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For a successful business, you need a viable business idea, the skills to make it work and the funding. Discover whether your idea has what it takes.

Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules. Learn how to set up your business.

Advice on protecting your wellbeing, self-confidence and mental health from the pressures of starting and running a business.

Learn why business planning is an essential exercise if your business is to start and grow successfully, attract funding or target new markets.

It is likely you will need funding to start your business unless you have your own money. Discover some of the main sources of start up funding.

Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.

Businesses are required to comply with a wide range of business laws. We introduce the main rules and regulations you must comply with.

Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.

Some businesses need a high street location whilst others can be run from home. Understand the key factors from cost to location, size to security.

Your employees can your biggest asset. They can also be your biggest challenge. We explain how to recruitment and manage staff successfully.

It is likely your business could not function without some form of IT. Learn how to specify, buy, maintain and secure your business IT.

Few businesses manage the leap from start up to high-growth business. Learn what it takes to scale up and take your business to the next level.

Why you need a professional email address

Your business name is a key part of your brand identity. Your business name appears on your website, your social media profiles, your business uniform and company vehicle, if you have one. You should also set up a business email address.

Sure, you could use a free email address, such as Gmail. But, when you're running your own business, you should have your own branded email address. It should be easily recognisable by your customers, easy to remember and look professional.

What is a professional email address?

A business email address clearly identifies the email as either being sent to or from your business. Usually, a business or professional email address contains your name and the business name. For example, [email protected] . A branded, professional email address such as this is instantly recognisable, easy to remember and looks more professional than [email protected] or similar.

You can create a professional email address using an email hosting service like Google Workspace. The hosting service will allow you to create business email addresses using your chosen domain. You can create email addresses for individual team members or teams such as [email protected].

Six reasons you need a professional email address

  1. Reputation: A business email address appears more trustworthy, more professional and more dependable. In short, it provides the credibility that is essential for selling your products and services to new customers.
  2. Response: Recipients are far more likely to open, read and respond to an email when they recognise the sender. A business email address can help you overcome the first barrier to email marketing success by letting customers know who the mailing is from.
  3. Branding: To reinforce your brand, your email address should marry with your business name, web address and social media handles.
  4. Marketing: If you're planning to incorporate email marketing into your marketing strategy, a business email address allows you to build your own email marketing lists and send regular emails to your target audience.
  5. Beat the spam filters: An email from a professional email address is far less likely to end up in a customer's spam folder. Your inbox is also far less likely to be clogged up with spam messages too.
  6. Scale the business: As your business grows, a professional email address brings several key benefits. It allows you to create email accounts for new team members. It saves time - no more forwarding emails to others. And it's easier to delegate work. It can also make your business look bigger to outsiders.

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