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If you want to start up a business but don’t yet have a business concept, there are lots of different ways to come up with an idea.

Working through the Start-up Checklist will guide you as you start to think more about what running a business will really be like. The more you work through it, the more equipped you’ll feel.

It’s worth remembering that it takes years of hard work for any business to become an ‘overnight success’. The more work you put in at the start, the stronger your business foundation will be – so it’s really worthwhile to research the market, get feedback on your idea, work out why and how people will buy from you and how you will manage any costs as you start up.

There’s something quite magical about deciding to start your own business, although for most people that decision comes with excitement and tension in equal measures.

Every woman has different reasons for deciding to start her own business. Maybe you want to earn a little more money, or you have come up with a great solution to a problem that has been niggling you and others for years, maybe you think you have a cure for a global disease. It doesn’t matter how small or big your business idea is, what matters is that it’s important to you, you believe in it and you want to do something about it.

It will be a rollercoaster journey of the most amazing ups and downs. You will grow in ways you never thought you could, travel to places you have never been and meet people you never thought you would. Not only can starting your own business be a wonderful way to earn some more money but it can really help you improve your skills and develop as an individual for whatever you want to do in life. But it won’t be easy, in fact at times it will be downright tough. Maybe your business won’t work out first time round…but you’ll learn the lessons and do better the next time. You might decide it’s not for you…but you won’t know until you give it a go. Or you might absolutely love running your own business and nail it first time!

Don’t worry if you think you don’t have the right experience just now. We all started somewhere in business and we all learned along the way, none of us gets everything right all the time. And you don’t have to do this all by yourself – there is a lot of terrific help and support available for you.

You can do this! It’s an amazing feeling to hold a product you have created, getting your first invoice paid, and seeing your income grow…and all the time being completely in charge of your own destiny. How does that sound to you?

Inspiration

Be inspired with the real life stories of women who have already started up their own businesses. If you don’t yet have a business idea, check out the different ways others have come up with an idea.

Ready? Be bold, be brave…take that first little step on the road towards making your business dreams come true. And remember we’re here for you with a helping hand.

Business support for women in Scotland

There are many people and organisations who will help you on your way. In Scotland the Find Business Support website will help you find the public sector support available from Business Gateway offices across Scotland and other public sector growth support agencies. UK Government business support information can be found here.
Many of these sites also contain information on specific business support to help address the impacts of COVID-19.

There are a number of organisations which provide different kinds of support for women in business in Scotland – nationally, regionally and locally.

• Scottish Enterprise
• Scottish Government
• South of Scotland Enterprise