HSBC Business Account Referral Scheme

If you are already a business account holder at HSBC, £50 could be yours if you Recommend HSBC Business Banking to a friend. Just walk into your local HSBC commercial banking branch for a referral card. More information can be found on their website:

HSBC Bank plc
HSBC Business Direct Team by phone: 0800 633 5610

Christine speaks to Keira at Mamascarf - very inspiring!

What inspired your business idea for Mamascarf?

I came up with the idea for Mamascarf when breastfeeding my (then) baby, Sam. I was self conscious about feeding in public and always trying to cover up but finding that nothing worked - blankets overheated him, he would pull off scarves and muslins and they would block my view of him. Added to this I would get arm and back ache without my support cushions. When I realised there was a gap in the market I decided to do something about it.

What does your company do?

My company creates and sells Mamascarf breastfeeding scarves online and through independent retailers.

What is your top tips in starting your own company?

My top tip would be to test the market when setting up a new business, so you know whether it's going to work or not without ploughing too much money into it. When I first launched Mamascarf, I had no idea whether it was going to be a success. So I had an initial small order made up to see how it went and said to myself if I lost that money it wouldn't be the end of the world and at least I had given it a go. Luckily it worked!

What are your plans for 2009?

My plans for 2009 are to build the distribution of Mamascarf by gaining new stocklists.

What is a fun fact about yourself?

Fact - My son was born on my first wedding anniversary.

Christine speaks with Keira at Mamascarf

Start Your Business - Free Office Space Offered to Start-Ups

Following Jun 1st featured article, many of you emailed me to ask for more tips on how to keep cost down for start-up businesses and whether leasing an office is a smart way to spend your start-up capital.

Starting your business does not always necessarily mean dishing out a lot of cash. Always do your research and the key is to get organised before your target launch date!

The following alternatives can save you money:

Virtual PA
There are companies (including Zentime) that will do all the admin. work related to your business without you having to hire full time staff. Virtual PA's is an increasingly popular trend especially in difficult times as business owners see the benefit of reducing head count but still efficiently getting the paperwork done - keeping their books current and in order. Virtual PA's can work from home, at your office for one day a week or whenever required instead of being on your payroll 5 days a week. This is a cost effective way for start-ups to complete tasks such as invoicing, book keeping, e-marketing newsletters and diary management, but keep the cost down. You can be a home-based business and have your work done for you by a virtual PA remotely.

Virtual Business Address
There are also companies that you can pay to use their office space and meeting rooms for important client meetings. A monthly fee of around £30 can give you access to professional boardrooms for client meetings, telephone answering or messaging service and most offer same day mail forwarding services at an additional cost. This frees up time, allowing you to focus on marketing your business and being on the road instead of monitoring the phones. Most of these companies also offer prestigious postal codes to enhance the image of your start up business.

Regus Workspace
Did you know that Regus provides a scheme offering free access to millions of pounds worth of office spaces to start-up businesses? I read this and thought what fantastic news! We need more companies like this.

Workspace solutions provider Regus has formulated a campaign to support UK entrepreneurs by offering free use of its business centres. Business mentoring sessions will be offered at its facilities to individuals seeking start up advice. Under the scheme, Regus is providing unlimited use of its business lounges and cafes in over 1,000 locations worldwide. Entrepreneurs can choose to have free use of day offices and meeting rooms or free office space for three months. Regus hopes that the idea will allow up to 50,000 start up firms to get established. Look at Regus Workspace

Get Organised! Part I

When I had the idea of launching my own lifestyle management & concierge business, I didn't know where to start. There were so many things to check off the list and it can sometimes be overwhelming.

Starting Up does not have to be a mad panic. All you need is some simple steps to help you get organised!

Business Idea - clearly outline what issues/ problems your idea can solve for your potential customers. What challenges does it face? Include this in your business plan.

Forming a business name or structure - speak to an accountant and a lawyer to discuss what business structure best suits you. Do you intend to trade under multiple business names and have them all belong to a Holding Company? Find out what your options are and make a sound, well thought-through decision.

Setting up your office - Consider keeping cost down by having a home based business. If the nature of your business requires meeting clients at an office, there are many Virtual Offices you can pay to use their offices if you pre-book. This will keep your overhead cost down whilst still meeting clients in a professional office environment when needed. Virtual PA companies including Zentime business support can help with general admin. Explore and understand the different packages available and having a virtual PA can make your life a lot easier especially for start-up businesses.

To be continued...