector their reputation is now starting to grow and have recently been working on a new TV series with Fox and ITV with plans for the director to use them on new projects in the future.
“Our overall experience with BIP has been amazing, we have been given all the help and advice we could possibly need, and their advisors always have time to sit down and listen to ideas you have and give their advice on them. From simple things such as registering a new business to advanced online marketing, BIP has helped us 100% all the way!
If you are a small business and everything is starting to get on top of you, or you need any advice, do not hesitate to contact BIP, they can help you in more ways than you can imagine. They always provide a professional service and give the best possible advice. Don’t be scared to ask for help!”

The Filo Project
Company name: The Filo Project
Contact details: Liz Dennis
Website: www.thefiloproject.co.uk
The Challenge
The Filo Project, a dementia day care service based in Exeter helping elderly isolated people was founded in 2014. Since starting they have been running ‘hand to mouth’, barely able to cover staff salaries. With plans to expand and hire more staff it was apparent that a lack of funding was preventing them from any future growth.
One of the founders, Liz Dennis came to Business Information Point seeking advice on funding and putting together a business plan to be prepared for when funding becomes available.
How Business Information Point Helped
Before approaching BIP, Liz had spoken to the development team at the East Devon Volunteer Support Agency where she first learnt that BIP might be able to help.
On contacting BIP, Liz was put in touch with business advisor Graham Woolcock.
“I received an initial consultation from Graham Woolcock. He gave me a print out of the BIP business plan which we went through in some considerable detail. We also discussed ideas and issues generated around this document. I found this extremely helpful. I have never written a business plan before and didn’t really know where to start or what it involved.”
The Results
As a result of having a one-to-one discussion with an experienced business advisor Liz gained an insight into areas of the business she had not previously thought of.
“I learned things about business which I had not known, it gave me the confidence that some of the things we were doing as a business were on track. Gave me the opportunity to stand back and receive some expert advice.”
While Liz expected funding to continue to be a challenge, having a more thorough understanding of the business and the market will ensure that they are more prepared for the future.
“My experience was a very positive one. Graham was very knowledgeable; even though my own business knowledge is scant at no point did he condescend. He had lots of good ideas and highlighted many issues I had not thought about. Following our meeting he sent me a very large number of documents, some of which will be useful in the short term, some in the long term. It demonstrated to me that he had really been fully engaged with the issues The Filo Project faces and will face in the future.”

Splash Projects
Company name: Splash Projects
Contact details: 01395 222303 / 07747 698 192
Website: www.splashprojects.com
The company need
To completely review the business direction, as the Director, having left the army to join his wife’s business ‘Splash Editorial’ was becoming increasingly frustrated at not knowing what to do next, or how to go about it.
What BIP proposed
To devise a strategy to move away from delivering corporate events towards becoming a project management company working on high end ‘Corporate Responsibility’ initiatives.
What was delivered
Attended workshops on Strategic Management for small businesses. One to one support on developing a strategic plan to move the business forward, including the closure of the Portsmouth office to consolidate activity in Exmouth.
Skills development in recruitment and man management, tendering for contracts, finance and legal/ insurance issues. Initial targets set have since been significantly exceeded.
Timescales of work and when completed
Strategic planning and mentoring took place over an 18 month period from 2007- 2009. Mentoring is still on-going.
Testimonial from Client
“Petra Davies is a fantastic business advisor who is always available to discuss any business issue whatever the size. I would highly recommend this service to any business as her support has been outstanding”.

Cornish Country Flowers
Company name: Cornish Country Flowers
Contact details: Jenny Rogers
Website: www.cornishcountryflowers.co.uk
The company need
Having started the business in 2008, with one polytunnel, and expanded production of flowers into 4 polytunnels for the coming season, the company had grown out of our existing packing and storage facilities. To market the flowers in perfect condition to the standard demanded by their major customers, they needed to be able to refrigerate the flowers and holly once picked.
A larger fridge and packing facility was required, as existing facilities enabled them to only sell a limited range of flowers and holly 10 months of the year. In summer the lack of refrigeration space led to spoilage and wastage in hot weather.
The company aim is to grow and cut a complete range of traditional Cornish flowers on their land all year round to enable them to produce a quality complete bouquet of locally grown, mixed seasonal flowers for retail or wholesale sale, and satisfy the growing demand for their flowers.
The business also needed a website capable of more than eBay sales.
What BIP proposed
That Jenny needed to:
Attend a combination of workshops on websites, marketing and finding and securing new customers
Undertake some training on developing her own website
Develop a business plan and apply for Local Action Group grant funding for a new packhouse and fridge
Attend some floristry courses to develop her own practical skills
What was delivered
Through working with an adviser on one to one basis at home at a time convenient to her and her young family, and by email, the following was achieved :
A thorough business plan for Cornish Country Flowers.
A successful grant application.
A qualification – a NVQ Level 3 in Preparing for Business Enterprise.
Floristry courses and a bespoke website development course, partially funded through the LANTRA funded Women & Work Programme.
Since her involvement with Business Forward Jenny has doubled her original business and branched into growing other flower varieties, including winter flowers like violets and anemones.
Timescales of work and when completed
July 2009 – March 2010.
Testimonial from Client
“The flower business has put me in control. It’s so flexible I can be a Mum and still run a business. I already had the talent to grow flowers but the skills I have learned are invaluable. Through working with the Business advisers at BIP, I have grown in confidence and I feel better equipped to tackle the marketing side and expand” Jenny Rogers.

