New Start Up Funding/Grants

Mrs_Murray_PLC

When I started up I wasn't able to get grants and probably not even a loan either. I worked full time and used a bit of my salary each month to buy what I needed, new PC, office equipment, web hosting, web addresses.

I then worked full time whilst setting up my business so I could get a mortgage. It was very hard work and I had a long commute, which made things even harder. But you know what, I don't regret it for a second. Working whilst I set up meant I could get all my SEO, website and general network marketing started whilst not sacrificing income.

The hard work is worth it and you appreciate it so much more when you've done it all yourself. If you won't take a loan, won't provide the start up funds yourself and only want to do it if someone else will pay for it with a grant then you can't be as entrepreneurial as you might think. Entrepreneurs take risks, put their money where their mouth is and generally make it work no matter what. See if you can do it yourself - you'll know what I mean ;-)

gosnis

Visit or call your local Business Link for an appointment to see an adviser.
If any funding is available for your area/location/idea, then they will know and also how to qualify to get it.
Hope this helps.

Pachira

It might help if you could give us a bit more info about what you need the £5k for?

Perhaps there are otherways to finance the business that you may not have considered? Eg buying stock on credit, or negotiating a rent free period. You mention e-marketing for example, which can be done with minimal expenditure (eg with a conserted effort to improve company SEO, making the most of twitter and facebook and using google ad-words).