Starting your social enterprise

Pre-Business Plan research

Below are some questions that you can ask yourself which will give you an idea of the viability of your business idea and also how you can be successful.

• Who are my customers? Is there demand for my product/service? How can I reach them? How often will they buy? How much competition is there?
• How much will it cost to provide my product/service? What gives my product/service an advantage over other products/services?
• How much will I charge? What are competitors charging? Will my customers pay?
• Where should I be located? Which type of premises will I need? Are these premises available? Rent/lease or buy? What equipment will I need?
• Do I need suppliers? How much will it cost me?
• Will I need to employ staff? Do I know what this involves? How much will it cost?
• How much funding will I need? Am I eligible for any other funding schemes?
• Do I need to comply with any regulations - e.g. health and safety? Do I need any permission or licences?
• Do I need to protect my idea/product?
• Do I need any training to perform well?
• How many sales do I need to break-even?

Once you have addressed these issues you will have a much better idea of the information you need to write your business plan.

If you would like to talk to someone about starting your own social enterprise, please contact the Tameside Business Family  on 0161 342 2058.