Speaking From Experience
Posted on 4th March 2022 at 15:45
Starting a New Business – Speaking From Experience
So you’ve got a great idea for a new business but where do you start to create your business identity and get it off the ground? I thought I’d share some of the resources I’ve used so far and can highly recommend.
Bank Account
I investigated various bank accounts and to be honest the choice is simply overwhelming. So, when my bookkeeper (one of Your Office Angels!) suggested I considered Mettle and told me that it came with free FreeAgent accounting software, which she assured me I would find very useful, Mettle went to the top of my list.
I have to say that was sound advice. The Mettle account is app based and that suits me perfectly as I’m always on the go and mobile banking is a must. I applied online for an account and it was opened within the hour – despite the fact that I was doing this in an evening time. I had the debit card within days.
Linking the account to FreeAgent was easy and I now use FreeAgent for all my basic accounting needs – sending out invoices and recording expenses. It’s fantastic. Mettle have a web chat service too which if there’s any queries you may have is a brilliant facility. You chat with real people and not just a bot.
Graphic Designer
I’m creative, I could probably come up with a logo myself using PhotoShop or Canva or the likes but it’s important to me that everything is consistent, and a solid brand is built. I looked at a number of Graphic Designers before choosing Bruno Hannemann from Sane Design.
I cannot speak too highly of Bruno’s integrity and attention to detail, which is second to none. He offers solid, sound and honest advice and will gently steer you through the whole process.
He initially sent me a choice of 3 design concepts, which we shortlisted and then Bruno worked with us with regards to shape and colour for the various places our logo would appear.
For the logo design, Bruno took care of everything - from concept and research to completion.
The Package I chose from him includes:
Consultation for discussion of the brief
Research/design/development
3 concept ideas
Fine tuning of your chosen concept
Stationery design
Template(s) design
At the end you get all your logo files (JPG, PNG, PDF, etc.), a brand guidelines manual, print ready stationery design/artwork, template design for print/online documents (MS Word or PowerPoint templates).
Bruno can be contacted in the following ways:
Email: bruno@sanedesign.co.uk
Telephone: 01904 67 67 83
Mobile: 07854 020879
Website Designer
Again, I looked at several website designers. Prices for websites range from free for DIY versions with platforms like Wix or WordPress up to thousands of pounds. Your website is your window on the world however and as the saying goes “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” so it needs to look and feel how you want to be reflected.
For me there was one which stood head and shoulders above the rest and that was Garry Stewart and the It’seeze group. They offer essentially two different packages at the level I was looking for, both very affordable.
It’seeze is a franchise, to contact Garry directly you need:
Email: garry.stewart@itseeze.com
Telephone: 01423 359 272
Mobile: 07889 785 178
We started the whole process over a coffee where Garry took a design brief from me and gathered all the information he needed.
We then worked collaboratively to finalise the brief, making sure we were both happy with the page structure and the content for the website. Garry then briefed his design team and the website was with me in 17 working days.
It looked fantastic and after a few minor tweaks it was set live. The team at it’seeze did all the necessary technical stuff to get my website up and running and I could just sit back and wait for it to be out there for all to see.
These are just three of the services I have found to be the best available for my needs and which I feel confident to recommend – try them, you won’t be disappointed, I wasn’t!
Tagged as: Business Start-Up
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