Whatever your reasons for starting your own business, you will soon find that it takes more than a
great idea and loads of enthusiasm to really make a go of it. What you will need is good planning
plus protection, help and support from business professionals and that's where Aska-Professional
can help. Ask one of our experts a question for free and get a response within 60 minutes.
1 Your Business Plan
This outlines what your business will do, how it will operate, plus some important projections regarding how much profit you can make and how long the process will take. Don't be tempted to pluck your figures out of thin air; financial providers, investors and potential business partners will see straight through you and could cause you extreme embarrassment when you cannot substantiate your figures. By speaking to one of our Accountants you can document viable projections and have the information needed to corroborate them.
2 Your Legal Structure
Do you want to be a sole trader? In a partnership? A limited company? Making sure you set your business up within the correct legal structure is important when considering your long term goals and how much personal risk you are willing to take for your business. Our Solicitors can advise you on business structure and help you with all the documentation required, most of which you can download for free straight from our website when you become a subscriber. Good huh?
3 Intellectual Property
Got a ground-breaking product or service to introduce to the world? If you need patents, copyright or trademarks to protect your idea, we can help. Paperwork surrounding intellectual property can be complex and frustrating and cutting corners could place your entire business in jeopardy. Our Solicitors are here to help you with advice on all matters concerning protecting your idea.
4 Your Accountant
In the early stages when you are just starting out, you would be forgiven for thinking that you don't need the formal services of an Accountant, but this could be a mistake. Help with projections, cashflow and advising on ways to become tax efficient are just a few ways that having an Accountant can be extremely beneficial during the early stages of your business. Aska Professional can answer any accounting query and if you need the ongoing services of an Accountant, we can help put you in touch with great professionals in your local area.
5 Your Financing
If you need to obtain additional finance for your business it is important to get the best advice. Accepting a loan or any type of investment carries legal implications and it is vital to know what you have agreed to. So whether it's help from a Solicitor with all of the legal documents pertaining to your investors and shareholders, or a question to an Accountant regarding cashflow and keeping up with repayments, Aska Professional are here to guide you.
6 Regulatory Requirements
Who governs your industry? It is important that you are aware of the regulations, licences and permits that could be required for your business to carry out its activities. You've likely already researched these, but making sure you get some advice can help you to ensure there are no hold ups or errors on your application.
7 Commercial Property
If you require premises for your business, chances are you'll need some guidance with a lease or with purchasing commercial property. Our Solicitors can answer your questions and put you in contact with conveyancers in your area.
8 Health and Safety
Whether you operate out of a small office or are a large manufacturer you will need to adhere to health and safety regulations. Depending on your industry, health and safety concerns may form a major part of your business. If this is the case, then advance professional help is a must. With your Aska Professional subscription you have HR Experts and Solicitor advice available whenever you need it.
9 Employment Issues
Aska Professional can help with all aspects of employment. From recruitment, to contracts and policies, dealing with HMRC and payroll and advising with disputes, resolution and tribunals, our HR Experts and employment Solicitors can provide you with the professional advice you will need. As an employer you will be obliged to adhere to certain employment regulations and procedures. Aska Professional can help you ensure you have everything covered.
10 Tax Advice
Good advice concerning your tax affairs could save your business lots of money. Although as a new business you may not need to make tax payments straight away, making tax decisions early is important to your future cashflow. Careful consideration and getting your tax scheme right from the start could save money and a lot of hassle further down the line. Our Accountants can assist you in becoming tax efficient and tax prepared.