Starting up? Do your research first!

Make your idea a reality with industry led data, gathered by experts

A common theme we hear at the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) is that the enthusiasm people have for starting their own business is quickly dwarfed by two things; during lockdown, it was the problem of  developing the business idea in isolation, with no one to give unbiased critique and feedback. The other is the overwhelming list of new skills which seem a requisite of becoming a business owner. 

Write a business plan? Sort out commercial rent logistics? Health and safety legalities? Somehow develop a website? Find customers? All the while tiptoeing around the white elephant of intellectual property – what is a trademark anyway? 

No need to panic! Just take a deep breath and let the BIPC give you a helping hand. 

Lending a hand

Approximately a third of the people who got in touch with the BIPC in the last couple of months, have lost their job during COVID and wish to continue their profession, utilising their existing skills, but on their own terms. 

While others decided that this is the time to gather their courage and realise their long-lived dream of starting a business in a completely different profession or sector.

Either way, our range of free information resources will greatly benefit any type of start-ups.

Tell us your story

Our first steps with start-ups is to hear their story – which we love to do – finding out how they came up with the business idea, why, and what stage it is at the moment. 

Whether someone approaches us with a few notes on a napkin or a full 30-minute presentation with a theme tune, we’re here to help and support. Some people worry about bringing in a bare bones idea, apologising that they don’t really know where to take it next or if it’s even feasible to bring to fruition – but that spark often leads to fantastic things, with just a little guidance.

This is a great way to start the process as the existing experience, skills and the needs of the start-ups vary greatly – someone bringing an invention to patent, so they can license it out needs very different advice and information from someone dreaming of setting up their own cat café in the Brighton Laines.

The next step is to then discuss what resources the BIPC have to help them, what tools will assist them, and signposting to any contacts who would be able to lead them further in their chosen field. 

Business & Industry databases

Our free resources for start-ups include £5 million worth of online business and industry directories, market reports from top publishers and company data for more than 144 million UK and global companies, that will help them get it right from the beginning and significantly increase their chance of success.

Our advice is to start with COBRA

COBRA 

The Complete Online Business Reference Advisor is a practical and comprehensive resource for anyone wanting to start a business. 

It contains over a thousand small business factsheets, guides, and sector-specific reports. It is easy to use and to understand as there is no jargon. 

It includes incredibly thorough guides on how to start a particular business – Pet groomer, anyone? Ice cream van driver? Blacksmith? – as well as a wealth of legal documents and start-up guides. 

From how to create a cash flow, a business plan, and marketing plan to food safety regulations and how to get your first employee, you will find all the information you need on COBRA to turn your idea into a business.

You can access Cobra from home with a Brighton & Hove Library card or at Jubilee Library in Brighton, where the BIPC team is on hand to assist.

Another one of our databases which is perfect for start-ups is Local Data Online. 

Local Data Online (LDC) 

For anyone setting up a business which has a public site (shop, café, theatre), LDC allows you to zoom in on the city/town/retail park you’re considering for your business and analyse it for you. 

Thinking of setting up as a florist? It can tell you where the current ones are, street by street, plus where the vacant units are so you can decide if to focus on a quieter part of town or the busy high street. In addition, LDC gives you amazing statistics about the location you’re looking into – employment rates, opening & closing rates of businesses, how busy the main shopping areas are. 

You can access LDC at Jubilee Library in Brighton, where the BIPC team is on hand to assist you.

These are only two of our ten invaluable databases that can help you at every stage of your business growth.

Next time: Why should I conduct market research before starting my business? And the databases that can help.

Find out more at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/bipc or email bipc@brighton-hove.gov.uk