The Beginners' Guide to Starting a UK Business in 2013

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Feb 04, 2013, 05:00 ET

LONDON, February 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The UK is filled with aspiring entrepreneurs who want to make 2013 the year they start their new business.

Expert Market logo (PRNewsFoto/Expert Market)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130204/591003 )

However, the current economic climate can make this tricky, which is why Expert Market, the popular B2B office equipment sourcing website, has launched The Beginners' Guide to Starting a UK Business, a free interactive guide to promote and support start-up novices.

This guide is targeted at UK businesspersons looking for the right resources to get things started. It gives entrepreneurs in theUK an honest and reliable step-by-step manual to get their new business up and running, as well as listing many valuable tools for them to refer to throughout the process.

According to Companies House, 10 per cent more businesses were founded in 2012 than 2011 and 2013 looks set to be better yet.

Why Start a Business in the UK?

A recent report compiled by the Startup Genome showed London is the world's seventh most influential start-up ecosystem due to a range of support networks, the right capital for infrastructure and diverse talent.

How to Get Started With Your Business

Starting a business takes a lot of energy, hard work, planning and research. The Beginners' Guide to Starting a UK Business is written through the voice of an experienced entrepreneur who encourages you to realistically assess if you have what it takes. Steps include asking yourself the following before you begin:

Do I want to make this commitment?
Do I know what resources I need?
Have I identified my fixed costs?
Am I willing to be flexible?
Do I have a written business plan?

What Steps Should I Take to Start a Business?

It is hard for many people to figure out exactly where to start. The Beginners' Guide to Starting a Business tells you that "your biggest challenge is your own lack of experience."

The guide is structured so it is clear where to begin. It takes you through each stage of the process, from finding a business location, to hiring employees and making a sale. There are also resources included in the guide such as articles, reports, videos, and slideshows. Also included are web design, marketing and sales tools for beginners.

Examples of some of the topics covered include: