Everything You Need to Start a Business Comfortably in Manchester
Expanding your business is always going to be a huge deal. It’s a big cost, of course, and comes with the potential for huge rewards – if done correctly. The good news is that you aren’t doomed to expand into London if it’s not a good fit for you. You can expand your Exeter-based business into other hubs in the UK that are a much better fit (and often far more affordable).
One of those top options is Manchester. Manchester is an excellent option for those looking to start a business, especially with its big boom in new property developments, so you can get into a hot up-and-coming area first.
The Rental Market in Manchester
Manchester has many great offices and shop locations to choose from, meaning you are sure to find an area that will best suit your business. To start narrowing down your options, for example, you’ll want to find out where your customer demographic lives, and then compare.
If your business is relatively run-of-the-mill (meaning you don’t operate in a niche) then you’ll want to:
- Find your audience
- Compare competition saturation
- Compare cost
You could rent a commercial unit in one of the new developments by Heaton Group, for example, and be the first in the door. If you are a small independent café, you are the go-to option for everyone entering that new building.
You don’t even need to necessarily open up before people live there. Most developments are built in clusters, meaning you have more than just the residents in that building to cater to.
Business Support in Manchester
Manchester is home to some very important business support hubs that will help you successfully expand and open up a new branch for your business in the area.
The Growth Company
The Growth Company is a business support organization that helps you access finance, establish international trade, recruit, or even relocate your business. There truly is something for every business owner, from development companies whose main focus is research and development all the way to small local café brands looking to start a franchise.
The Business Growth Hub
One of the big parts of the Growth Company is the Business Growth Hub. This hub is specially designed to help those in green technology, creative, health, or manufacturing industries successfully set up shop in the area.
University Connections
There are so many opportunities to work with some of the biggest universities in the UK. You could set up graduate recruitment programs, knowledge exchange projects, benefit from research projects, internships, and so much more with the Manchester Metropolitan University or the University or Manchester.
Soft Launch First to Get Your Feet
It takes a while to successfully expand your business, even if you just operate out of your location (for example, as a café). The best way to begin the process is to soft launch. You can do this by making regular trips up to the area, renting a hot desk, and networking and workshopping your options. If you want to franchise your café, for example, you might want to see about creating a product line by talking to some of the production companies in the area.
There are many opportunities, so take the time to explore your options in Manchester, and once you have a clearer picture of how you want to expand your operations, you can then find and launch your second location with confidence.
