Starting A New Business In London: Your First Steps

Starting a new business in London can be both exciting and challenging. With a vibrant economy and a diverse range of industries, London is a great place to start a new company. However, the competitive nature of the city can also make it a daunting task for entrepreneurs and new business owners. 

If you’re going to make a success of your business in London, it is important to put in the time to research, planning, and investing in learning. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what new business owners in London need to do as they are taking their first steps. 

Conduct market research

Before starting a new business, it’s essential to conduct market research to identify the needs and demands of your target market. This will help you understand the competition and identify opportunities for growth.

“Market research can help you formulate a marketing plan, including what sources to advertise to capture the attention of your target audience,” says George Kuhn, writing for Drive Research. “Maybe you are developing your website and want to test your homepage layout. Perhaps you are looking at running social media ads. Or maybe you are looking to run an ad in a publication.”

Develop a business plan

A business plan is a roadmap for your business, outlining your goals, strategies, and financial projections. It’s essential to have a solid business plan in place before starting a new business. Some new business owners worry that putting down a plan leaves you too rigid to operate in a market that is as fluid as London – but this needn’t be the case.

Yes, a business plan is a vital way to keep your company on track, but it can leave room for deviation and experimentation. 

It has been estimated that nearly two-thirds of SMEs don’t have any kind of business plan – this means there is still a huge opportunity to get a competitive edge over companies similar to yours simply by working a game plan.  

Utilise business coaching

A business coach can provide guidance and support as you navigate the challenges of both starting a new business and scaling up. They can help you identify and overcome obstacles, set goals, and develop strategies for growth.

“A new business coach will bring process, experience and expertise to business owners,” explains Dominic Monkhouse of Monkhouse & Company. “Excellent business coaching gets business leaders to their goals faster. A great business coach will take any client business through three key areas; vision, strategy and execution. They will be able to evidence the tools and their client’s success with these three pillars of business growth.”

Some of the key benefits of using business coaching for new businesses include:

• Identifying strengths and weaknesses – a coach can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and provide guidance on how to capitalise on them.
• Unbiased opinion – they can provide an outside perspective on your business and help you find solutions to problems that you may not have considered.
• Staying focused – coaching can help you stay on track and motivated, especially during the challenging early stages of a business.
• Previous experience – business coaches have seen it all before and understand how to respond to challenges and successes. They can also help you identify opportunities for improvement and provide guidance on how to take advantage of them.

Secure funding

Starting a new business can be costly. Indeed, it can come with unexpected expenses that simply have to be paid. As such it’s important to secure funding in order to cover expenses and support growth. No matter what stage you are at there is a diverse range of options to consider options such as crowdfunding, angel investors, or business loans.

“Traditional bank loans and overdrafts are still a popular source of funding for many businesses and start-ups,” says Jonathan Amponsah, writing for Startup Donut. “Used properly, they provide a simple and effective way of financing the growth of your business.” However, there are now actually a huge range of possibilities.

Amponsah continues: “Angel investors are wealthy individuals who provide funding in exchange for a share in your business. Some investors work in groups, whilst others work on their own. Business angel investment is not suitable for businesses who want to retain 100% control of their business.

Network 

London is a city with a diverse range of industries, and networking can help you connect with potential customers, suppliers, and partners. Attend events and join local business groups to expand your network.

The UK’s capital is home to a wide range of networking events, including business conferences, trade shows, and networking groups. It can be extremely effective to attend these events in person in order to connect with other business owners, entrepreneurs, and industry experts.

You could also look for local business groups in your area, such as chambers of commerce or business associations. These groups can provide a great opportunity to connect with other business owners and entrepreneurs in your industry.

Starting a new business in London can be challenging, but with the right approach, it can also be incredibly rewarding. By conducting market research, developing a business plan, securing funding, networking and utilising business coaching, entrepreneurs and new business owners can increase their chances of success in the competitive London market.