Member Article

Free IT advice for start-ups

Start-up companies that are unsure of what kind of IT system they need can now use an online tool to let them know what their business requires. Business Link’s ‘Setting up an IT system’ offers advice for small firms and start-ups on what the most appropriate equipment for their organisation would be.

Business Link said that understanding requirements such as internet and network connections, as well as laptop and other hardware componants, is often a confusing process. The interactive tool uses a short questionnaire to identify the main use for IT within the business. Business owners enter details on which members of staff need to use the system and an assessment is then made on how simple or sophisticated a system is required.

The resulting guide then offers managers advice on what specifications they need to run their business effectively, however does not recommend any specific brands or equipment models.

Jonathan Hollow of Business Link said: “Setting up IT systems can be quite daunting, particularly for start-ups who may never have had any IT experience, yet cannot afford to hire an IT specialist for their business. “The tool allows business owners to be confident when speaking to IT suppliers and vendors about what they really need.”

The tool can be found at www.businesslink.gov.uk/ITbasics.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .