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Support for protecting your ideas
Get professional help from intellectual property advisers, a patent attorney or a trade mark attorney to protect your intellectual property in an invention
Find manufacturers to build a prototype
Sources of information on product designers and manufacturers who can help you develop your invention
Support for product safety and testing
How to arrange product safety assessment, and where to find testing laboratories, services and product certification in the UK
Support for developing your ideas
Where to get help to develop new product ideas if you're looking to manufacture, market, sell or license your inventions
Business growth and premises
As your business grows and takes in more staff, you may need to assess your options for larger business premises
Avoid problems during business growth
Common issues that businesses often face during growth, and tips for overcoming these difficulties through proper planning and management.
Business growth: market research
Use market research to drive business growth and innovation and to stay ahead of the competition
Business growth strategy and planning
Maximise the chances of business growth success by carefully planning your growth strategy
Business growth: developing skills
Developing effective leadership skills and making the most of other people's abilities can help you grow your business
Record-keeping best practice
Good record keeping habits and the "four S" approach: system, separate, security, storage.
Financial considerations when exporting
Understand how exporting could affect your cashflow.
Challenges of exporting
Challenges of exporting include market research, export paperwork and financing.
Decide your approach to importing
Keeping importing simple by dealing with experienced exporters in developed countries and using agents
Plan your import objectives
Setting goals and deciding your import objectives.
Negotiate the right import deal
Negotiating the right import terms, planning ahead and reaching a clear agreement.
Purchase ledger
What to record in a purchase ledger to keep track of how much money you owe.
Wages book
The value of maintaining a wages book and how to manage it if you employ staff.
Digital financial records
Reasons for keeping computer-based financial records and how to choose bookkeeping and accounting software packages.
5 top tips for record-keeping
Record-keeping top tips to help you pay the tax you owe and keep an eye on financial activities.
Assess your skills and resources for exporting
Exporting demands extra time, money and skills.