There are tips and essential-to-read documents here that are hard to find elsewhere. Some you do need to be registered, or a member to read.
The bullet-points below are a quick way to that section, then click on a document title to read more...
- How to gain funding
- Investor tips
- Business Plans
- Growing your business
- Patents, IP and Copyright
- Articles on partners
- Personal aspects of running a business
- Mentors and Non-Execs
- Case Studies - learn from the experience of others
- Templates and downloads
Items marked 
require you to sign in to read the articles.
Items marked 
require you to be a premium member.
How to gain funding
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The basic types of funding, from loans to private equity funding.
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The Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) is a UK government initiative to help small and medium businesses secure bank loans. This article explains more...
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The best way to present to a group of Investors
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Does your bank insist on having have some form of collateral or security to get a loan? Have a look at how the government can do this for you.
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This article looks at sources of funds and consider the pros and cons of these, as well as giving suggestions of where to go for these funds.
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By following some of these simple guidelines you may increase your chances of getting your loan approved and your business off the ground.
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Find out what the terms used by investors, such as seed funding, first round, second round, mezzanine funding, all mean.
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Put yourself into the mind of a potential Investor by going through the same thought process that they will be going through.
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So you have an Invention or a great business idea. What do you do now? How do you move forward and what to watch out for.
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We see hundreds of business plans a year and get feedback from our Investing Members on what they like and what makes them follow up on an opportunity. They also tell us what turns them off and causes plans to never be read.
Investor tips
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If you are an investor, or thinking of investing you should understand the terms used by the FSA (Financial Services Authority) to define those people who have enough knowledge or experience that they can opt to receive information about non-regulated financial investments.
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This resource gives an easy to follow description of the EIS. This scheme allows Investors to get income tax back on any investments, allows gains without tax and is a great help in minimising risk.
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What is a Business Angel?
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How should Investors decide on whether an investment is worthwhile
Business Plans
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This is Company Partners' review of the best business plan applications and a look at the assistance that you can get in writing your plan.
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We look at whether you need to write a business plan at all and if you do, why that is. Gives tips on what you should include if looking for funding.
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Have an expert review your business plan and avoid the most common mistakes - get a 10 point action plan and suggestions on how it can be improved.
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Often you may hear about what a business plan consists of. While including the necessary items is very important, you also want to make sure you don't commit any of the following common business plan mistakes.
Growing your business
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What is a Business Incubator and how to find one. List of Incubators and Innovation Centres.
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Thought provoking and practical, this factsheet acts as a catalyst to working out the best business for you. Good advice and a warning on what not to do.
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Having a business bank account is important to keep your personal and business money separate and it can also add credibility to your business. We look at 7 FAQ (frequently asked questions) and give practical advice.
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Do you need an Accountant at all, what can they do and how do they charge?
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The pros and cons of chosing to be a Sole Trader or Limited Company
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Do you need a business license in order to operate your business. This resource gives a link to help you identify if your business needs a license and how and where to apply for one.
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Learn how to get customers visiting your business web site. We explain about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and how you can use business tools that will get people to your web site. There's no point in having a business web site if no one can find it.
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A central hub of information on questions about Import - Export and international trade.
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Maybe your first thought as an entrepreneur would not be the British Library. Surely that's just full of old books? Well there's more to the modern British Library than that. Inside the covers of the BL there's a specialist group that offers practical help, advice and expertise to inventors, business start-ups and small growing businesses.
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Looking at a business balance sheet can be daunting, but by applying a few simple ratios you can see the health of your (or others) business.
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A concise look at the single biggest failing of business plans. The area voted by our Investors as needing the most additional work. A well thought out sales & marketing plan creates credibility and greatly increases your chances of success.
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We are often asked about how to set up a particular business. This gives a pointer to where to obtain factsheets.
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Advertising can be expensive, but there is a way of getting free publicity for your business.
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For young businesses taking on your first employee is a huge step. For companies already with staff it's still a big commitment. Will the extra person make a difference to the bottom line and allow your business to grow?
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You may need to begin preparing your business for sale some way ahead of the actual time that you want to make the sale, in order to get the best price. This factsheet looks at the key actions to carry out and gives the steps of the sales process.
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How much is your business worth? How much should you pay for a business? We give 3 pointers to factsheets that start to unravel the way that value is determined.
Patents, IP and Copyright
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Do you know the difference between a copyright and a design registration? Do you have to trademark your name or logo? We spell out the differences between all of these and tell you what applies, where.
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A guide to going about the process of patenting your invention.
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There is much confusion around Trademarks. This lays out clearly what you can and can't Trademark, the pros & cons and whether you should protect yourself in this way.
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Once a new design is registered the owner has the right to stop others from making or selling the same or similar designs.
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This comprehensive factsheet explains the principle of copyright and how you can use copyright to protect your original material.
Articles on partners
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How two people (or more) should divide up the responsibilities and rewards of a business. What needs documenting, or not. Is it necessary to write anything down at all - can't we just get on with it? This guide covers the essential knowledge that you need when taking on a business partner.
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A look at the way a business partner can help run & grow a business.
Personal aspects of running a business
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The principles behind this are appropriate for any time that you feel life or business is just drifting by you, or perhaps you want to reinvigorate your aims in life.
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Starting a business or running your own company can certainly be a stressful experience, but not all of it is bad for you, some stress is essential.
Mentors and Non-Execs
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What is the difference between a Mentor and a Non Exec Director and how they can help your business grow?
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This article describes the essentials of being a mentor. Useful for prospective Mentors and gives tips on establishing a constructive and professional relationship with the Mentee.
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Non-Execs or Non Executive Directors - what are they and could they help your business grow? Bringing in an experienced business person with valuable connections may be just the spur your business needs.
Case Studies - learn from the experience of others
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One Investor's experience in funding manufacturing & property deals
Templates and downloads
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This paper focuses on the key business process of innovation, the successful exploitation of new ideas, and the factors most relevant to this. It talks about the stages of a new company and provides practical and readable advice and ideas
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Covering the essentials that should be in a business plan. Expert advice from the BVCA (British Venture Capital Association) and key tips to watch out for when writing your business plan.
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A simple template for an NDA. An NDA is an agreement between two entities (can be individuals or companies), where they agree to share certain information for a specific purpose...
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A first chapter of a great e-book on the 5 most important things an entrepreneur must do when starting a business. Great insights from Guy Kawasaki, with inspirational examples and practical advice....
