Starting A Small Business

[Rubyrose]

Hello,

I need a bit of advice on how to start a small business.

I am trained in DSE Assessments and Risk Assessments. This is something that not all businesses train staff in doing but it is a legal requirement to have these assessments carried out on staff and premises. This means that a lot of companies employ someone independent to come in and conducts these.
I would like to start doing this and visiting companies to conduct these assessments but I have no idea how to get started.

I need to advertise my services to businesses (which I have no idea on) but at the same time I don't have a website and wasn't sure whether it was worth setting one up until I have a bit of business coming in.

Anyone know much about this sort of thing?

Kind regards,
RR

[Old_Geezer]

It probably helps if you have worked for another in the same capacity and thus made contacts who know you and your reputation first.

Aside from that maybe target potential customers with mailshots/fliers to try to get your name known ? Get yourself a website and listings in the trade, business and BT phonebooks. Talk to friends and ex-colleagues to spread the word. You need high visibility at low cost to start with until you have a number of regular customers and repeat business.

[Rubyrose]

Thanks. I did this as part of my main job for about 3yrs at my previous employers. It wasn't my main job role though and it wasn't what the company specialised in so any contacts they have wouldn't be that helpful.

I did think about mail shots etc, I just don't know where to start. My sisters company need someone to come in and do DSE assessments though so I might have one job already lined up.
I will speak to her partner who can set up and design websites too I think.