Q.       I think I would like to start-up my own business but I am uncertain if my idea is viable where can I get assistance or advice on how to proceed?

A.        Business Gateway at Stirling Enterprise run Meet The Adviser Seminars of ½ day duration where you can meet people at the same stage in the thinking process. Come along to one and get advice from an experienced adviser. This will help to crystallise your thinking and open opportunities for additional support.  This is a free service.

Q.        What are my chances of survival after I do start?

A.        If you have taken up the opportunities for training and advice during the Pre-start period and continue with that support during the formative period of your business your chances of success are improved. The survival rate after three years is currently some 75%. Even if the business ceases to trade the owner has gained useful experience which can assist in finding other career opportunities.

Q.        Can I get financial help to start my own business?

A.        If you're aged between 18 and 30, and want to start your own business, then you may be eligible for a Business Gateway Start Up Grant and could soon be on your way to running your own business.

The grant is designed to help young people get their ideas off the ground and make a real go of going it alone.  Find out if you are eligible and talk to a business adviser at your local Business Gateway about applying.  We can support you all the way through the application process and guide you with your business plan, which you'll need to include with your application.

If you're application is successful, £1,000 will be paid in to your business bank account as soon as possible after the date your business starts to trade.

Q.        What is PSYBT? (Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust)

A.        This is the organisation that provides additional support for under 26 year olds going into business and links closely with the support from Business Gateway. Loans and Grants are available in appropriate circumstances and you can visit their website at www.psybt.org. for additional information.

Business Gateway at Stirling Enterprise has worked closely with PSYBT over the years and the adviser team will be able to provide you with the information needed to access PSYBT.  

Q.        I will need workspace for my business and I am concerned that there may be pitfalls that I am unaware of. What should I do?

A.        Taking on a commitment to property is a big step and you need to be sure you are entering into a good contract. We always recommend that before purchasing or renting a property you have a lawyer look over the contracts and leases prior to commitment. Finding suitable premises can also be a daunting task but we can help. Stirling Enterprise owns and manages workspace and is always mindful of the needs of emerging businesses. Details of availability which can change quickly are available from our property page which also provides links to Stirling Council and the Scottish Property Network portfolios.

Q.        How do I find out about potential competitors.

A.        Some of this research you can carry out yourself through appropriate websites such as www.yell.com but as a Start-up business you will have access through your adviser to Business Gateway Information Services which in turn has access to the major business databases. This support makes your task much less formidable and well worth pursuing.

Q.        How do I find potential customers?

A.        If you are in the start-up process you will probably have done some preliminary research for the answers to this question. However the Business Gateway Start-up Course will help you to address the issues which include quality of  service and products, delivery, pricing and marketing i.e. not only finding customers but as importantly keeping them. The Business Gateway Information Services can also assist.

Q.        The Business Gateway Start-up Course is taking on increasing importance in the start-up process. How can a four-day course provide all the answers?

A.        It does not. It provides the basic groundwork in a variety of essential subjects and helps by giving links to services which can take you further. However for those businesses that buy into the start-up support there are opportunities for ongoing training and adviser assistance during the early years of the business. Visit our Training Page for details of all business development training and remember you will as an assisted start-up have access to specialist advisers who can guide you through the business consolidation and growth process.   

Q.        I read that the only way to run and develop a business in to-days market place is through Information Technology and E.Commerce. Is that true for my business?

A.        IT and E.Commerce are different issues and they may have an important and possibly increasing part to play in how your business develops

Information Technology.

Is essentially an internal tool to run the business effectively. Elements include word processing, data base collection, spread sheet applications and accounting packages. They all assist you in making the business work smarter by producing mail, keeping track of clients, record keeping and producing financial information. Depending on your needs and growth patterns they are likely to become essential tools in the formative stages of your development. The application and value of all these issues to your business can be addressed though utilising the services of our Information Technology Training Centres which have been providing specialist assistance on hardware and software questions since 1997. This service is also provided as part of the Business Gateway service. 

E.Commerce.

Having a website and utilising it to improve business performance fits into the E. Commerce process. A website can be part of the businesses marketing effort. It can be an invaluable source of market research and competitor information and it can allow you to sell direct to a global market at relatively low cost. What is best for you is a complex issue and our experienced advisers can give you guidance and training in these important areas. 

Training courses designed to assist in all of this are detailed on our 'Business Training' Page together with contact details for our specialist advisers.