Types of business

You have satisfied your business idea is viable. The next step is to decide what form your business should take. We explore the options.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own bakery.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own beauty business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own bike shop.

Check out our guide for starting and running your own blacksmith's business.

Check out our guide for starting and running your own animal boarding business.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your own book shop.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own bookkeeping business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own bridal shop.

Read our practical guide to starting up and running your own builders merchant business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own building firm.

Our guide gives you the essentials for starting up and running your own alarm fitting business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own business.

Read our practical guide to starting up and running your own café.

Owners of valuable classic vehicles are also key customers. Read our guide to starting up and running your own alarm fitting business.

Our easy-to-follow guide will help you to start up and run your own bodyshop.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own car parts business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own car parts business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your valeting business.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own caravan site.

Read our practical guide to starting up and running your own care home.

Our easy-to-follow guide will help you to start up and run your own carpet fitting business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own carpet shop.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own cheese making business.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own childminding business.

Read our guide to help you to start up and run your own chimney sweeping business.

Our guide will help you start up and run your own Chinese catering business.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own herbal medicine practice.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your own chiropody practice.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own chiropractic clinic.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own classic car restoration business in our practical guide.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own clothes hire business.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own clothes shop in our practical guide.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own clothes manufacturing business.

Private coach firms may offer local bus services to fare-paying passengers, possibly on routes subsidised by the local authority, or they may take on private hire work.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own computer shop.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your own construction business.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own contract cleaning business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own convenience store.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your courier business.

Check out our guide for starting and running your own cycling events business.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own damp proofing business in our practical guide.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own day nursery.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own delicatessen.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own dental lab in our practical guide.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own dental practice.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own DIY shop in our practical guide.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own dressmaking business.

Specialist driveway and patio firms offer a range of services including laying paving and other exterior surfaces, cleaning, repairs and maintenance.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own driving school.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own dry cleaners.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own manufacturing business.

This guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own farm shop.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own farm supply business in our practical guide.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own farrier business in our practical guide.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own fencing business.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own fish and chip shop from our practical guide.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own fishing tackle shop.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own fishmonger's shop in our practical guide.

Read our practical guide to starting up and running your own fitness centre.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your florist's shop.

Our guide will help you start up and run your own food manufacturing business.

Read our practical guide to starting up and running your own funeral business.

Our guide will help you start up and run your own furniture manufacturing business.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your own restoration business.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own furniture shop.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own garage.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own garden centre.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own garden services business.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own driving range.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own language school.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own life coaching business.

Make people's weddings and special occasions complete by offering luxury vehicle hire.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own business in our practical guide.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your livery stable business.

Thinking of setting up as a locksmith? You'll need good practical and mechanical skills and be prepared to work in different business and domestic settings. Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own locksmiths.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own male grooming salon in our practical guide.

Our guide gives you all the essentials you need for starting up and running your own business.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own business in our practical guide.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own milk round.

Looking for flexible and varied driving work? Running a minicab business might fit the bill.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own Mobile DJ business.

Our guide will help you start up and run your own mobile takeaway business.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own dealership.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own motorcycle retailing business.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own motorcycle rider training business.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own business.

Check out our practical guide for help with starting and running your own business.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own night club business in our practical guide.

Our guide gives you the essentials you need for starting up and running your own nutritional therapy business.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own paintball centre.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your own painting and decorating business.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own pawnbroking business.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own personal training business in our practical guide.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your own pest control business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own pet grooming business.

If you're an animal lover running a pet shop might be an option for you.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own pharmacy business in our practical guide.

Photographic equipment shops sell and hire equipment to casual photographers, serious hobbyists and professionals.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own photographic business in our practical guide.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own physiotherapy practice in our practical guide.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own picture framing business in our practical guide.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own pig farm in our practical guide.

Our easy-to-follow guide will help you to start up and run your own pizza delivery business.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own business in our practical guide.

