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How to Start a Business in Cheshire

Free start-up resources and useful local contacts.

Improve your chances of success!

How to Start a Business in Cheshire

Starting a business in Cheshire

If you are thinking about starting a business in Cheshire or would like to grow your existing business, we would love to help you.

Start Your Own Business in Cheshire contains resources and the information that will help give your venture the best chance of success. It also highlights organisations who offer friendly advice and the services that you are likely to need as a new startup or local business owner.

Grants | Networking groups | Business advice | Mentoring | Co-working spaces

Starting a business in Cheshire

Local help for startups

There is plenty of help for startups in Cheshire but where can it be found?

Select classification:

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or already running a business in the area, this section is designed to provide you with valuable information and resources to support your journey to success. Cheshire, located in North West England, offers a thriving business environment with numerous opportunities across various sectors.

Demographics of Cheshire

Cheshire is a county known for its picturesque countryside, historic landmarks, and strong economy. As of the latest available data, the estimated population of Cheshire is around 1.1 million residents. The county encompasses several major towns and cities that contribute to its economic growth and cultural diversity.

Major Towns and Cities

Click on name to view more information and find contacts in each area.

  1. Chester: Chester is the county town of Cheshire and has a population of approximately 90,000 residents. It is renowned for its rich history, Roman architecture, and thriving tourism industry.
  2. Warrington: Located in the heart of Cheshire, Warrington is a major town with a population of over 210,000. It serves as a commercial and industrial hub, with a strong focus on logistics, manufacturing, and retail sectors.
  3. Congleton: Situated in the east of Cheshire, Congleton is a market town with a population of around 26,000. It offers a mix of traditional and modern industries, including engineering, healthcare, and leisure services.
  4. Macclesfield: Nestled on the edge of the Peak District National Park, Macclesfield has a population of approximately 53,000. It is known for its silk heritage and has a diverse business landscape, including technology, manufacturing, and creative industries.
Local Authorities in Cheshire

To navigate the business landscape effectively, it's crucial to be familiar with the local authorities that govern different aspects of running a business in Cheshire. Here are the key authorities in the county along with their website links for further information:

Business Support Organisations

Cheshire offers a range of resources and support networks for businesses at every stage of their journey. Whether you need assistance with funding, advice, networking, or general guidance, these organisations can be instrumental in your success. Here are a few noteworthy organisations dedicated to supporting businesses in Cheshire, along with their website links:

We hope this guide provides you with a solid foundation for starting or running a business in Cheshire. Explore the rest of our website for more detailed information, guides, and additional resources that will help you on your entrepreneurial journey in this dynamic county. Good luck!

Local partners

We are happy to promote anyone who is prepared to offer friendly support to local start-ups.

Our local partners have been kind enough to help us and are keen to help you too.

Free Startup Resources

Getting it right from the start can help to prevent problems later.

To help you with this we have created a vast selection of resources and they are all completely free!

FREE startup workshops

If you are thinking about starting a business, our FREE three-hour ONLINE workshop is definitely for you!

Open to everyone, our sole aim is to increase your chances of success. We do that by explaining:

The reality of running a business; the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them; which legal status is likely to be most suitable; funding, grants and managing your money; business planning and cashflow forecasting; finding and keeping customers.

Latest articles

You don't know what you don't know!

The prospect of starting a new business can be incredibly exciting but should be approached with care. You have probably heard scary stories about how many start-ups fail in the early stages. You can make sure that you are not one of them by learning as much as possible before you launch. Over the years, we have collected lots of articles which will show you what has worked well for other start-ups and the putfalls to avoid.

Free Startup Guide

Start Your Own Business in Cheshire

Download the 2024 edition of our Free Start Your Own Business guide

An interactive step-by-step guide which also includes all of the most important subjects covered in an easy-to-read way with links to useful online articles and relevant contacts.

The idea of starting your own business can be incredibly exciting and who can blame you for being tempted?

However, the sad truth is that far too many new enterprises fail in the early stages. Our aim is to make sure that you don't become one of them.

This guide explains the key start-up subjects in simple English.

There is also plenty of help available in the area and much of it is free - please do make the most of it.

Read more about what our Free guide contains and how you can download it.
Starting a business in Cheshire

Key Contacts in Cheshire

'You don't know what you don't know' is a phrase that is so applicable to starting a new business.

Cheshire is a great place for start-ups but your chances of success are dramatically improved if you make the most of the support that is available locally. Click on logos to visit their websites.

Web design

Visions Design
We are a creative digital studio based in the heart of Cheshire, in the quiet village of Lymm. We’re a tight-knit, down-to-earth group of forward-thinking designers and creative professionals with a passion for great design. We design and develop responsive, user-friendly websites that are well-built which you’re proud to show off. Our philosophy is simple; to create consistently excellent websites for our clients!
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Funding

West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce
Every business needs a helping hand once in a while, so its worth being aware of potential grant funding available to you. This page contains links to external websites that can offer funding and finance opportunities. West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce is the leading organisation representing the business community across the whole of West Cheshire and North Wales. As an independent, not for profit organisation, our objectives remain clear: to promote and encourage business for our members and others regionally, nationally and internationally to improve commercial growth and prosperity. West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce, University of Chester, Churchill House, Queens Park Campus, Queens Park Road, Chester CH4 7AD
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Accountancy

