Considering starting up?
Here's how the Business start-up organiser helped me get my business off the ground
Based in Cumbernauld, near Glasgow, Skyline Print Management provides print-management solutions for small to medium-sized businesses. The company, which launched in September 2008, seamlessly manages the entire print process on behalf of clients, from creating quality artwork to providing efficient proofing, print and delivery services. Owner Malcolm Bailey describes how using the Business start-up organiser (BSO) online tool proved invaluable in the early stages.
What I did
Register online
"Like most people setting up in business, I only had a rough idea of where to start when it came to putting proper structures and procedures in place. When I started planning the launch, I'd given myself quite an ambitious deadline, so it was obvious that I was going to need some help. A neighbour of mine pointed me in the direction of the Business Link (or Business Gateway, as the service is branded in Scotland) website.
"I came across the BSO while exploring the site. Registering online was really simple, you just answer a few questions about your business and what stage you're at, then the tool generates an immediate list of tasks to tackle, tailored according to your answers so that you don't waste time wading through a load of stuff that doesn't really apply to you.
"You can then further tailor each task by choosing to disregard it, work on it later or work on it straight away. The whole thing then gets saved in your personal account which you can access at any time by logging on with your unique user ID and password."
Focus on essentials first
"Each time you log into your BSO, you can control how you use it, in line with your own situation.
"For example, my list of tasks was quite extensive, but given the time limitations, there were some items that I knew were going to be more crucial for the launch than others, such as finalising my business plan, tax issues and legal considerations. I therefore chose to work mainly on those key tasks in the run-up to the launch, but still with the peace of mind of knowing that longer-term tasks would be saved in my BSO for me to work on later.
"Another useful feature of the tool is that it gives you a quick-reference summary with a graphic 'progress bar' which allows you to see at a glance how far you've got in completing your tasks. This acts as both a spur to get moving on the rest and a source of encouragement, because you can see you're actually making headway!"
Keep on using the tool
"I used my BSO every day in the four weeks prior to the business' launch. Since then, I've continued to log in once a week or so to ensure that I keep on top of things. Because everything is stored for you, it's really easy to go back and check exactly what stage you're at with each allotted task. Without the BSO to refer to, it would be all too easy to forget about things that didn't seem urgent when I started, but which still require attention."
"Overall, using the BSO has been invaluable. In the first instance, it was an 'idiot's guide' to help me structure my ideas and plan ahead, but it's also been great for introducing me to the next level of business planning as the company moves forward."
What I'd do differently
Have a good look at the outset
"I would probably have spent more time when I first registered having a good look at all the sections, to drill down into the information, rather than just using it when I needed it."
Manage your personal list of starting-up tasks with our Business start-up organiser
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Malcolm Bailey
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