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Starting A Business
If you are considering working for yourself but don't know where to start we can help.
As well as a range of materials available here in the library, we can point you in the direction of other information providers who can help.
Business Opportunity Profiles
These are a good place to start. They cover a variety of businesses. Each profile gives information on identifying your market, how to find customers, competition, promotion, costs, training and further reading. Download these from the bottom of this page.
Business Information Factsheets
Handy sheets on all aspects of starting and running a business from buying premises to trading internationally. Download these from the bottom of this page.
Useful Books
These include:
- Lloyds Small Business Guide - S Williams
- The Business Plan Workbook - C Barrow
- The New Business Road Test - J W Mullins
- Raising Finance - P Barrow
- Law for the Small Business - P Clayton
For details of more books, access the library catalogue.
Support and Advice
Free leaflets from agencies, both national and local which can offer support and advice.
Websites include:
Websites can be useful, and are too numerous to list, but we can help you find the most appropriate for your needs.
SENTA offers free advice to anyone starting a business. For more information telephone 0114 281 4621 or pick up a leaflet in the library or come along to one of our FREE Business Advice Sessions
Choosing a name
There are leaflets published by Companies House on Business and Company Names. Copies are available in the library or from Companies House website
You will need to check if the name you are considering is already in use, and there are various sources you could consider including Companies House webcheck, Trade Marks Register, as well as trade directories, local telephone directories and relevant trade journals.
There is also a National Business Register website but as business names are no longer registered, this should not be considered an official register of business names.
Who supplies what?
Use our collection of trade directories to locate contact details for suppliers of products and services. For more information see the section Product Information.
Checking for competitors
We have a range of national trade directories providing details of companies by sector. For more information see section under Product Information.
A full set of Yellow Pages covering the whole of the UK is available. These can be used to identify companies on a very local basis, and will inlcude sole traders who may not appear in the national directories.
The FAME database can be used to find detailed company reports including financial information.
For more information see Company Information
Marketing
As well as books to help you with marketing ideas, including:
- Marketing Made Simple - G Lancaster
- The Small Business Marketing Handbook - I Maitland
- Building a Brand in a Week - P Laver
click here to go to the Statistics and Market Research Information pages
Local News
Our range of local journals will help you to keep uptodate with developments in the region. Find out what other companies are doing and identify useful networking contacts. Titles include:
- 1st for Business
- Sheffield Business Club Newsletter
- City Business Magazine
- First Voice
Please note that the inclusion of any website or link on this page does not mean that they have been vetted or recommended by Sheffield City Council. It is important to make sure that you are happy that they are suitable for your own requirements.
Downloads
Downloadable copy of Business Information Factsheets - Category List - January 2008 (79.3 KB)
Downloadable copy of Business Opportunity Profiles - Alphabetical Index - January 2008 (82.1 KB)
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