Small businesses are often defined as businesses that employ no more than 99 employees. Being small does not necessarily mean the business is at a disadvantage, but it may make growth harder without assistance.

Some of the major reasons for starting up or buying into a small business are lifestyle changes, tinkering with the idea that it could be profitable if developed further, and achieving independence by working for yourself rather than for somebody else.

A complex picture arises with regard to how much support is available to businesses, and this makes your choice of business advisors even more important. If you feel lost when looking for business advice or don’t know what you need help with, read on.

Small business advisors can help you with many different aspects of owning or running your business, and their expertise is valuable both before you make the decision to go into business for yourself, during the early stages of your business’s growth, and afterward to get it really humming along.

Some small business advisors specialize in specific areas such as taxation, legal services, or initial set-up, while others will be generalists who can provide a wide range of that may apply to you.

Which type of business advisor you choose will depend on what stage your business is at, what services you need, and how much money you have available. It could be a good idea to seek out smaller local companies or sole traders who can offer more personal help than larger businesses because they are likely to work with many clients in your area or industry sector.

However, it’s also important not to assume that the bigger the company, the better; this isn’t necessarily true because smaller players can sometimes give you more attention if they understand your needs properly.

You should also bear in mind that, while some small business advisors may offer you free initial advice, this is often time-limited to help you decide if they are the best people for your business. Once they have determined the specialist area, it will be up to them to provide you with further details of what can be done and how much it would cost.

In conclusion, small business advisors can be one of your most important resources when you are starting up or growing a business. If you’re not sure whether an advisor will be able to help, it’s always best to ask them directly for guidance.