First things first. Have you got what it takes to start a business? Do you think you have the qualities too? Have you thought about what type of business you'd be most suited to? Have you researched your market?

These and other questions you need to ask yourself before you even think of starting. Why not begin with the first important step - finding out if you could start a small business

Let us know how you get on.

Starting up

Are you in the process of starting up or have just started? This section will help you decide your business structure, business name, write your business plan, find start-up finance and buy a franchise or a business. Setting up a small business can be quite daunting, fortunately there is a wealth of information and business advice available for business start-ups.

We will provide all the basic information you need to take you step by step in starting up your own business. This section will cover everything you need to know for setting up a business and include such topics as choosing a business idea, conducting a market research and writing a business plan. If you have not already done so, register here and then access the main topics listed on the right. Once you've been through the getting ready stage, you're ready for the next stage: Choosing a business structure