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Read case studies that describe first hand how people tackle real-life challenges and opportunities.
Starting up
Considering starting up?
- Here's how I decided I was ready to start up my business
- Here's how I exploited a gap in the market
- Here's how I selected and bought my franchise
- Here's how I started a business during an economic downturn (Flash video)
- Here's how a Business Link adviser showed me different approaches to starting a business
- Here's how being a social enterprise works for our business
- Here's how having a family member in the business made a difference
- Here's how having an up-to-date business plan helped my business
- Here's how the Business start-up organiser helped me get my business off the ground
Starting a business - meeting the challenges
- Here's how I found my unique selling proposition
- Here's how I got over my disability to start a business
- Here's how I learned how to promote my work
- Here's how I set up a business when I was 23
Finding and managing the money
- Here's how I avoided the pitfalls of overtrading
- Here's how I found the right sort of finance for my new business
- Here's how I manage my cashflow
- Here's how I recovered a debt using the law
- Here's how I took out a commercial mortgage to buy a pub
- Here's how my business benefited from taking out a loan (Flash video)
- Here's how securing the right loan helped my business develop
- Identify finance options for your business (Flash video)
- Pitching to potential investors (Flash video)
- Preparing to attract investment (Flash video)
Choosing and setting up a legal structure
Naming your business
Choosing and setting up premises
- Here's how I chose the right premises for my business (Flash video)
- Here's how I ensured that my home was safe for use as a workplace
- Here's how we decided renting premises was best for our business
Keeping the workplace safe and your employees healthy
- Here's how I ensure our business complies with environmental legislation
- Here's how my business approaches health and safety issues
Taxes and paperwork - getting started
- Here's how I established an effective record-keeping system
- Here's how a business adviser helped me with my tax bill (Flash video)
- Here's how a good balance sheet helped me to improve my business
- Here's how the tax authorities helped me start my business
VAT
Becoming an employer for the first time
Sales and marketing
- Here's how I developed and implemented a marketing plan
- Here's how I developed and implemented an e-marketing plan
- Here's how I developed and marketed my product
- Here's how I made the most of market research
- Here's how I select and bid for tenders
- Here's how Web 2.0 technology benefited my business (Flash video)
- Here's how sales forecasting helped my firm
Financial control, operations and transport
- Here's how I control my stock
- Here's how I planned an exit strategy
- Here's how budgeting and business planning helped my business grow
IT and e-commerce for start ups
Importing and exporting
- Here's how I began importing goods from abroad
- Here's how I benefited from exporting to the United States
- Here's how I developed a strong export market
- Here's how I kept my business profitable by exporting my products abroad (Flash video)
- Here's how I protected my intellectual property rights overseas
- Here's how we benefited from exporting to the Middle East
- Here's how we benefited through trading with India
- Here's how we started building markets in the EU
Protecting your business & ideas
- Here's how I deal with trade mark infringements
- Here's how I protected my idea with a trade mark (Flash video)
- Here's how I registered and used my patent
- Here's how I use NDAs in my business
- Here's how a designer helped me to turn an idea into a product
- Here's how copyright law helps me protect my intellectual property
Choosing advisers and services
- Here's how I chose and worked with a designer
- Here's how I managed my advertising agency to produce an effective campaign
- Here's how I used an accountant to help me in my business
Getting help from the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust
Women into Business
Starting and growing a rural business
How Business Gateway helped me start my business
- Here's how I developed a new product
- Here's how I established my overseas business in Scotland
- Here's how I made a business out of teaching my skills to others
- Here's how I made my website a success
- Here's how I started a business after a career break
- Here's how I took my invention to market
- Here's how I turned an accident into a business opportunity
- Here's how I turned my part-time job into a business opportunity
- Here's how I turned redundancy into a business opportunity
- Here's how I used my creativity to start a business
