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How to Start a Business in Glasgow

Free start-up resources and useful local contacts.

Improve your chances of success!

How to Start a Business in Glasgow

Starting a business in Glasgow

If you are thinking about starting a business in Glasgow or would like to grow your existing business, we would love to help you.

Start Your Own Business in Glasgow contains resources and the information that will help give your venture the best chance of success. It also highlights organisations who offer friendly advice and the services that you are likely to need as a new startup or local business owner.

Grants | Networking groups | Business advice | Mentoring | Co-working spaces

Starting a business in Glasgow

Free Startup Resources

Getting it right from the start can help to prevent problems later.

To help you with this we have created a vast selection of resources and they are all completely free!

Starting a Business in in Glasgow

Business advice and support

"Two heads are better than one."

Whether you have been trading for some time, are new to the market or are just thinking about starting a business of your own, it has been proven that your chances of success are considerably improved if you seek support from an experienced business advisor or mentor. You can find out more about both options at Business Advice in Glasgow and Business Mentors in Glasgow.

Funding and grants

Running out of money is one the most common reasons why businesses fail. This risk of this happening to can be avoided (or minimised) by careful planning and cashflow forecasting. If you need additional funds to start or keep your business going, you can learn more about your options and download our free funding factsheet at: Glasgow Business Grants and Business Funding

Business networking

Does the idea of business networking fill you with delight or dread? Either way, it can be beneficial for both your business and you as an entrepreneur. See Business Networking in Glasgow for details of local groups and our free Networking Factsheet.

Business premises

Working from home is appealing to many new business owners but not practical for many others. Even if you are running a business by yourself, you might like to consider the option of 'hot desking' or co-working in one of the many flexi-workspaces that have emerged in recent years. Find out more at: Glasgow Co-Working and Business Premises.

Finding new customers

Paying customers are the lifeblood of any business. Knowing how to find, satisfy and retain them is vitally important and best achieved with the help of experts in the field.

Accountancy, tax and law

While starting a new business is very exciting, this should not disguide the fact that there are some very important legal responsibilities that must be considered. See: Bookkeeping, Accountancy, Financial Planning and Law

FREE startup workshops

If you are thinking about starting a business, our FREE three-hour ONLINE workshop is definitely for you!

Open to everyone, our sole aim is to increase your chances of success. We do that by explaining:

The reality of running a business; the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them; which legal status is likely to be most suitable; funding, grants and managing your money; business planning and cashflow forecasting; finding and keeping customers.

Free startup guide

Start Your Own Business in Glasgow

Download the 2024 edition of our Free Start Your Own Business guide

An interactive step-by-step guide which also includes all of the most important subjects covered in an easy-to-read way with links to useful online articles and relevant contacts.

The idea of starting your own business can be incredibly exciting and who can blame you for being tempted?

However, the sad truth is that far too many new enterprises fail in the early stages. Our aim is to make sure that you don’t become one of them.

This guide explains the key start-up subjects in simple English.

There is also plenty of help available in the area and much of it is free - please do make the most of it.

Read more about what our Free guide contains and how you can download it.
Starting a business in Glasgow

Key Contacts in Glasgow

'You don't know what you don't know' is a phrase that is so applicable to starting a new business.

Glasgow is a great place for start-ups but your chances of success are dramatically improved if you make the most of the support that is available locally. Click on logos to visit their websites.

