Julian on the rudiments of starting a business...
"You need to have done the maths and sourced out your markets. Ideally a business buyer would be already selling things.
"In a perfect world you should already be testing this business out while working for another company. This sounds like moonlighting but there are ways to do it as long as you continue to give good value to your existing customers.
"Many have quickly decided on their business idea, so it is our job to help them make a lot more money and be more competitive."
On how Business Support Finder can help...
"There are lots of things we can do to help with the financial aspects. We can make sure that you are properly capitalised as one of the key problems is running out of cash.
"They go ‘oh great, I need this, I need that.' They’re spending, spending, spending, but where is the money coming in?"
It is key to work out an entrepreneur's cash situation and make sure they are solvent and will remain solvent
"Most people have a great idea. So they’ll come along and say 'I’ve got Afro-Caribbean sauces that I want to sell.' But they need customers.
"A lot of businesses need more sales. We’re in the internet marketing business where we specialise in finding customers, so we know all about that.
"My advice is outsource it. Get people to find customers for you cheaply and have a marketing mix, so you’ll need some marketing help to find out the unique value of your business.
"Customers need to be informed why they should use you. Customers are looking but they don’t know you’re the one they’re looking for.
"You need to work constantly each year to deliver more value to your customers. If you employ me as a business consultant and you’re paying me £300 a month next year you’re going to want more value for that £300, not less."
On working in partnership...
"The trick is not to do it on your own but to partner with other people to enter into markets together. So I offer consultancy services where we partner with video production companies and put on free seminars to help business owners understand how they can better develop their markets.
"Or we can partner with banks. The bank can provide a particular package or give discount invoicing to help with the finances and we can host a seminar together. I can offer my services so we’re developing together and sharing the cost because we’re sharing the customers."
