There are plenty of steps to setting up a business in Essex from the ground up, which is why you’re going to need all the advice you can get! Take a look…

Setting up a business from scratch is far from simple – as you may already know if this is your intention. Whether you plan to work with a partner, or you’re going to go at it alone, it’s essential that you have a clear plan of action that ensures you get off to the best possible start.

With Essex being one of the most popular locations in the UK for new businesses, now is as good a time as any to get your company off the ground. But, that won’t always be as straightforward as you’d like.

In this post, we’ve put together a list of seven top tips you should keep in mind when it comes to setting up a business in Essex – ranging from getting advice on commercial law through to choosing the right location in the county. Be sure to read on below to find out more…

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7 Top Tips for Getting Your Essex Business Off the Ground

1. Get Advice from a Local Commercial Law Solicitor in Essex

If you want to set up a new business and, most importantly, you want to make the business a success, you’ll want to speak to a commercial law solicitor. They can work alongside you, giving you all the advice you need to deal with your legal obligations, how to deal with contracts, and the process of picking a central location to host your business.

It’s also advisable that, if you want to set up your business in Essex, you speak to a commercial law solicitor who is local to the area. They’ll be able to give you tailored advice that is specific to the Essex area and will be well suited to handle every minor detail, no matter how insignificant it may initially appear.

2. Speak to Essex Council for Support

You aren’t necessarily going to be on your own if you plan on setting up a brand-new business in Essex. You can speak to Essex Council and they can lend their support, no matter how big or small your business will be.

For example, Essex Council can provide a business support service in partnership with ‘Let’s Do Business Group’, which can give your Essex business 12 hours of fully funded advice. This might include advice on business and marketing, building local supply chains, or recruiting and training a high-quality workforce.

3. Pick the Right Location

Where in Essex do you want your business to operate from? It’s a vital question that you’ll need to answer as soon as possible before you proceed with setting up your operations.

When picking a location for your business, there will be a number of different factors that you’ll need to consider, such as:

• What transport links are nearby
• Any local amenities
• Whether there are any parking options
• The average price of commercial rent in the area
• Whether any competitor businesses operate in the area
• Whether the local demographic suit your target market

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4. Make Sure You Keep Remote Working in Mind

On a similar note, when deciding where you want to work from and what type of central building you want for your business in Essex, you also need to consider how remote working will factor into your operations.

The Covid-19 pandemic has irreversibly changed many people’s attitudes to remote working. This means it is likely to be something you need to factor into your decision-making process. For example, you may need to consider investing in a smaller office building if you think a large portion of your employees will be working from the comfort of their home.

5. Consider Investing in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership

Knowledge transfer partnerships are an opportunity for businesses and academic bodies to share their expertise with one another. They usually involve one or more graduates working for a company for between one and three years, drawing on their academic knowledge to help a business with various different projects. They can be a great way of sourcing talented individuals to join your business during its infancy.

In Essex, Anglia Ruskin University, The University of Essex, and Writtle College are all signed up to the partnership in the Essex area, so it’s certainly worth taking a look at.

6. Start on a Local Scale

When starting a business, you may have grand plans to develop it into a nation-wide enterprise – or even an international endeavour. However, unless you’re very experienced and know exactly what you’re doing, your best bet is to keep your operations on a local scale and concentrated to the Essex area.

Given that Essex is so close to London, there are plenty of opportunities for business expansion when the time is right. But, it’s important to make sure that you establish yourself on a smaller scale before you consider taking on the capital.

7. Invest in Business Insurance

Things don’t always go as you intend in business. That’s why you should invest in business insurance to protect you against the everyday risks that come with running your business in Essex.

Business insurance can cover you against things like professional mistakes, accidents, theft, damage, and legal fees. This means you can have peace of mind that everything will be taken care of if something were to go wrong.

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Are You Planning to Start a Business in Essex?

So, it’s all pretty straightforward, right? Perhaps not, but these tips should give you a better idea of how you can take the first steps into establishing your new business in Essex. It won’t be easy, but nothing good in life ever is!

Have you ever set up your own business in the past? Have any more tips you think would be important to share? Feel free to leave them in the comments below!

Please be advised that this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a trained business or financial professional. Be sure to consult a business or financial professional if you’re seeking medical advice about starting up a business. We are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.