Are you thinking about starting your own business or are you already setting up on your own? Use our selection of books, articles, links and guides to find more information on all aspects of starting a business.
Online books, guides and publications
eBooks
The library provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers.
Financial Times Guide to Business Start Up 2009, The
Williams, Sara (22nd ed. Pearson Education UK, 2009)
This annual publication covers all aspects of starting your own business, including the initial planning, how to build and develop a customer base, choosing premises and equipment, sourcing finance and hiring staff.
Good small business guide: How to start and grow your own business
Belbin, Meredith (2nd ed. A & C Black, 2006)
This practical guide "is aimed at anyone thinking of starting or growing a business in the United Kingdom". It provides practical help on a range of topics with an easy-to-read action list per topic, answers to frequently asked questions and tips on how to avoid common mistakes.
Starting a successful business. The Sunday Times Business Enterprise Series
Morris, Michael (6th ed. Kogan Page, 2008)
This book intends to be a textbook covering "all the important things you need to read and absorb before starting in business as well as a reference-book for once you are in business, to help brush up your operations." The book exclusively introduces the PLG Programme which aims to help entrepreneurs to prepare, launch and grow their business successfully.
You will need to be logged-in to the website to read these eBooks.
Briefings
Directors' Briefings and Start-Up Briefings are four-page guides written for the busy practitioner, director and entrepreneur providing concise, practical advice on core business issues.
Checklists
The How to do it guides from BHP Information Solutions are a collection of checklists providing a step by step approach to key business issues.
Disclaimer: These publications from BHP Information Solutions Limited are for general guidance only, for businesses in the United Kingdom governed by the laws of England. BHP Information Solutions Limited, expert contributors and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (as distributor) disclaim all liability for any errors or omissions.
Online articles
The library provides access to a range of articles in full text from leading business, finance and management journals.
You will need to be logged-in to the website to gain full access to the range of articles available online.
Useful links
Starting up
Information and guidance from Business Link on a range of topics relevant to business start-ups. The website includes links to relevant regulation and support schemes for small businesses as well as an extensive collection of annotated sources such as factsheets, FAQs, case studies and links. The small business start-up organiser can help you create a step by step task list to get your business off the ground.
The British Library: Business & IP Centre
The British Library's Business and Intellectual Property (IP) Centre incorporates services and information aimed at entrepreneurs and small business owners, including expert advisors to talk through your ideas and a wide range of essential information to help you research your market and start your own business.
Startups
Online resource for those starting or running a small business and produced by publisher Crimson Business described as the "leading source of information for UK entrepreneurs". The website includes startup guides for over 50 different business sectors, business startup news, case studies of successful business startups and a forum to share your ideas with others in your situation.
Cobweb
Cobweb is an independent publisher of practical and easy to understand information for business start-ups and small business owners, and for the advisers, professionals, and organisations that guide and support them.
Complete Business Reference Adviser (COBRA)
COBRA is a comprehensive, versatile and continually updated research resource from Cobweb for business advisers, information professionals and support agencies who are advising or working with start ups and small business owners. (Subscription required)
Starting a business
Useful advice for business start-ups from BT Business Insight which provides information on a wide range of business issues.
TelecomsAdvice
An independent website endorsed by Oftel set up to provide small UK businesses with information and advice on using telecommunications and the internet including an overview of products and services on offer. The website includes a range of information sheets on various topics as well as case studies and feature articles.
Tom's Law: Legal Documents Online (FiSMA)
An online library of legal templates relevant to entrepreneurs and investors from not for profit organisation FiSMA. The site aims to 'facilitate communications between entrepreneurs and investors' and has been developed by Tom Mackay, former head of the legal department of the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Included in the collection are draft documents covering AIM companies, incorporation, company administration, confidentiality, employment and the sale and purchase of shares. The site includes a warning notice that should be read before using any of the documents in the collection. Registration is required to access some of the documents.
Small business organisations in the UK
Federation of Small Businesses
The 'UK's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms.' The FSB publishes the annual Voice of Small Business Survey in cooperation with ICM Research which 'seeks the small business perspective on key issues from the economy to employment'. The FSB and CEBR also publish the quarterly Voice of Small Business Index which provides 'a macro-economic picture of the UK economy from the point of view of the small business owner'. The index looks at employment, revenues and the confidence of small firms and provides information on regional businesses with a breakdown by sector across the UK.
Forum of Private Business
Not-for-profit membership organisation which provides guidance and support for SMEs and aims to 'represent small businesses views and be their voice in government'.
Institute for Family Business
The IFB is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation supporting the UK family-owned business sector. It aims to 'promote the vital contribution that long-term family businesses make to the UK economy and the issues that family firms face' and offers courses, conferences and research publications.
British Chambers of Commerce
The website of the network of Chambers of Commerce across the UK provides information on their activities and a tool to find your local Chamber of Commerce.
Business Population Estimates for the UK and Regions
Annual statistics on SMEs in the UK published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Previously called 'Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Statistics for the UK and Regions'.
Small business organisations in Europe and worldwide
European Commission: Small and medium-sized enterprises
Portal for EC information and resources for SMEs, with business-related links and guides to EU legislation and regulations on relevant issues, advice and practical information.
Doing Business (World Bank)
Laws and business regulations, country profiles and economic rankings for 183 countries compiled by the World Bank for SMEs. The Starting a business section provides information on the procedures, time and cost involved in launching a new firm in each of the countries covered.
Articles and books in the Library collection
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post, fax or email through our document delivery service.
Can't find what you're looking for?
If you have any difficulty in finding the material you are looking for please contact the enquiry team by phone on +44 (0)20 7920 8620, by fax on +44 (0)20 7920 8621 or by email at library@icaew.com.
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