Start your own business podcast

The dream of any small business must be to get their products stocked by renowned high-street retailers. But, as anyone will tell you, reaching the right buyers and convincing them to sell your products is far from easy. In this fascinating start-up story, we speak to Greg Fraser, founder of The Bottled Baking Co which…

When you start your own business, you must minimise your start-up costs, because then your business starts to make a profit much sooner. If you have to shell out for stock, it increases your start-up costs considerably. And you tie up money you could have used to run your business, while there’s also a risk…

Confidence is said to be everything. That’s not strictly true, because other things in life and business are also important. But, confidence can help you to overcome challenges, build relationships, take risks, deal with setbacks but ultimately achieve great things. You need to have confidence in yourself and your business. So, why might that not…

Does your website successfully convert web traffic into paying customers? Does it deliver what your customers expect? What are the essential elements that every website needs to persuade visitors to sign up, enquire or make a purchase? Why does web design matter and how do you keep visitors engaged and coming back for more? Answering…

Even if you don’t sell online, having a great website is a must. Before many customers will buy from you, they’ll want to find out more about what you sell and how much you charge. Many will also want to know more about your story, who you are, your values as a business and what…

Success and indeed survival in business relies upon making enough sales. If you don’t, you’ll soon run out of cash and that’s likely to spell the end for your business. If you are to make enough sales, you must generate sufficient sales leads, which is a never-ending challenge, because all businesses lose customers over time.  So,…

Who among us doesn’t enjoy a toastie or Mexican-style wrap? Both can be a delicious snack or meal. CRIMPiT is a successful, award-winning new British business. Its clever, innovative products offer a quick, easy and mess-free way to create delicious toasties using your kitchen toaster or burritos, calzones, enchiladas, kebabs and pasties that can be…

There are more than 310,000 retail businesses in the UK, which is 5.7% of all businesses, with SMEs accounting for more than 99% of them. Many UK retail businesses, especially those in the high street, have had a very tough time in recent years, having battled Covid and a record inflation-fuelled cost-of-living crisis that’s left…

Creating a great customer experience is crucial, especially for new and established businesses operating in retail and hospitality. If you don’t create a great experience, many customers will avoid your business or head for the exit not long after entering your premises. There are many ways to encourage a great customer experience, but the potential…

How and why would a small business attempt to take on multinational companies? Can a small business even compete in a market dominated by a handful of big players? In short, yes! Dawn White of Ecoegg did just that. Dawn battled eczema while growing up and her struggles with sensitive skin inspired her to create…

If you don’t have a well researched business plan, you may still be able to start and grow a reasonably successful business – but it may never achieve its full potential. To do that, you need goals and a successful strategy that enables you to achieve them. So, what are the key components of a…

What does the future hold for small businesses in the UK in the next five to ten years? What are the small business trends and which businesses are most likely to survive and succeed? How will customer wants and needs change and how might small businesses market their products and services to them? Will online…

Many new small independent retailers buy their stock wholesale, often from small suppliers, makers and craft businesses. It can really set you apart by providing you with high quality, exclusive stock that’s superior to the mass-produced options sold by others. But where do you find such suppliers and how do you negotiate good deals? Consultant…

Starting your own business is challenging. If you haven’t done it before, you’ll inevitably lack know-how, while there are common pitfalls to avoid. So, what key tasks do you need to complete when setting up your own business, if you’re to get off to the best possible start? Start-up and small-business content expert, journalist Mark…

While some businesses grow steadily over many years, others achieve significant growth in a far shorter time and are started with that key aim. A high-growth business is called a scale-up. A scalable business is defined as a business with average annual growth of at least 20% in the past three years, with at least…

Email marketing can be a highly cost-effective way to attract and retain customers, but your strategy and content must be right if you are to get the open rates and click-throughs that lead to sales. Laura Hanlon of Birmingham-based agency Pink Leopard reveals the secrets of building good email marketing lists, sending emails in the…

In 2019, tired of their daily commutes and living for weekends, Charlie Low, then head of analytics for an adventure travel company, and design consultancy engineer Dale Comely decided to leave the nine-to-five behind by converting an old DHL delivery van into an off-grid mobile home, so they could live a simpler life and travel…

Running a small business can leave you feeling isolated and lonely at times. Often you have no one to share your thoughts and feelings with. That’s when reaching out to other small-business owners can really help. Great value can be gained from seeking their independent opinions (and giving them yours). Many formal peer networking options…

There are more than five million family businesses in the UK. They employ 14.2 million people and generate a quarter of UK GDP. Many people who start a business do so with a family member, whether their spouse, partner, sibling, son or daughter or other relation. And although there can be many pros to going…

Ex-bartender, Matt Mahatme, launched Lixir Drinks with his childhood friend Jordan Palmer in 2018. They spotted a gap in the market for tonics and mixers that combined big flavours with less sugar, fewer calories and nothing artificial. Matt and Jordan are proud disruptors who wanted to create a brand with an edge and a contemporary…

Some people ooze self-confidence. Others aren’t very self-confident at all. Most of us are probably somewhere in between. Often, it is the things that happen to us in life and business that damages our self-confidence. Why do some people lack self-confidence while others are supremely confident? How can you boost your self-confidence? Self-confidence and human…

Following a year of eye-watering inflation in 2022, especially energy prices, economic forecasts for the UK for 2023 make for sobering reading. According to the Bank of England, the UK is facing its longest recession since records began, while the UK Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) expects the UK economy to shrink by 1.4% in…

Time is the one thing that small-business owners don’t have enough of, with many having to work long hours. Those starting a new business often must work even longer hours to get their business off the ground and into profit. So, what’s the key to making best use of every minute of every day? What…

More than 640,000 new businesses are started each year in the UK and most don’t grow much, they pretty much stay as one man/woman-band enterprises, which suits their owners. Others are more ambitious, they want to take on staff, win more customers, expand their operation, grow their business and take it to new heights. But…

The best start-up advice usually comes from the best-placed experts of all – those who’ve actually been there and done it. In this episode, we speak to Surlender Pendress, co-founder of Love Writing Co, which is based in the West Midlands. Love Writing Co sells innovative writing pencils, erasable colour pencils and washable crayons developed…

Instagram is the world’s seventh most-visited website. Some 1.22bn people use Instagram each month, with 18 to 34-year-olds making up the biggest share of Instagram’s audience. About 90% of Instagram users follow at least one business, and reportedly, half of its users have discovered new brands via Instagram. When you get it right, Instagram can…

Making sure that you have the right IT can enable your new business to quickly get established and grow. If you don’t have the right hardware and software – it will hold you back. In this episode, we speak to leading small-business technology expert, Richard Hillsdon, of Caerphilly-based IT consultancy Tekeez, which provides IT systems,…

The best start-up advice usually comes from those who’ve been there and done it. In this start-up story episode, we speak to Troy Johnson, co-founder of Sweet Dee’s Jerk (Juici Jerk at the time of recording), an award-winning Caribbean food brand, kitchen and meal-kit maker, which is based in Tooting, South London. Sweet Dee’s Jerk…

Offering superior customer service is a proven way that small businesses can be more attractive to customers and lure them away from larger and more established competitors. But any commitment to offering superior customer service must be firm and consistent throughout your business. In this episode, we speak to leading customer service expert Stephanie Edwards…

More than 640,000 new businesses are launched each year in the UK and the popularity of starting up continues to grow. But significantly rising costs mean many people will have to try to start their own business with little or no money. In this first episode of our third series, we get top money-saving start-up…

Regardless of where you are selling – from a market stall, shop, garage, restaurant, or café – being able to sell successfully face-to-face is key to success. It comes more naturally to some rather than others, but by adding a little knowledge and experience, most people can drastically improve their face-to face selling technique. In…

Recruiting and managing staff can be a legal minefield with costly consequences if you get it wrong. There’s a wide range of legislation you must comply with as an employer if you want to steer clear of trouble. In this episode, we speak to employment law specialist Hannah Thomas of Markel Law. She explains how…

As well as being better for the planet, being a net-zero business can bring a range of bottom line benefits. However, according to FSB research, although most small firms are concerned about climate change, only one-in-three has a plan to help tackle it. In this episode, consultant Graham Oakley explains how his business ensures that…

Digital advertising can enable businesses of all sizes to attract customers. Its popularity continues to grow. About £10.5bn was spent on digital advertising in the UK in the first half of 2021 – 42% higher than in H1 2019. Paid search makes up 36% of UK digital advertising spend, followed by digital display (27%). In…

Filing a tax return is frequently cited as the worst aspect of being self employed. And there’s little wonder. With complicated rules on what you must declare, how you must submit your return and when, combined with the threat of penalties for late and incorrect filing, these findings are no surprise. Then there’s the whole…

Stress is the leading cause of long-term sickness absence and accounts for approximately 57% of all long-term sickness. According to the Health and Safety Executive, between 2020 and 2021 822,000 UK workers suffered from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety Workplace stress can be caused by poor people management, long hours, and a lack of work-life…

The COVID-19 lockdowns meant many businesses had to close their doors to customers. For some businesses, who already had an online presence, selling online became a vital lifeline and source of income. Others, who did not have an online presence, were faced with having no way to reach customers. The need for all small businesses…

Such has been digital marketing’s rise to prominence you could be forgiven for thinking that there’s no point in bothering with offline marketing. But for many start-ups and small businesses with a limited budget, tried and tested offline marketing techniques continue to offer excellent returns, helping them to attract and retain customers In this episode,…

Starting a business can be an exciting time and there are hundreds of things you will need to consider. It’s likely that with all the other demands vying for attention, you haven’t considered how you can protect your mental and physical health. This could be a mistake In this episode we speak to Christine Husbands,…

An introduction to selling online, whether via marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon and Etsy, or your own ecommerce or general website In this episode we speak to online selling expert, Chris Dawson of Tamebay, who talks about the advantages of selling online and guides us through selling via popular marketplace platforms. Show notes Find links…

An unmissable introduction to the all-important business of online marketing and digital marketing methods you can use to attract and retain customers In this episode we speak to Aggie Meroni to find out all about social media marketing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and search engine marketing (SEO), so you stand a better chance of…

Discover how a wood-fired pizza oven and a shed at the bottom led this week’s guest on a start-up journey that involved a hair-raising European road trip that resulted in him winning the accolade of ‘Best Street Food in Europe’ In this episode we speak to Lee DeSanges, founder of Birmingham-based Baked In Brick, a…

Why it’s important to spend as little as possible when starting a business, where to get funding and tips on cash flow management and setting prices In this episode we speak to Guy Bridge to find out about the pros and cons of various sources of start-up funding. Is it possible to start a business…

Why a brand is much more than just colours, fonts or slogans and how to come up with a great business name In this episode we speak to Liz Mosley to learn the importance of creating a strong, distinctive brand when starting a business. We hear about the importance of brand values and how to…

Pick up top tips and learn key start-up lessons from the biggest experts of all – those who’ve actually been there and started their own business In this episode we speak to Eve Kekeh, London-based founder of Bundlee, the UK’s first and most popular baby clothing rental subscription service. Eve explains why she started her…

Sole trader, limited company or partnership? The pros and cons of the main business formation options and how to legally register your new business. In this episode, we speak to expert Carl Reader, who talks through the main options for forming a business, the pros and cons of each option, how to register and the…