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Manage your research, design and development
How to manage your design, research and development projects to adapt to customers' changing requirements
Use innovation to start or grow your business
What is innovation and why should new and existing businesses innovate in order to increase their efficiency and profitability
Find support for inventors
Support and advice for inventors and businesses developing innovative ideas, products and technologies in Northern Ireland
Development stage of a product life cycle
How to develop the idea for your product or service, plan potential outcomes and product expansion.
Product life cycles - decline stage
How to deal with product decline and extend the lifespan of your product or service.
Introduction stage of a product life cycle
How to introduce your product or service to potential customers in the marketplace and promote your business.
How to buy a franchise
Check these dos and don'ts before buying a franchise.
Franchise costs and returns
Be aware of initial and ongoing costs of a franchise and potential financial performance.
Assess a franchise opportunity
What to find out when considering buying a franchise - including costs, competition, current success and support.
Franchise agreements for a franchisee
Your franchise agreement should cover franchise length, territory, amount of fees, management service fees and royalties, and restrictions.
Buy a franchise
What franchising is, how to find and assess franchise opportunities and how to buy a franchise.
Advantages and disadvantages of buying an existing business
An overview of the advantages and disadvantages of buying an existing business.
Buy an existing business
Advantages and disadvantages of buying an existing business including how to assess and value it.
Existing employees when buying a business
Your legal obligations towards staff already working for the new company.
How to calculate the value of a business
How to find out whether the business you want to buy will be profitable and value for money.
Make sure a business is worth buying: due diligence
Research the new business to ensure it is right for you, use solicitors and accountants to help you.
Where to find a business to buy
Newspapers, trade journals, adverts, magazines, websites and word of mouth will help you find businesses for sale.
What type of business should I buy?
How to choose the right business for you.
Business transfer agents and business brokers
A business transfer agent or business broker could also help you to find the right business to buy.
Advantages and disadvantages of franchising
Franchises have benefits, proven ideas and brand names but the franchisor may restrict how you run the business.