Sources of Business Advice

Four examples of where advice can be sought:

Business Gateway
This is a central source of advice and information on a range of general business issues for both start up and existing businesses. The site helps to signpost support, provides the latest information on regulation and tax and is an access point for other public sector services that might be needed now or in the future.
The target markets for the Business Gateway service are:
• People in Scotland who are seriously thinking about establishing a new business and are likely to take action
• Existing businesses with potential for development and growth

This source will provides a good initial one-stop-shop for information for his business, specifically:
• finance and grants
• tax, payroll and company information
• workplace health and safety
• environment and efficiency
• premises and property
• IT and e-commerce
• sales and marketing

It will also provide information on where/what organisations he needs to engage with further for more tailored support.

Companies House
This source provides information on legal requirements for a business. The main functions of Companies House are to:
• Incorporate and dissolve limited companies
• Examine and store company information delivered under the Companies Act and related legislation
• Make this information available to the public

They also promote Companies House’s services and advise businesses on how to meet their obligations under the Companies Act.

Depending on what type of business organisation you choose to set-up, this information source will help ensure that you comply with your legal obligations when establishing your business and if required, provides information on how to register your business as a legal entity. It gives specific guidance on forming a Limited Company and a Limited Liability Partnership.

HMRC
This source provides information on taxation. In particular, information is given on topics such as:
• new business registration
• filing a company tax return
• corporation tax
• VAT
• starting up in business
• import and export
• excise duty and other related taxes
• capital gains tax

This information source will help Jim understand which types of tax he will be required to pay when his business has been established and what he needs to do to ensure that he is tax compliant.

The Federation of Small Businesses
This source promotes and protects the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. To achieve this, it will:
• Publicise the benefits of self-employed and business ownership
• Identify the continuously changing needs of members
• Deliver a wide range of high quality, good value business services to members of the FSB

This information source can be used to access legal advice online and members can access a range of services and benefits, such as:
• loans and finance
• business banking
• independent financial services
• awareness raising events on business topics
• insurance services
• business database that can be used for marketing.