This Thursday sees Caerphilly Business Forum hold its New Year, New Start event at Tredomen Business and Technology Centre from 5.30pm.
The event will provide a variety of business support to prospective new business start-ups in the area.
As a taster, Caerphilly Business Forum’s panel of experts has answered the top six questions about business start-ups for Caerphilly Observer readers.
Will I need to register my business for VAT?
Answered by Ben Masters, Director of HSJ Accountants
UK Businesses can volunteer to register for VAT at any time. For many, there may be cost advantages to becoming registered, such as the possibility they can reclaim VAT on set-up purchases made up to 4 years before VAT registration.
Businesses with a turnover (within a rolling 12 month period) exceeding the VAT threshold (currently £70,000) must register for VAT. This also applies if you sell and deliver goods from another EU country to the UK or receive goods from other EU countries.
VAT can be a minefield, with different schemes to consider for your business. Here you’ll certainly need expert advice.
I’m looking for advice on developing a logo for my branding – where do I start?
Gareth Spencer – Dischromatics
There are numerous common pitfalls in designing logos but a professional graphic designer should develop your ideas and put the final design into a suitable format which can be used by other companies in different media such as printed adverts or websites.
We normally meet clients to discuss a design brief, then create some preliminary hand-drawn sketches for a clients consideration and comment, before developing the ideas. We often print them too, using a variety of colour schemes, for further discussion before finalising a logo. But always, the process requires close collaboration between designer and client to ensure the result fits the bill.
Where can I get financial assistance to undertake new capital investment in my business?
Sharon Owen, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Business Development Team
Grants of up to 50% of eligible project costs, up to a maximum of £2,000, are available to businesses throughout Caerphilly County Borough.
Generally businesses and business start-ups in all different sectors may be considered with the exception of retail. Retail businesses located in the Heads of the Valleys area of Caerphilly County Borough may also be eligible. Contact Business Advisory Services, Caerphilly County Borough Council 01443 866222 or email business@caerphilly.gov.uk for more specific details.
Is there funding available to recruit and train staff?
Nikki Bennett, GO Wales
Yes there is. GO Wales offers funding to SMEs in Wales to help them recruit, develop and retain staff. If a company is looking to recruit, GO Wales is able to provide them with a student or a graduate for a 6-10 week project. We ask that employers pay candidates a minimum gross wage of £250 per week and GO Wales can provide a subsidy of £95 per week towards this. Our track record shows that 63% of placements lead to permanent employment with the host company.
GO Wales is also able to provide funding towards training for any graduates working in an SME (this includes sole traders). We can pay 50% of course costs, up to £500 for a non-accredited course and up to £1,500 for a higher level course.
How can I make my business known to others on a limited marketing budget?
Andrew Diplock, UES and chairman of Caerphilly Business Forum
Networking opportunities increase a company’s profile relatively cheaply and simply. The key is to choose the right networking group for your company.
UES joined Caerphilly Business Forum 2006. I wanted to increase my company’s presence in the area, while joining a forum that could represent its members within the County Borough Council.
I’ve no doubt that joining the CBF has increased my company’s profile and kept me aware of local issues, all at a reasonable price. And I’ve been so pleased with the results that I’ve become more heavily involved in the forum – anyone can do the same.
How best can I promote my business online?
Laurie Cope, Amity Web Design
Just having a website is not enough to promote your business online – you need to promote the website too. And there are some great ways to do it….
You could write a blog to encourage regular readers, join discussion forums on which you can advertise your website, use an email marketing tool to send regular emails to subscribers, and use social networking sites Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to post updates on products and services and engage with customers.
These are just a few ideas, there are so many more opportunities to promote your business online and I highly recommend they are utilised.
For more information about New Year, New Start and how to register email leah@cbforum.co.uk