Web design

Super Simple Websites
Has web design left you scratching your head?Unsure where to start? Website DIY left you wanting to cry? Did your best friend's nephew who's a "wizz with computers" offer to do it, but now isn't returning your calls? Or maybe you already have a website, but don't have a clue what the login is, and there's no response to your emails? Don't worry, we've heard (and solved!) all these web design problems before. We offer fixed fee web design packages that are perfect for new, small, and growing businesses. They include everything you need to get online, and our clear pricing means you don't pay a penny for anything you don't need. We even offer a free homepage draft before we get started, so you can be sure you're going to love your new website.Get in touch today, we would be delighted to have a coffee and a chat.
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Advice

Find Business Support in Scotland
We're here to help you find the business support you need. We have gathered together information and support for all company sizes and sectors across Scotland. What is FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot? This service was established to help Scottish businesses find the public sector support they need. Information is available for businesses of all sizes – from those thinking about starting a business to large, well established companies. This website is supported by an enquiries and referral service. You can contact us by submitting an enquiry or calling 0300 303 0660. Our lines are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Landline calls cost up to 10 pence per minute, mobile costs can vary from 3 pence per minute to 40 pence per minute depending on your operating provider (source: Gov.uk). Why was this website created? This site intends to help Scottish businesses find the right information, advice and support at the right time. We will continue to add information and develop FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot and the referral service. We aim to provide all businesses with quick and easy access to all business support services provided by public sector organisations in Scotland. Who runs FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot? This is a partnership service. It started as a collaboration between Business Gateway, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland. We will eventually include all organisations who receive public funding in Scotland. We currently include services from the following partners.
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Advice

The essential guide to starting a business in Glasgow
Glasgow has a lot to offer start-up business owners and it's becoming an increasingly popular area to live in, too. Small Business have written an article to explain why you should consider it. Small Business provide advice on how to start your own business, with guides to help you plan, develop and finance a start-up company, plus recommendations on registering the business, its legal structure and finding financial backing for growth. Whether you are just beginning or have already taken the first steps and want to keep everything on track, our expert articles will give you the knowledge to help lead you to success, whilst maintaining a good work-life balance.
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Advice

The National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland is one of a number of organisations that are here to help you with your business. We can: Guide you through the COBRA resource. COBRA stands for Complete Business Reference Advisor, and it is an excellent way to find out the basics about running a business. You can even use this resource at home if you register with us, which is free to do and just takes a few minutes Introduce you to our other business information resources and explain what each one can offer, from company data and market size, to market research and trends analysis Guide you towards a very large collection of books and articles all about running a business, marketing and management, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Get in touch by emailing enquiries@nls.uk to find out more.
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Advice

Invest Glasgow
Glasgow is the powerhouse of the Scottish economy – the cultural, sporting and academic heart of Scotland and one of Europe’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities. The city has everything your business needs to succeed: a competitive advantage with multi-sectoral expertise a robust pipeline of talent world-class, cost-effective office space mature investment proposition for corporate and global real estate excellent infrastructure and digital connectivity strong links throughout the UK and Europe Glasgow has one of the largest city economies in the UK and is firmly established as a world-class business destination. Scotland’s largest city and only metropolitan region, it generated £42.9 billion GVA in 2018. Noted for business friendliness, human capital and lifestyle, and connectivity, Glasgow was named top large European city for FDI Strategy (fDi Intelligence 2020/21). Invest Glasgow is Glasgow City Council’s inward investment team. Invest Glasgow offers comprehensive business support and guidance, providing one point of contact to all businesses, property investors and developers seeking to invest. Invest Glasgow Development & Regeneration Services Glasgow City Council 231 George Street Glasgow G1 1RX
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Advice

Glasgow City Council
Glasgow is absolutely committed to fostering an innovative environment that is supportive of SMEs and entrepreneurs from start-up, through growth to sustainable consolidation, supporting local communities and ensuring jobs are created and safeguarded. With a team of dedicated and skilled business advisers, our service can help your business grow regardless of its stage on the business life-cycle and develop in line with your strategic vision and aspirations.
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Advice

Why start your business in the Mitchell Library?
Starting a business is exciting, but the process can be challenging. The Centre has lots of resources to help you get started – from researching your business idea to launch. For an overview of our resources come to our ‘Resources for Business Start-Up’ workshop or contact us to book a 1:1 with our expert staff.
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Networking

