Camden Freelancers: Focus on Fashion Part of Enterprise Week

1. Centa Business Services:
What you need to know about working for yourself
Who are Centa?
Getting ready to work for yourself
Things to consider
Obligations
Where to find further support

2. We are a social enterprise, driven by our
mission, rather than a profit motive. We
aim to:
• Support Economic Development
• Create and Sustain Jobs
• Tackle Economic Exclusion

3. Centa has over 25 years experience of
providing impartial advice to start-up and
micro businesses
Our advisers understand the issues that small
business owners’ face; many have real
business experience themselves

4. Why run your own business?
Pros: flexibility; freedom; creative control; ownership; a
more rewarding career; could make you more money
Cons: lack of financial stability; easy to get ‘sucked in;
highly competitive; raising finance; the reality of
business; lonely!
If it was easy, everyone would do it!

5. Key things to consider:
What sort of business do you want?
How are you going to fund it?
What are you going to sell/provide?
Who is going to buy it? Why?

6. Business structures
Limited Liability Company
Sole Trader
Partnership
Limited Liability Partnership

7. Funding
Grants
Bank Loans
Bank of F&F&F
Working/self-funding

8. Do your homework - Know your market!
Design for a market
Find a market for your designs
Marketing and branding – what is your USP?

9. Protecting yourself
Intellectual Property
Terms and Conditions
Trademark Registration

10. Understanding your obligations
Registering with Inland Revenue
Keeping records
Managing cashflow
Tax returns/NI contributions

11. You don’t have to go it alone:
Where to go for help
Business Link and Inland Revenue
Enterprise Agencies
Mentoring
College

12. If you are running a small business or about to
start, you may wish to access our range of
free services.
Or you may want specialist help with your
business plan, raising finance, expanding
your business - or simply free training and
advice.

13. Free workshops in December:
Starting a Business: managing money and
making a profit
Starting a Business: finding and keeping
customers
Starting a Business: running a successful
business

14. If we can’t help you directly, we will know someone
who can. We would be happy to answer any
questions you may have.
Please also visit our website at
www.centa.co.uk

15. GO FOR IT! 

16. Sally Leonard: sleonard@centa.co.uk
Centa Business Services
Centa House
61 Birkenhead Street
London
WC1H 8BB
(Tel) 020 7278 5757
www.centa.co.uk