where would you like to start? This is such a hard question and one that can not really be answered by the web but by business mentoring and support. This is why we have Fashion Enter ltd (see www.fashion-enter.com) for one to one business sessionis and a team of 15 specilaists that can provide the right type of advise.

For starters however, what type of company do you "want" and "need", is it going to be a limited company, partnership, sole trader - there are legal responsiblities and statues governing each type. Do you anticipate you company having sales in excess of £65k - if so then you need to consider being VAT regiistered?

What type of market are you aiming for - presume it is design? Top end collection, mass market low priced items? WEb _base_d? You can see why it is so difficult to converse by web over such intricate matters and a team of specialists can help you ever step of the way.

Don't forget about sourcing issues too if you are producing your own label - UK or overseas, sealing procedure, blocks and patterns, fabric sourcing, trims, showman samples etc.

We will try and support you all we can however the information is currently vague.

There is a joining fee of £60 plus vat for Fashion Enter Ltd and the first step would be to hold a business session/mentoring meeting that is for 1-2 hours. There is also a full directory on the site for members only, wholesale agency and retail boutique in Croydon too.

Kind regards

Jenny Holloway.

hi im looking at starting my own business does anyone have any useful tips or ideas to help things go smoothly
thanks