Hints and tips
- You should not hesitate to ask your business adviser, in an informal way, about their qualifications and background. The adviser should feel comfortable about disclosing this type of information.
- It is important not to allow an adviser to undermine your opinions. They can only offer advice and will not have all the answers.
- Different agencies will be able to offer different levels of advice. It may be useful for you to contact a number of organisations before committing to an adviser.
- An accountant should be recruited during the planning phase of your business. Receiving advice from the start can prevent problems in the future.
- It is important to shop around to find the accountancy firm best suited to your business' needs.
- Before choosing an accountant, you should find out the basis on which fees are calculated. You should not be afraid to question and negotiate fees.
- The level of services required must be agreed with the accountant. If this is not clearly specified, they may end up doing more or less work than they expected.
- A directory of legal firms and individual solicitors that are affiliated to the Law Society can be found on the website www.solicitors-online.com and can be searched by name, area and specialisation. The printed version, entitled The Law Society's Directory of Barristers and Solicitors, should be available through your local library.
- The Law Society also operates a scheme called Lawyers For Your Business (LFYB), a network of 1,400 independent legal firms that specialise in commercial legal problems.
- It is advisable to talk with other businesses in the industry to find out about associations and professional bodies that have been particularly useful to them.
- Anyone looking at options for starting their own business can receive invaluable information about particular business ideas from trade associations by contacting them by phone, post or e-mail.
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