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
As the voice of Glasgow business, we are the membership organisation that champions all businesses across all sectors in the city region. Glasgow Chamber of Commerce webinars provide valuable advice and information to members of the Chamber. Help us to showcase your successes via our communications channels including our website, social media and publications. 30 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1EQ
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Advice

Glasgow Business Gateway
Business Gateway is based in Exchange House, close to George Square in the city centre. We're here to provide advice and support to people who want to start a business in Glasgow - and to help existing businesses grow and be more successful. There are many ways we can help you, even if starting up still seems a way off. Our website is a great place to begin: we offer a business plan guide to download when you’re ready, market reports as well as handy online guides and articles, video tutorials and podcasts. Take part in our webinars to hone your start-up skills – from how to handle the legal requirements to getting your market research right. Plus use our Planning to Start tool to guide you through the essential steps of starting up. It takes just 10 minutes to complete and then we can then use the details you give us to create your action plan, complete with links to relevant information and support. We’ll also recommend free webinars to help you hone your skills and may refer you to relevant support from our partners. A business adviser from your local office will also get in touch to see how else we can help at this stage and signpost you to a wide range of other support across Scotland. With our help, you could be in business sooner than you imagined. Exchange House 231 George Street Glasgow G1 1RX 0141 530 4285 Opening hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00
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Funding

Bute Enterprise Finance Fund
Bute Enterprise Finance Fund is a charity funded company which provides loans to businesses and organisations in Bute, Argyll, South and North Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. Finance £10k-£200k is available with flexible repayment terms up to 10yrs. Specific emphasis is placed on businesses that will assist economic regeneration or generate and sustain employment. We can also help borrowers access other types of finance such as government funded start up loans, advise on business plans and support the growth of your business.
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Law

Miller Samuel Hill Brown
Lawyers for Starting a Business Glasgow, Scotland Starting your own business holds strong attractions; being your own boss, flexible hours, successful enterprise, financial gain to name but a few. It also brings with it extra responsibility, long hours and the requirement to comply with a raft of legal and regulatory issues. For legal advice on starting a business in Glasgow please call on 0141 473 6783.
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Advice

Scottish Development International
When setting up a business in Scotland, you need to register as a private limited company or a UK branch of your foreign company. Find the professional advice you need around taxes, legal and insurance requirements in Scotland.
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Advice

Starting a business: first steps
myscot.gov has a section dedicated to starting a business which talks you through the first steps, stage by stage.
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Grants

Funding and Grants for Scottish Businesses
Looking for funding to grow your business or launch a new project? We can help you navigate the funding landscape in Scotland, offer support to help your business find and access the right funding, and, in some cases, offer our own funding.
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Advice

mygov.scot - Starting a Business
Information on business planning, registering a company and starting a new business. Setting up - Find information on setting up a business in Scotland. Tax and registering - Find information about registering your business with HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House. Marketing your business - Information on marketing and sales for your business. Intellectual property - Find out what intellectual property is and how to protect it in the UK and abroad. Further help to start a business - Information on organisations or services that can help you start a business or help your staff learn new skills.
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Design

Creative Clyde
A natural home for media, technology and creatively-minded businesses, Creative Clyde is a flourishing and vibrant riverside community where great ideas and creative energy flows. In 2007, the Scottish Government identified a number of key sectors which offer high-growth potential and the capacity to create economic impact for Scotland. The creative industries is one of these key sectors and the Government placed an emphasis on the digital content and technologies currently coming out of Scotland. To that end, there is a plethora of supportive organisations which provide funding, general business advice and support to businesses working in the creative industries. Find out about funding and general business support available to your business.
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Advice

