You wouldn’t start a journey without a map or plan and the same applies to business. Before you deep-dive into trying to write a Business Plan, we recommend you have a go at completing a Business Model Canvas. You can download this tool and find out more, here.

If you’ve been able to complete a Business Model Canvas, you will be in a great position to add more detail. Having a business plan is a great way of keeping your venture on track. There are some excellent free templates out there, here’s one that we recommend.

When getting a new idea off the ground, often the first consideration is how you are going to finance it. There aren’t many options, but some entrepreneurs ask friends/family for a loan, others take on a part-time job, or there is always crowdfunding (e.g. Kickstarter). If you live in Leicester, The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity may also be able to help you.

If you’re just starting out, chances are you are going to have to do your own marketing! Not all of us are skilled in graphic design or animation, but the good news is there are some excellent free tools out there like Canva, which make the job so much easier. Take a look, here.

Paying a web designer can be costly, and unless you need a really complex website, you should consider building one yourself. There are lots of great tools for this, some of them free of charge. Try sites like Wordpress, Odoo, Wix or our recommendation, Squarespace.

In addition to events hosted by DMU Made, there are lots of events relating to freelancing, startups and entrepreneurship happening in Leicester. Many of them are free of charge. For the latest listings and news, take a look at leicesterstartups.com