Expanding a business

Supporting Dorset businesses is one of our key aims. This includes encouraging and assisting Dorset businesses to thrive and develop.

Marketing

Marketing will be an important process for enabling your business to grow. There are various marketing options, all with differing costs. The key is finding and implementing the most suitable marketing activity for your business. To get you started, here are some marketing ideas.

Develop a website
Print business cards / flyers
Promote your business to everyone you meet (even socially)
Join dedicated business clubs / networks
Trade shows and exhibitions
Run media campaigns
Sub contract to specialist marketing agencies

For further information, including advice on writing a marketing plan, go to the Business Link website.

Taking on staff

Please go to the 'Employment and Recruitment' page for information and contacts.

Exceeding the VAT threshold

Your business is required to register for value added tax (VAT) if it exceeds an annually set threshold, currently £73,000 (as off April 2011). Some businesses may also decide to register voluntarily, for a number of potential advantages:

Reclaim input tax
Assists supplying other VAT-registered businesses
Increased credibility for your business

Registering for VAT can appear to be a daunting process and can deter business expansion. However online guidance and the option to file electronically has simplified the process. If you are approaching the VAT threshold or are considering registering voluntarily, please contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for further advice.

Requiring new premises

Another key consideration when expanding a business is ensuring your premises is big enough. In some circumstances it may be possible to alter or extend your current premises. For further information see the 'Planning' related article.

If you decide you need to find new premises, the local authorities maintain a commercial property database named Property Pilot. The online tool allows you to input your requirements and returns the corresponding search of the comprehensive range of properties held on the database. For further information go to the 'Property Pilot' related article.

However, we do not only support growing businesses. Although we encourage local businesses to grow, we also appreciate that sometimes circumstances dictate that businesses opt to remain the same size or even contract.