Our easy-to-follow guide will help you start up and run your own plastering business.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your own plumbing business.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own pony trekking centre.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own pool hall business in our practical guide.

Although the number of Post Offices has fallen in recent years they are still very popular life-style businesses to run.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own pottery business in our practical guide.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your poultry business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own printing business.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own pub in our practical guide.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own record label business.

There's no doubt that the internet has thrown up many challenges for record shops, but a well-run business can still succeed.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own reflexology practice.

If you want to offer removals services you'll need to decide who your customers will be - domestic households or commercial organisations.

There are lots of things to consider if you're planning on running a shop.

Read our practical guide to starting up and running your roofing business.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your own rural crafts business.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own sandwich bar in our practical guide.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own scaffolding business in our practical guide.

Scrap metal prices can go up and down quickly so you'll need to take this into account if you're setting up as a scrap metal dealer.

If you're thinking of setting up your own shoe repair business, read our guide for practical help and guidance.

Shoe sales are very seasonal so an independent shoe shop needs an effective buying strategy to avoid having to discount significant amounts of stock.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your own business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own sign writing business.

Check out our practical guide for help with starting and running your skip hire business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your smallholding venture.

Sports goods retailing is very competitive and independent outlets need to make sure they have something special to offer customers - like a repair or hire service.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own agency.

Most surf shops are located in coastal areas and are often run by people with a keen interest in surfing.

To run a tack shop ideally you'll be knowledgeable about equestrian matters and located in an area with lots of horses and riders.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your tanning business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your tattoo business.

If you want to set up a taxi firm remember that all your taxi vehicles and drivers must be licensed.

Our easy-to-follow guide will help you to start up and run your thatching business.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your tiling business in our practical guide.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own tool hire business.

Although the toy market is very competitive there's still room for well-run independents offering great service.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your tree services business.

Check out our practical guide for help with starting and running your own turf supply business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own tyre-fitting business.

Check out our practical guide for help with starting and running your second-hand car retailing business.

Check out our practical guide for help with starting and running your own veterinary practice.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your video/DVD rental business.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your waste collection business.

Check out our practical guide for help with starting and running your web developer business.

Wholesalers act as middlemen between manufacturers and businesses like shops and hairdressers.

Check out our practical guide for help with starting and running your window cleaning business.

Our easy-to-follow guide will help you to start up and run your window fitting business.

Our guide gives you the essentials for starting up and running your own windscreen business.

Read our practical guide on starting up and running your own accountancy business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own acupuncture practice.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own amusement arcade in our practical guide.

Check out our practical guide on the essentials for starting and running your own antiques business.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own practice.

Our easy-to-follow guide will help you to start up and run your own architectural salvage business.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own aromatherapy business.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own gallery in our practical guide.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own art shop in our practical guide.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own ecommerce business.

Our easy-to-follow guide will help you to start up and run your own eBay business.

Our practical guide will help you start up and run your own electrical shop.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own electrician business.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own business as an entertainer in our practical guide.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own estate agency.

Our guide gives you the essentials for starting up and running your own event hire business.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own ice cream parlour in our practical guide.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own internet cafe in our practical guide.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own business in our practical guide.

Check out our practical guide for help with starting and running your own office-based business.

Our guide covers the key issues for starting and running your own office goods business.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own optician business in our practical guide.

Our guide will help you start up and run your own organic farm business.

You'll find all you need to start up and run your own osteopath business in our practical guide.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your own outdoor activity centre.

Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your outdoor equipment retailing business.

Check out our practical guide for starting and running your own outside catering business.

Our guide gives you all the essentials for starting up and running your upholstery business.

Get the essentials for starting up and running your own mobile phone business in our practical guide.

More people than ever are setting up their own business. Rachel Miller investigates some of the most exciting new business opportunities.

Unlike even the most ethical of other start-ups, social enterprises have environmental or social values at the very core of everything they do.

At first glance, Bookdonors, a Selkirk-based social enterprise, appears simply to sell books to raise money for good cause. But there's more to it.