setting up a chair cover hire company? what do i need to do?

fly_dragon_fly

i have realised that this s something my local area is lacking and i feel that this is some thing i can offer.

how would i start the ball rolling, i would be going into business with my mother we both have a lot of customer service and retail skills but not business skills.

any advise would be brillant.

paulwf

The best first step is to call Business Link or national equivalent and book on their courses for starting up which are totally free.

From this develop your business plan (there are plenty of examples online). This should include start up costs, a 5 year financial plan and things such as market research. You'll need to spend quite a lot of time making sure you have covered every aspect of the viability of your business.

What is your main market going to be? Weddings? If so identify the current suppliers and how you can be better than them. Your cash flow will be seasonal if it depends on weddings and you may have long lead times for bookings.

Have you thought about diversifying into hiring other wedding related items? Your business sounds like it has a limited market and is a niche product, why limit yourself so much?

borders_dude

fly_dragon_fly wrote: »

i have realised that this s something my local area is lacking and i feel that this is some thing i can offer.

how would i start the ball rolling, i would be going into business with my mother we both have a lot of customer service and retail skills but not business skills.

any advise would be brillant.

If you are in England, contact business link.

If you are in Scotland, contact business gateway.

Horace

paulwf wrote: »

What is your main market going to be? Weddings? If so identify the current suppliers and how you can be better than them. Your cash flow will be seasonal if it depends on weddings and you may have long lead times for bookings.

Have you thought about diversifying into hiring other wedding related items? Your business sounds like it has a limited market and is a niche product, why limit yourself so much?

A chair cover business doesnt have a limited market as chair covers are used for all types of events and not just weddings..eg posh dinners in hotels etc Good venue dressers are always needed. In the wedding industry niche is sometimes good.

Fly if you wanted to do balloons too - then you can go on a proper training course. Amanda Hill of Dreams2Go is one of the best people in the country and she runs training courses all over the UK. She will be at the British Party & Costume event which is being held at Stoneleigh Park, Warks on around 21 March.

Good luck Fly but go and see businesslink first to learn how to run a business and then when you set up contact the HMRC.