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How to Start a Business in Bath

Free start-up resources and useful local contacts.

Improve your chances of success!

How to Start a Business in Bath

Starting a business in Bath

If you are thinking about starting a business in Bath or would like to grow your existing business, we would love to help you.

Start Your Own Business in Bath contains resources and the information that will help give your venture the best chance of success. It also highlights organisations who offer friendly advice and the services that you are likely to need as a new startup or local business owner.

Grants | Networking groups | Business advice | Mentoring | Co-working spaces

Starting a business in Bath

Free Startup Resources

Getting it right from the start can help to prevent problems later.

To help you with this we have created a vast selection of resources and they are all completely free!

Starting a Business in in Bath

Business advice and support

"Two heads are better than one."

Whether you have been trading for some time, are new to the market or are just thinking about starting a business of your own, it has been proven that your chances of success are considerably improved if you seek support from an experienced business advisor or mentor. You can find out more about both options at Business Advice in Bath and Business Mentors in Bath.

Funding and grants

Running out of money is one the most common reasons why businesses fail. This risk of this happening to can be avoided (or minimised) by careful planning and cashflow forecasting. If you need additional funds to start or keep your business going, you can learn more about your options and download our free funding factsheet at: Bath Business Grants and Business Funding

Business networking

Does the idea of business networking fill you with delight or dread? Either way, it can be beneficial for both your business and you as an entrepreneur. See Business Networking in Bath for details of local groups and our free Networking Factsheet.

Business premises

Working from home is appealing to many new business owners but not practical for many others. Even if you are running a business by yourself, you might like to consider the option of 'hot desking' or co-working in one of the many flexi-workspaces that have emerged in recent years. Find out more at: Bath Co-Working and Business Premises.

Finding new customers

Paying customers are the lifeblood of any business. Knowing how to find, satisfy and retain them is vitally important and best achieved with the help of experts in the field.

Accountancy, tax and law

While starting a new business is very exciting, this should not disguide the fact that there are some very important legal responsibilities that must be considered. See: Bookkeeping, Accountancy, Financial Planning and Law

FREE startup workshops

If you are thinking about starting a business, our FREE three-hour ONLINE workshop is definitely for you!

Open to everyone, our sole aim is to increase your chances of success. We do that by explaining:

The reality of running a business; the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them; which legal status is likely to be most suitable; funding, grants and managing your money; business planning and cashflow forecasting; finding and keeping customers.

Free startup guide

Start Your Own Business in Bath

Download the 2024 edition of our Free Start Your Own Business guide

An interactive step-by-step guide which also includes all of the most important subjects covered in an easy-to-read way with links to useful online articles and relevant contacts.

The idea of starting your own business can be incredibly exciting and who can blame you for being tempted?

However, the sad truth is that far too many new enterprises fail in the early stages. Our aim is to make sure that you don’t become one of them.

This guide explains the key start-up subjects in simple English.

There is also plenty of help available in the area and much of it is free - please do make the most of it.

Read more about what our Free guide contains and how you can download it.
Starting a business in Bath

Key Contacts in Bath

'You don't know what you don't know' is a phrase that is so applicable to starting a new business.

Bath is a great place for start-ups but your chances of success are dramatically improved if you make the most of the support that is available locally. Click on logos to visit their websites.

Advice

SETsquared Bath
SETsquared is the enterprise collaboration between the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey. The network collectively supports the growth and success of new businesses through providing world-leading incubation support services, enterprise activities and access to investment networks. We have helped over 1,000 start-ups raise more than £1bn of investment. At the SETsquared University of Bath Innovation Centre we actively support entrepreneurs, start-up and scale-up companies across a range of high tech and high growth sectors including sustainable technologies, digital platforms and advanced engineering.
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Advice

Bath and North East Somerset Council
The role of the Economic Development Service for Bath and North East Somerset Council is to actively support local business and jobs growth across Bath and North East Somerset. Whether you’re a start-up business looking for motivation and advice, or a trading business looking to grow, you’ll find a range of business support services available to help. B&NES covers an area stretching from the outskirts of Bristol, south into the Mendip Hills.The city of Bath is the largest business location in the district, but we also cover Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Saltford and the Chew Valley. Economic Development Service Bath & North East Somerset Council, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JG Email: economic_development@bathnes.gov.uk
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Advice

West of England Growth Hub
The West of England Combined Authoritys dedicated business support service, the West of England Growth Hub, provides small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) with tailored one-to-one advice and access to finance, support programmes and expert guidance. We combine all national and local business support in one place and bring together the best public and private sector partners and suppliers so its easy for you to find what you need. And our friendly team of dedicated Enterprise Advisors are on standby to answer your queries and facilitate your needs.We offer the same level of free, impartial support to businesses from all sectors. No matter what stage your business is at, or how small, well help you achieve your ambitions with tailored advice and guidance.
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Networking

Somer Valley Chamber of Commerce
We’re a dynamic group of local businesses and retailers networking together to promote commerce. If you would like to know more about us, this website will provide you with information about our group – otherwise feel free to contact us and perhaps arrange to come along to one of our meetings. The Town Hall, The Island, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2HQ
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Design

Aardvark Creative
Based in Bristol, Aardvark Creative are top quality graphic designers and website designers who offer services both in Bristol and around the UK. Now, like all creative consultancies, we
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Networking

