Thinking about starting a business? We can help!
If you’re in Greater Manchester, have a great business idea but don’t know how to get it off the ground – then act smart.
Join the hundreds of businesses we’ve helped to find their feet by joining our Start Smart programme.
Start Smart offers free, independent advice, guidance and support for would-be entrepreneurs wanting to take the plunge to start their own business. There’s no such thing as a stupid question.
We’ll match you with an expert business advisor to help you navigate the wonderful world of self-employment and setting up a new company.
They will help you to develop a robust business plan and give you all the skills and knowledge you need to make your new venture a success.
Alongside your work with your mentor, we’ll give you access to a range of exclusive webinars to help you on your way.
Our webinars include:
Business planning
We’ll take you through all you need to know about planning your business, the things you need to be aware of and the legalities of setting up as a sole trader, limited company or partnership.
Marketing
Explore how to carry out your own market research, identify your core customer groups and find out the importance of brand, image and tone of voice. We’ll also help you get to grips with general marketing principles and the basics of selling your product.
Find out how Facebook has become integral to millions of businesses across the world. We’ll look at how reaching out to your local community can work wonders, and how Facebook Marketplace can help you reach a much wider audience.
Bookkeeping
Keeping a track of the cash coming in and out is critical to running a successful business. Improve your confidence, knowledge and skills in bookkeeping with this easy-to-understand webinar. We’ll take a look at different bookkeeping systems and show you how to complete your tax returns and self-assessments.
Cash flow
Forecast how your business is going to perform over the next 12 months and calculate realistic projections and targets for your new company. This webinar provides you with all the tools you’ll need to create a cash flow forecast for your new business, which will help you to launch and will assist in any financial applications you may have to do.
Social media
There are hundreds of social media sites – but which one is right for you, if any? Delve deeper into social with this webinar, in which we’ll look at the benefits and risks of being on the various platforms. You’ll gain an understanding of how to use them to reach your audiences, grow your business and increase your sales.
To be eligible for Start Smart, you need to be:
- A resident of Greater Manchester
- Interested in setting up your own business or going self-employed
- Aged 18 or over.
For more information, fill in the form below or call us on 0161 507 6366
Start Smart is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and run in partnership with the GC Business Growth Hub.