Business Glasgow
Business Glasgow offers a range of support to businesses across the life-cycle from pre-start pre-revenue through to mature companies that are contributing to the economic wealth of the city. We recognise the challenges faced and will continue to develop a range of support to assist businesses in Glasgow. Glasgow Business Growth Programme For Glasgow City Council’s new Glasgow Business Growth Programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through Scotland’s European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) programmes and will be delivered by the Business Growth team within Economic Development. The aim of the programme is to create a truly connected and collaborative network of specialist support and expertise by bringing together the public, private, education and third sectors to develop and deliver an unrivalled level of support in the UK, one that has the sole objective of growing the city economy in a fair and inclusive way. There is also a range of Business Accelerator Programmes that combine traditional teaching methodologies with guidance and mentorship, meaning businesses can grow at an accelerated rate. Starting a business can be a challenge. Whether it’s writing a business plan, understanding and accessing finance or establishing how to market and sell products or services, our advice and support can help. Through dedicated workshops and the Business Gateway service, our Business Advisers can help. Read our case study on Legacy, a start-up business from Glasgow who with the support of Business Adviser Mark Houston, are on the road to success. Find out more about how we can support you to start a business. Business Glasgow, 231 George Street, Glasgow. G1 1RX.
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Funding

Government-backed start up loans
Government-backed start up loans are available to help people who want to start or grow a business that is less than 24 months old. The UK Government has already helped over 3,700 companies in Scotland with start up loans. The UK Government has already helped businesses in Scotland with more than £30 million in start up loans. Start up loans are a great opportunity for individuals in need of a personal loan for business purposes to fund their new business. In addition to the loan you can also receive free business support and mentoring to help with starting and growing your business.
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Advice

Scotland - Support and Funding
If youre considering doing business with Scotland or youre thinking about expanding your company in a new location, Scottish Development International (SDI) is here to help. SDI is the international arm of Scotlands enterprise agencies. Our network of global offices is staffed by industry experts dedicated to helping you make the most of all the opportunities Scotland has to offer.
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Advice

Business Gateway
Starting a business - you may be planning to start a business or perhaps you’ve already begun. Find advice on the essentials, from writing a business plan to intellectual property on the Business Gateway website. It has a section dedicated to business start-up and this includes the opportunity to download your business plan template and guidance on: starting up a business, business support and advice, forming a company or business, intellectual property, naming a business, buying a business or franchise, Create business plan.
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Advice

Scottish Enterprise - Starting a Business?
Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's national economic development agency and a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government. To deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy, we work with partners in the public and private sectors to find and exploit the best opportunities. We support thousands of companies the length and breadth of Scotland, helping catalyse the changes in our economy that will have a long-term positive impact on Scotland's business competitiveness around the world. In doing so, we're creating significantly more, better jobs, helping people fulfil their potential. Starting a business? It can be both exhilarating and challenging getting your business off the ground. Having the confidence to take that next step is often all that’s needed. Access funding, a free business plan template, and guidance on legal requirements.
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Funding

Delivering for Scotland - Start Up Loans
Delivering for Scotland website has details of the Government backed Start UP Loan scheme as it apples to Scotland.
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Advice

Help for Start-Ups - Business Gateway
If you run a start-up business as an entrepreneur, there is a variety of help for start-ups available, and there may be extra support you can access if you come under certain categories. Much of this help takes the form of mentoring and networking - but you should also be able to access targeted advice, support and even apply for loans and grants. This guide will help explain about the sources of funding that might be available to you and where to get help, advice and training.
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Networking

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in Glasgow. As one of the oldest Chambers of Commerce in the world, the Chamber has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help business succeed and grow Address: 30 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1EQ
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Accountancy

FW Accounting
Its not always totally obvious which route to take when you are starting up on your own. We support Contractors, Sole Traders and Limited Companies and will make sure you choose the option that is best for you. We look after you right through the process of starting a business so that you understand from the outset your responsibilities, the dates you need to submit tax returns, and everything else that is involved.
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Start-up articles

100's of free startup articles

We have created a collection of 100s of startup articles to help anyone with whatever stage they are on with their business journey. Hundreds of thousands of people have gone before you and we can learn from what they got right and avoid the things that have been proved not to work so well.

You can see the full list of 'articles' at: How to start a business