One of the most common emails I receive are those asking for advice on what to do if you are thinking of starting your own business. Due to the state of our economy, a lot of people have found themselves in the position of having to think differently about their careers. It is said that home baking becomes more popular, the worse the recession. I don’t blame people at all for having a go at making their hobby into a business (after all that is how I started) – I do worry, though, that people think it is a case of just ‘popping the odd cake into the oven’ (One of my daughter’s teachers actually said this about my job!) So here are some things to consider doing, before setting up as a sole-trader: Contact your council to register and so they can start the necessary hygiene checks. Open a business bank account – some offer free banking for life in exchange for doing everything by machine or online. Get a website – through a website creator? Mine is invaluable for letting customers see the quality and range of my work. Insurance – Do you need it to cover more »