starting a fashion design business! HELP!?

Hi Lollita,

By looking on this site you will have access to most of the information you need for things like grants, registering your business name, business plans etc.  You really just need to start researching everything really carefully to get a good understanding of what you need to do in order to get your business up and running.  The Inland Revenue & Business Link  also produce really good guides that you can send off for through there web site (and they are free !!). These are useful for deciding what type of business you are going to be (Sole Trader, Limited Company etc) & also tax & VAT implications.  As for websites I used Moustique Design whose information I got through the Start Up Profiles section on this site.  Anuschka who runs it specialises in website for women so she would be ideal I guess.  I find them great to deal with, even though im not a woman  

Hope this gets you looking in the right direction.  If you ever need any more help then drop me an e-mail. I know its hard to get things started when you are planning to start a business that is a little different as I had the same problems when I started my art business.

All the best,

Simon

Online Exhibits

www.onlineexhibits.co.uk

I started my own web/graphic design business 5 years ago and felt exactly the same as you.  I think the best advice I can offer is make sure that what you are selling is what people want.  Loads of people start up businesses because they think people will buy from them.  You have to know  people will want what you are selling or you can cost yourself a lot of money, time and hearbreak.  I would definately talk to your local business link and check out your local council website.  In sunderland the council have a prestart grant for small businesses.  If you dig hard enough I am sure you will find something in your local area.

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Hello Lollita,

I am currently setting up my own womenswear label and maybe able to offer you some advice and direction on useful websites and organisations to help you start your career.

My e-mail address is: hannah_marshall@msn.com

Best wishes,

Hannah Marshall

Hi Lollita, my name is Dani and boy do i have loads of info for you!

1- go to the Fashion Capital Website for info on trends for s/s 06 as well as a guide for setting up a fashion biz.

2- entrpreneur.com has guides on setting up a clothing store,being a childrens wear designer and info on womenswear designer/teen clothing store and much more.

3- visit the portobello business center website ( type in all these places i,m giving you into your computor and the site,s will come up) they do a fashion design biz course costing £150.00 that is apparently fantastic.

4- Central Saint Martins also do a setting up a fashion biz course.

5- go to a bookshop based on Little Titchfield street opposite the marks and spencers on oxford street or check out their site.TherE called RD FRANKS

They sell ternd/books/mags from around the world and books on all things fashion.Look for a book entitled "Profiting from Fashion" which tells you everything about setting up as fashion biz and has alot of contact addresses etc...

6- Do you dream of showing at London Fashion Week? well you can! go to the British Fashion Council Website, they have a scheme called New Generation that sponser biz,s that are 3years old or less to have a catwalk show/and or stand at lfw.And don,t worry if you don,t get it they invite you to submit your work by june 9 in order to apply for a paying stand at lfw.

Contact me at dnllscott@yahoo.co.uk if i can be of any more assistance.I,m also young (24) and am a little overwhelmed myself at all the stuff you have to do to set up a business,especially since i,m on benefits.But luckily i have two advisors who are very helpful and i will be attending a business plan training day soon.So wish me good luck and good luck to you too and keep me posted! hopefully one day we will see each other at London Fashion Week!

Hi

The DTI guarantees 75% of business bank loans to starters like you and other small businesses with no or little security or deposit. You would need a properly thought and written business plan. Regardless of that, I cannot emphasize enough the need for a business plan as it will give you sense and purpose and direct your business towards the achievement of your goals.

Other than that, I think you should try and get your tax affairs in order from the very beginning if you dont want to share your hard expensive profits with the taxman. You should have in mind that tax planning errors (e.g. choice of legal trading format, profit extraction strategy, assets ownership and disposal strategy etc) are not easy to reverse and can cost you for years. There is no such thing as a catch-all and universally applied tax solution; it depends on each person's personal and business circumstances.

Good luck.

James Constant, Chartered Certified Accountant
http://www.taxadviceuk.com
FREE Weekly Tax Tips for the smal business owner, written in understandable language

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Kind regards,
James Constantine
Chartered Certified Accountant
http://www.taxadviceuk.com
FREE Weekly Tax Tips for the small business owner, written in understandable language