Activities to get you started

Am I the right person?
A very useful online publication from LEDU, the small business agency for Northern Ireland.

Research your ideas
Get hold of the excellent Barclays Business Opportunity Profiles - free factsheets, each giving information on a different business market. The Barclays Business Opportunity Profile Service provides information for a wide range of business types, ranging from potential customers and competition in each market to start-up costs and marketing suggestions. You can order from the website.

Research Express
An excellent set of links to help you start a business or research your market.

Market Research
Find out more about your market.

Real Deal
Website from the recent Channel 4 series for entrepreneurs. It covers assessing your entrepreneurial qualities, "Road Testing" your idea, creating a Business Plan, and finding potential investors and pitching your idea to them.

Online Small Business Workshop
This workshop from the Canada Business Service Centres is a detailed online course designed to provide the necessary tools needed by anyone contemplating starting their own business. The course is broken down into five sessions; starting with a good idea, marketing basics, financing your business, planning fundamentals & basic regulations for getting started.