starting up

[dotcom999]

Where is the best place to have a business plan drawn up and is it expensive.

[Ethel]

The best thing you can at this early stage is go to your bank and as for a small business pack.

Tell them you are about to start a business and need information to open a business account.

This pack will have enough information for you to draw up your own business plan.

[Oneeyedvic]

You can also get good advice from here: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk and http://www.startups.co.uk

Try your local chamber of commerce etc as there may be some free courses for new start up businesses (eg in Norfolk there is http://www.neatbusiness.co.uk and http://www.nwes.org.uk )

An accountant will charge you from around �300.00 - �1500.00

Really depends on how good a business plan you want / need and how much funding you want.

[mormess]

A business plan is your guiding document and is really something you need to do yourself. There are templates available - we got in touch with Business in Focus in Wales but there must be something similar in England, or wherever you are. You need to update it whenever your business changes, and keep referring to it so you know what you're doing. Believe me, your business can and will change and a few months down the line you'll have trouble remembering what your dream was!

Although banks, landlords etc do ask for a business plan it's more than just a thing you have to do, it describes what your business is and how you want it to develop. It's also what wins over prospective investors.

Read "Anyone Can Do it" by Sahar Hashemi who started the Coffee Republic chain. It has guidance on business plans in there and is also an inspirational book.