Four Seasons in New England
Company name: Four Seasons in New England
Contact details: Charles Chalcraft
Website: www.holidayinnewengland.com
The company need
This Devon based company aimed to launch a new service within the tourism sector promoting accommodation in New England, USA. A challenging prospect. The partners of the business, having many years experience in this sector, were keen to understand and implement SEO technologies for the new website. They launched the second generation website www.holidayinnewengland.com in early 2010 and needed to improve their knowledge of Search Engine Optimisation within short timescales to enable them to retain their position in this market.
What BIP proposed
After initial discussions with Deborah Turner she proposed that attendance at a seminar entitled “How to Get your website to the Top Ten of Google” would be a good starting point.
Discussions and support followed with specialist monitoring and reporting.
What was delivered
At the seminar the basics of website design, hosting infrastructure, domain registration, keyword mining, and page optimisation were explained and explored by the participants. From this point further follow up workshops involved, Social Media for Business and Page Content Building. Lastly during a one-to-one visit a Google Adwords campaign was devised and implemented. By the summer of 2010 the website is consistently placed within the Top Ten search results of the Google listings for Holidays in New England.
Timescales of work and when completed
The project was completed with six months from initial discussions to final implementation.
Testimonial from Client
“I attended a two part course at BIP in Okehampton. I then attended another course all about Social Media, all led by Deborah Turner, who skilfully unravelled the mysteries of SEO and introduced us to the complexities of Facebook and Twitter. Using the SEO information gleaned our website www.holidayinnewengland.com reached and remains at the top of the search engines. We have yet to incorporate social media on the site.” Charles Chalcraft – Partner, Four Seasons in New England.

Is Self-Employment Right For Me?
Becoming self-employed or starting a business for the first time can be a daunting experience. It can certainly be a great way to make a living, working the hours that suit you and an opportunity to do something you enjoy. Unlike being employed though there is also the possibility that your income may be erratic and you won’t get holiday or sick leave.
This free workshop will give you a complete overview of what it means to be self-employed as well as the commitment required to start and sustain a profitable business.
By the end of this workshop you should have all the information you need to decide whether self-employment is right for you, including:
Advantages and disadvantages of self-employment
How self-employment differs from being employed
Dealing with tax and self-assessment
Understanding regulations and insurance
What additional skills might you need?
An overview of book-keeping
How to obtain start-up funding
An experienced business advisor will be running the workshop and there will be a Q&A session at the end of the workshop should you have a specific questions.

Marketing & Financial Planning
This free workshop will cover two vital areas for creating a successful business and give you the basic fundamentals of financial planning and marketing.
Financial Planning:
By the end of this session you should be have a good overview of business financial forecasting as well as applying for and managing loan repayments.
You will cover:
Budgeting for your personal living expenses and looking at how much your business needs to earn
Looking at the cash flow, a forecast of how much cash is coming in and going out of the business and a profit forecast
An overview of business accounts, invoicing etc.
Start-up funding or loans – including signposting to undertaking a credit check (and understanding what their credit worthiness is) and managing repayments.
An explanation on how much tax and NI you will need to pay.
The easy to understand workshop will give you knowledge and confidence to deal with your business finances.
Marketing:
This session will take you through the basics of marketing to give you the tools to attract more customers. You’ll learn how to understand your target market and customer’s needs.
You will also be given some sure-fire ways to generate excitement for your products and services. This will include advertising methods, local media as well as developing an online presence including social media.
An experienced business advisor will be running the workshop and there will be a Q&A session at the end of the workshop should you have a specific questions.