Your Business Matters to Your Community
Whether you are just moving to the UK or you have been here for many years, starting a new business is a wonderful challenge. Not only do local businesses serve their communities well, but having your own company also gives you the chance to take control of your finances.
On today’s Work Abroad Legal blog, we will switch gears a bit and discuss ways that you can start your own business right here at home.
Why Start Your Own Business?
Aside from earning an income on your terms, starting your own business gives you an opportunity to give back to your community. You will create jobs, keep tax money close to home, and have a unique opportunity to be involved with the people of your hometown by filling their needs. Importantly, small businesses also contribute to local diversity while quite simply being better for the environment. With nearly six million small businesses in the UK, you will have a vast network of other entrepreneurs with whom you can work together to make your community a better place.
Starting a Business in the UK
First things first, if you’re not from the EU or EEA, you’ll probably need a visa to start your business. You will then want to establish your business structure, which might be a sole trader, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, social enterprise, or other entity type. When you have established this, you can register with customs and then complete any additional requirements pertinent to your specific type of business.
Marketing
Marketing is something all business owners must learn to do from the very beginning. Unfortunately, for many of us, promoting our businesses is the most intimidating aspect of entrepreneurship. While we know that we are good at what we do, putting ourselves out there for others to see and judge may be a bit uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many different ways to market your business, including social media, direct mail, and email marketing.
Keep in mind here, however, that today’s digital age means that your most effective weapon is your website. While you can use a do-it-yourself website builder, these are very generic and don’t allow for customisation. In many cases, it makes sense to outsource. If you’re wondering how much do web developers make, the answer is around £10.85 to £21.69 ($15 to $30USD). You may pay less for a student or much more for someone with 10+ years of experience and proven track record.
Community Engagement
Community engagement is a part of your marketing strategy, but it deserves special attention. To get the members of your local area on board with your new business, your focus must be meeting the people. One smart idea here is to host an open house. The Receptionist, a visitor management software company, gives new people a chance to visit your business without the pressure of scheduling an appointment. It also gives you an excellent opportunity to showcase your best so that you can leave a positive impression on your potential customers.
Starting a business is a huge commitment to yourself, your family, and your community. Fortunately, being an entrepreneur is also a huge benefit to all of these. Before you get started, make sure you know what needs your community has. And then fill them. You also have to pay close attention that you set your business up legally and learn to market like a pro. While the tips above are not everything you need to know about starting a business, they are great jumping-off points that can help you hit the ground running.
Are you heading overseas and need legal documents? Let Work Abroad Legal get you set up. Pricing starts at £75.
