A GUIDE has been launched to help people with starting a business in the Test Valley. 

Start Your Own Business and Test Valley Borough Council have released the free guide.

It leads potential business owners through a comprehensive range of issues from pre-start up planning and raising funds, to tax and accountancy matters, marketing, employing staff and growing the business. A local directory, and free resource templates, are included to help new business owners to start off on the right foot.

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Cllr Phil North, leader of Test Valley Borough Council, said: “We are proud to provide access to a Start Your Own Business in Test Valley guide, this will be an invaluable source of information for local entrepreneurs. It fits with our aims and objectives from our four-year-plan to build on the strengths and ambitions of our communities and enable economic growth.”

Andy Pringle, from Start Your Own Business, said: “Test Valley is such a vibrant area and is close to our hearts. It is a pleasure to be able to help entrepreneurs on their business journey thanks to support of Test Valley Borough Council. We all hope that the guide will prove useful and result in even more local success stories.”

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The guide can be downloaded free of charge from the Test Valley Borough Council website. 

New businesses can also take advantage of the borough council's business incentive grants of £750 which are available for new business start-ups. Grants must be approved before the business has started trading and will be paid after the business has been trading for six months.