Yorkshire Bank have recently been looking at the motives behind small business startups, and also what the key issues are that small businesses typically face. Almost 60% of small business owners stated that their primary reason for starting up in business was because of a desire for more flexible working, and for a better work / life balance. Ironically it is small business owners and entrepreneurs that according to a Barclays Bank survey (2006) spend 60% more time at work than any other group. Small business ownership quite frequently necessitates a different approach and results in different qualities than initially expected…

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Guy Kawasaki has written an excellent article entitled “The Art of Bootstrapping“, which gives tips for small businesses who are starting up without funding or venture capital. These aren’t just another set of ‘frugalifying’ tips, there are various methods of cost saving and doing business which are beneficial to low-cash businesses.

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Many small businesses would think you’re crazy if you asked them whether they turned down business. In the first few years of trading, most small business owners chase or say yes to any business they can find - irrespective of whether they have to vary their operations to accommodate it. It is important to have a ‘core focus’ identified in a business, which encompasses all of your strategy, intended mode of operation and the process you use to get where you want to.

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As with all things ‘Government’, nothing stays certain for long - there have previously been a variety of schemes aimed at encouring small to medium-sized businesses onto the Internet, to establish an eCommerce prescence in particular. In the past a company could apply for a grant for up to 50% of the website development cost of an eCommerce website, up to a maximum of £2,000. Unfortunately the provision of these grants is nowhere near as widespread, however don’t lose all hope straight away, there are still some opportunities to be had…

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The choice of business name for your new company is crucial for a variety of reasons. First and foremost they convey your brand image and represent what it is your business stands for. Consequently any name you choose should convey the feel that you’re trying to achieve, and the industry you are in. That doesn’t mean to say that it has to be stereotyped according to what all the other firms in your industry have chosen, however if you can find a catchy edge along a certain theme then this will help with customer brand recognition. Some business names such as Amazon actually bear no relation to the type of industry they’re in, so don’t feel pressured into your name having to ‘conform to the norm’. Once you’ve drafted up a shortlist of say ten or twenty names, the next step is to check that they’re actually available to register…

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