Purple Accounts
Purple Accounts is your expert Small Business centre, accountants and business support in Warrington. Save time, save money, make money and grow! No more worries over tax, paper piles and deadlines. We’re an ear to bend - helping you achieve your goals and support your business growth - so you’re in the very best hands. 24/7 access to your financial information with our power partner XERO, means you’re in control of your finances at all times. We’re a small, friendly and approachable team based across 3 branches in Stockton Heath, Grappenhall and Padgate, Warrington. With great value for money fixed fee packages, no ‘ticking billometer’ and flexible, fast service, you can focus on making money and growing your business. We love small businesses and as a small business ourselves, we understand the high and lows that this brings. Not only can we help with all the essential compliance work, but also payroll, cash-flow, business growth, business funding, FD services, personal financial planning, wealth and estate, mortgages, trusts and pensions. For more information about Purple Accounts, request a brochure or find out how we can help your small business, email enquiries@purpleaccounts.com, call 01925 268753 or visit our website www.purpleaccounts.co.uk
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Networking

North Cheshire Chamber of Commerce
We are an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation providing business services and marketing opportunities for our members to promote and grow their business.Located in the heart of the vibrant and entrepreneurial business community of North Cheshire, we are constantly working to create the right environment in which all businesses can flourish and grow. North Cheshire Chamber of Commerce & Enterprise, Suite 2A, 9 King Edward Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 1AQ
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Advice

Cheshire East Business Support
Cheshire East Council have forged strong links with business support agencies, community groups and other local authorities to help local businesses overcome the current financial and economic challenges by ensuring they access the support and advice available to them. There are a wide range of services designed to help new, existing and relocating businesses in the Borough, including business planning, financial support, events and online safety for businesses. Many of these services are free to businesses based in Cheshire East. For further information on the range of support the Economic Development Service can offer your business, please see the Skills & Growth website for more information.
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Advice

Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership
If you are thinking of becoming self-employed, starting a business, or have recently become self-employed or started your business, we can help you to navigate the support available to help you establish and grow your business.
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Advice

Cheshire West - Let's Talk Business
Learn more about local and national support programmes. Find appropriate supply chains and networks, including events and training opportunities. Access information on available commercial sites and premises through an online database. Recruit staff - including apprenticeship, traineeships and t-level information and guidance; there is also Health and Wellbeing support. Grants and funding information. Exporting advice for those already trading and those looking to start. Information and guidance on how to start a business
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Marketing

Cheshire Business Directory
The Cheshire Business Directory provides businesses of all sizes with a platform for growth through on and offline support and promotion. We are a dedicated and passionate Cheshire-based business. Our key focus is on marketing and raising brand awareness for businesses throughout Cheshire, via social media and authoritative business listings.
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Advice

Cheshire West and Chester Council - Business
Cheshire West and Chester Council's website has a section dedicated to helping local businesses and startups. It covers: Trading Standards, Planning and Building Control, LIcensing and Permits, Environmental Health, Let's Talk Business, Connecting Cheshire, Sites and premises, Health and safety, Business rates.
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Advice

Cheshire and Warrington Business Growth Programme
Theres two parts to our Cheshire and Warrington Business Growth Programme: Starter, and Growth. Through both, you'll learn how to grow your idea or existing company. Starter: Youve had a great idea and want to set up a company but youre not sure how. And thats where we can help! Well support you to get to the point where you can launch. And well give you tools to help you to continue to grow your business in a sustainable, achievable way. Growth: Setting up a business can feel stressful and lonely and that first 12 months can be overwhelming. This part of the programme is to support business owners whove worked incredibly hard to start a business and stabilise it but arent sure how to continue growing.
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Mentoring

KIERAN PERRY UK
One to one Sales & Business Coaching and mentoring Cheshire As an experienced Business consultant I offer sound and practical advice and solutions on a range of problems and issues that your business might be facing including sales, staff, start ups, growth plans and strategies, increasing profit, launching and marketing new services or products on line and direct, improving and managing sales teams and negotiating with customers and suppliers to get the best deals.
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Networking

The Lonely Middle Club - From Startup Hive
Starting a business is exciting, and succeeding is rewarding, but what about the bit between? You know, that bit that’s full of self-doubt, endless repetition and feelings of being out of your comfort zone? We call it ‘The Lonely Middle’ and it’s one of the hardest parts of creating a successful business. We know, we’ve been there. So, we created The Lonely Middle Club to help you through it. Each month you get exclusive content to help give you the knowledge and inspiration to succeed. Plus, you get access to a private members-only Facebook group where you can get advice and network with small business owners who are going through similar challenges to you. If you want even more, you can download our 51 worksheets, guides, and journals all designed to do one thing, and one thing only… help you get through ‘The Lonely Middle’ and achieve your business goals. Visit our website today to join the club and benefit from our members price lock and full no questions asked money-back guarantee.
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Start-up articles

100's of free startup articles

We have created a collection of 100s of startup articles to help anyone with whatever stage they are on with their business journey. Hundreds of thousands of people have gone before you and we can learn from what they got right and avoid the things that have been proved not to work so well.

You can see the full list of 'articles' at: How to start a business