Ok, so, you have a broken leg. Where do you go? That's right. The Plumber!
There are many 'Business Support Centres' knocking about. For someone thinking about making the leap from employment, to self employment, what a great place to start eh!
Erm... Be careful!
Firstly, BE CAREFUL who you're getting advice from. Ask yourself these questions:
Has the Advisor been in business before?
If yes, why aren't they still in business?
If their business is this advice centre, what business did they have before, and why aren't they still in it?
Hopefully, those questions alone will save you being processed into what is becoming more and more disgracefully common.
It's a sad fact, that there are business centres open right now that offer FREE advice, and access to Government Grants for startups, and this all sounds attractive... But, check them out first, are they a limited company? If so, they are there to make money - so what really are they giving that's free? (Ditto sole trader, one man band advisers etc)
Scrape the surface off, and you have in addition a company that offers to do your accounts (For a charge) offers to do your marketing (well... print leaflets and cards for a charge) will sign you up for business insurance, phone lines, mobiles, Card terminals, car finance, business finance, convince you to get a lease on property with high rent and rates and generally destroy your company with expenses before it even starts - all under the guise of 'Free Business advice'
Their information on Government grant schemes are public knowledge, and, guess what, if you do get a grant, they get the agent fees.
So... Business Advice... who to approach?
My advice is to interact only with other people in business, and ask 3 people the same question to get a rounded view. Each one will offer opinion based on experience, which is something most 'business advisers' cannot.
An advisor will be with you for what is in it for them - where as a fellow business person will be with you for the networking.
NB.
Not to be confused with specifically established local authority, and national government business advisers employed to assist with business growth and sustainability.
If you could sleep soundly at night...