Somerset Chamber of Commerce
Somerset Chamber provides a range of opportunities designed to help you promote and develop your business to other members. TEstablished in 1994, the Somerset Chamber works hard to support local businesses and specifically our 500 strong network of member businesses covering all industry sectors from sole-traders to multi-national corporations. Combined with local Town Chambers, the Somerset Chamber represent over 2000 businesses across Somerset. Address: Equity House, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Blackbrook Business Park, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2PX
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Advice

Bath Unlimited
ou may be surprised to find that Bath and North East Somerset is home to some amazing businesses, often global leaders in their field. What glues them together? We think it’s their unlimited capacity for imagination, ambition to grow and developing their talent for the future. Check out some of the top companies, sectors and stories in Bath and what makes them unlimited...
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HR

Colliver Consulting Ltd
I specialise in helping small UK businesses work on organisational culture and employee engagement to improve revenue and profitability.
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Advice

Cool Ventures Limited
Cool Ventures deliver start-up advice and guidance to new businesses of all sizes, including High Growth and lifestyle businesses. We also provide coaching and mentoring services and can continue to provide support once the business has launched. We also work with a range of partner organisations to ensure the highest standard of service.
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Networking

Bath Business Women's Association
The Bath Business Women's Association is a not-for-profit organisation run by a volunteer committee of business women. Membership is free and the benefits of belonging to BBWA include monthly networking events, a monthly newsletter and the chance to exchange ideas and information with other business-women. BBWA was established in 1996 to provide a friendly, supportive forum for like-minded women to network and share business experience.
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Advice

Invest in Bath
The Invest in Bath service has been established as the Bath & North East Somerset Council's main point of contact for co-ordinating support services to local businesses in light of the COVID-19 public health situation. We will share specific information about targeted business support and financial assistance at it is made available to us as and when schemes are announced. The Bath & North East Somerset area is quite simply a great place to do business. Connected, collaborative, and inventive, you'll find that there is a raft of support here to help make your business a success. Whatever the stage or size of your business, these pages give you a taster of the support available, from fantastic sector-based networks to free and subsidised business advice sessions. You can also visit bathunlimited.org to visit our partnered campaign of the top companies, sectors and stories in Bath & North East Somerset. Email: info@investinbath.co.uk We're based at Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG
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Web design

SpiderSpider website design
SpiderSpider can design a web site for you to compliment your existing business, or to accompany the start up of your new enterprise. All of our sites are bespoke. A good website is more than just pretty pictures and corporate text just like all the others. We dont just put your pictures and text into a template we built for somebody else. We wont blind you with jargon or charge you too much ....
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Online Marketing

Enterprise Online Marketing Solutions
In todays connected world Digital Marketing and the World Wide Web forms an essential part of business marketing. You need to be easy to find in all the places that your existing and potential customers are likely to visit and make sure that you are professionally representing your business. You want more sales, more leads, phone calls and enquiries, more newsletter subscriptions andor more downloads! To achieve these ambitions, you need an effective website, effective Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to make sure that you appear in Google, Bing and Yahoo search results as well as an active presence on all the Social Media sites that your clients are likely to be using Using a range of affordable and effective Digital Marketing I can ensure that your business is easy to find by your customers.
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Networking

The Lonely Middle Club - From Startup Hive
Starting a business is exciting, and succeeding is rewarding, but what about the bit between? You know, that bit that’s full of self-doubt, endless repetition and feelings of being out of your comfort zone? We call it ‘The Lonely Middle’ and it’s one of the hardest parts of creating a successful business. We know, we’ve been there. So, we created The Lonely Middle Club to help you through it. Each month you get exclusive content to help give you the knowledge and inspiration to succeed. Plus, you get access to a private members-only Facebook group where you can get advice and network with small business owners who are going through similar challenges to you. If you want even more, you can download our 51 worksheets, guides, and journals all designed to do one thing, and one thing only… help you get through ‘The Lonely Middle’ and achieve your business goals. Visit our website today to join the club and benefit from our members price lock and full no questions asked money-back guarantee.
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Web design

It'seeze Web Design Bristol
Small and friendly web design company, we have been creating websites for local businesses in Bristol and the South West for the last ten years. As well as affordable, professional sites, we also offer ongoing help and support and an easy to use content management system (CMS) to edit your website - or we can do it for you! To find out more, please contact Suzi Perry on 07837 003937 or by email: suzy.perry@itseeze.com
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Advice

Community Council for Somerset
The Community Council for Somerset is a charity and company limited by guarantee. We offer support and advice for individuals and groups wishing to set up a small business or social or community enterprise. We offer governance and legal structure advice, help with investment options and grant funding, business and financial planning and networking and promotion opportunities.
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Advice

North Somerset Enterprise Agency
Since 1987 the North Somerset Enterprise Agency has actively supported thousands of local businesses by offering them free advice, information and training services. We offer a wide range of support for those who are thinking about working for themselves and for those already running their own small or medium sized company. Accredited business advisors are available to provide one to one advice sessions on an ongoing basis both from our premises based on Oldmixon Crescent or at your own premises if you prefer. Our business information officers can provide you with up to date details of legislation affecting your business, events and training opportunities and have a wealth of local contacts to help you. We are also an access point for the government business support service Business Link. Contact us for further details on this service.
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Insurance

Crest Insurance Consultants Ltd
Independent Insurance Intermediary offering SMEs with business combined insurance packages, liability, professional indemnity, property, motor, household etc
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Start-up articles

100's of free startup articles

We have created a collection of 100s of startup articles to help anyone with whatever stage they are on with their business journey. Hundreds of thousands of people have gone before you and we can learn from what they got right and avoid the things that have been proved not to work so well.

You can see the full list of 'articles' at: How to start a business