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Getting started with your business idea

There are lots of good reasons for wanting to work for yourself, like:

• having a great idea or passion that could be turned into profits
• wanting to work from home to fit in better with family commitments
• wanting to take more control of your life and be your own boss

If you get it right, being self-employed can be exciting, rewarding and challenging.

Information and support for new businesses

If you want to become self-employed, there is plenty of free information, advice and practical support available for you. You can get help with topics like:

• how to plan a business
• how to raise finance
• how to make sure you have enough to live on while you get your business off the ground

Support is available for both new and existing businesses, and can help you meet all the legal and financial requirements of being self-employed.

Business Link, Business Gateway and Business support Wales

You can find information, advice and support to help you start, maintain and develop your business from the following places:

• England - Business Link
• Scotland - Business Gateway
• Wales - Business support Wales

• Business Link Opens new window

• Business Gateway Opens new window

• Business support Wales Opens new window

What other help is available

General help and advice is available from Business Link, Business Gateway and Business support Wales. Additional support is also available for jobseekers through Jobcentre Plus.

New Enterprise Allowance

The New Enterprise Allowance helps unemployed people who want to start their own business. Practical mentoring support is available to people who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for three months or more. Financial support of up to around £2,000 is available for people who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for six months or more.

• New Enterprise Allowance - business support for jobseekers

A Start-up Loan

If you are interested in starting your own business you might be able to get a Start-up Loan if you:

• are aged 18-24
• live in England
• are not getting New Enterprise Allowance

You can get expert support to help develop a business plan and access training. If your business plan is approved, you will be able to get a Start-up Loan, usually in the region of £2,500. You will pay the loan back over a period of up to five years.

• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Start-up Loans scheme Opens new window

Enterprise Clubs

Help may also be available through Enterprise Clubs. Enterprise Clubs will provide unemployed people interested in self-employment with a place to:

• meet and exchange skills
• make contacts
• share experiences
• receive support
• encourage each other to work through their business ideas

• Enterprise Clubs - help to become self-employed or start a business

Further information

Talk to your Jobcentre Plus personal adviser for more information about the New Enterprise Allowance or Enterprise Clubs.

• Contact Jobcentre Plus Opens new window

Further help and advice

If you're considering being your own boss for the first time, Jobcentre Plus has produced some useful hints and tips to help you decide. You can download the Jobcentre Plus 'Thinking of being your own boss?' factsheet below.

• Download 'Thinking of being your own boss?' (PDF, 150K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files