Business Information Point assists many people start and successfully develop their business each year.

To be successful the following areas need to be addressed:

• Personal aims and abilities - why do you want to do this; is it realistic?
• Market research - will you have enough customers?
• Marketing - what is the best way to promote your products and services?
• Finance - do you have the required working capital and are there any grants or loans available?
• What business structure should you have?
• VAT, Tax and National Insurance issues
• Trading regulations and data protection
• Employing staff
• Training requirements for both you and your staff

Business Information Points' services for start up businesses include assistance in preparing business plans, applying for loans and obtaining the necessary information to start and run a business successfully.

We also run the Barclays Let’s Talk Business workshops, "Let’s Talk Business Ideas" for people that are contemplating going self-employed and have an initial business idea and “Let’s Talk Starting in Business”. Workshops will be available in Exeter and Newton Abbot throughout 2009.