Business - helping you with starting a business
Planning to set up a business? Good for you – if you have the ideas and the motivation we can help put some of the pieces together. There are lots of issues to consider, but we can provide resources and support in setting up your business and help you make sure that you fulfil all of your obligations.
Key website sections for you:
- Business homepage
- Business Rates
- Business Support and Advice
- Food Safety
- Health and Safety
- Licences and Street Trading
- Parking
- Planning
- Regeneration
- Statistics and census information
- Tenders and Contracts
- Town Centre Management
- Trading Standards
- Training and Development
Thinking of starting a business
The Council is committed to providing a wide range of services to local businesses and the community at large.
Hammersmith & Fulham Libraries Information Service
Looking for somewhere to research the business you are thinking of starting, find tips on writing your business plan or access a PC with an office package? Then why not visit one of our libraries.
For more information about Libraries, click here
To access the library catalogue click here.
Where can I find business opportunities within the borough?
A number of key development sites exist within the Borough. See the Regeneration homepage. To look for businesses for sale in the area you can look in the local press, or visit some of the many websites that deal with the sale of businesses. A small selection are below
www.nationwidebusinesses.co.uk
Franchises
There are around 600 businesses in the UK that are franchised but what is franchising and would it be suitable for you? It's a way of setting up in business for yourself but not on your own. With a franchise you run the business, but using methods that have been already tried and tested by another company, called the franchisor. It is a way of being your own boss without many of the risk factors. However, you are ultimately answerable to the franchisor and this approach may not be for some people.
There are a large number of websites that deal with selling franchises a small number are listed below
Business Plan
Wherever you are going for financial help writing a Business Plan is essential but it is not as difficult as it may sound - it is simply a way of putting your ideas on paper.
Areas that are usually covered:-
- Description of the business - brief overview of purpose of business and location.
- Evidence of demand for product/service - size and location of market, buying patterns, type of research carried out.
- Sales and Marketing - how you will promote your product/service, sales targets you've set, competition and how you will overcome it.
- Product/Service - description and its advantages (and disadvantages).
- Management- CV's, training needed, what are these people bringing into business?
- Financial forecasts - cash flow forecast, profit and loss, initial financial outlay
Your plan should contain the essential information required - not waffle. Try and tailor it to the needs of whoever is going to be looking at it. And remember, with financial predictions, it's best to be prudent. Don't be over-optimistic!
You can obtain examples of business plans from:
- Local libraries
- Business services of banks
Are there any courses that I may find useful?
Our Adult Education service provides training courses for business and other useful skills such as computing. Adult and Community education
Learndirect run a number of courses that may be useful to you including IT courses such as word processing, databases and spreadsheets. They also run essential business and management skills courses covering finance, marketing, personnel and health and safety. There are a number of Learndirect centres throughout Hammersmith and Fulham.
For more information about Learndirect visit the website at http://www.learndirect.co.uk/
What taxes will I have to pay?
The Inland Revenue have put information on their website especially for people starting up their own business. HM Revenue and Customs website.
There is also a help line run by the Inland Revenue for newly self employed people. 0845 9154 515, which is open from 8am - 8pm.
Where can I get property advice?
The Council has a selection of properties and land for sale in addition to shops and industrial units to let.
Do I need planning permission?
Planning holds a balance between the need for new development and the need to protect the environment and tries to ensure all development is environmentally sustainable. Construction methods also need to comply with the Building Regulations for which there is a separate set of approvals.
There are also separate approvals governing the display of outdoor advertisements, developments affecting Listed Buildings', and the demolition of unlisted buildings in Conservation areas.
Working from home
You do not usually need planning permission just to work from home but sometimes you do.
The key test is whether the residence has changed because of the business. If the answer to any of the following questions is "yes", then you will probably need permission:
- Is your house no longer chiefly a private residence?
- Will your business result in a marked rise in traffic, people calling or working around the house or in out buildings?
- Will your business involve obvious activities not usual in a residential street?
- Will your business disturb your neighbours because of noise or smells?
Basically you need to ask yourself if the house is still mainly a home or has it become business premises? This is whatever the business, including using a room as an office, hairdressing, repairing cars, storing goods, using part of the house as a bedsit, running a 'bed and breakfast', providing childminding or music teaching.
Do I need a licence?
Many businesses require a licence e.g hairdressers, pet shops and places of public entertainment. For advice and guidance covering all aspects of trading, licensing and public health legislation click here
What standards do I need to abide by?
Trading Standards and Consumer Services Section is a strategic Local Authority service contributing to the well-being of the local and business community through its enforcement activities and advisory services. For more information about the work of trading standards, to access fact sheets that may be relevant to your business and for advice on weights and measures click here
The Trading Standards division will give talks to any business, consumer group, school or any other organisation on the work carried out by the Trading Standards service in the following areas:
- Weights and measures
- Food labelling
- Product and toy safety
- Home safety
- Your rights when shopping
- Credit, borrowing and lending
- General work of the Trading Standards division
Other subject areas that are not listed can be arranged on request. To request a talk from trading standards fill in the online trading standards request form
Will I need to pay business rates?
The values of all property in respect of which rates are payable to the Council are shown in the local ratings list. For more information on business rates click here
Where can I get rid of trade waste?
This service is available to all commercial and industrial premises in the Borough. For more information on trade waste click here
The Council also carries out commercial pest control work for local businesses. For more information on commercial pest control click here
How do I recruit staff?
The Council is committed to attracting new jobs to the area and works in partnership with other agencies to ensure residents benefit from employment opportunities created within the Borough.
Your local job centre will advise you on recruiting staff and will advertise positions in the local centres free of charge. For more information, advice and to find your local job centre look at the website http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/
You can also contact the local employment agencies to help recruit permanent or temporary staff although there will be a charge for this.
You can also advertise in the local press.
External Links:
Prince's Trust Business Programme, low interest loans, grants, mentors and other support for 18-30 year olds
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/startingup
