Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Carl Bradshaw, owner of Bradex Business Solutions, located in Manchester, United Kingdom.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I offer a range of services to business owners, including virtual business mentoring, executive coaching, and independent board advice. My ideal clients are small to medium-sized enterprises based in the North West of the UK in service industries, like virtual assistants, IT contractors, innovators, and inventors.

Tell us about yourself

I have had a 30-year career in business, starting in financial services, insurance broking and commercial finance broker, digital marketing agency, and commercial property, to name a few. My experience covers sales, finance, operations, HR, and marketing.

I became a company director early in my career and enjoyed helping to grow businesses. Then in 2008, I found myself redundant from my senior role in insolvency, and I really fell into mentoring through an accounting connection who introduced me to a not-for-profit that was running a guardian angel program in my local area, and my love for mentoring and coaching grew from there.

My daily motivation comes from the clients that I help throughout the week, assisting them in making great decisions and becoming awesome leaders of their businesses. Every day is a unique and complete joy. As Mark Twain says, 'find a job you enjoy doing and will never work a day in your life' well that's me.

I am also a Non-Exec Director of a nonprofit and a charity Trustee, as I believe in giving back to my community.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Enabling a client to release 25% extra income from his business in under a month by just changing one small thing.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Sometimes being the boss is not popular or fun, and we have to have those really difficult conversations. My most difficult day was having to make my staff redundant as the business had changed dramatically. Thankfully, through open and honest discussions, they made it easy for me, and I still speak to them today.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Research your idea, then research it some more. There may be a reason that no one else is currently doing it.
  2. Where there are partners/directors, there will be disagreement no matter how well you get along now, so get your shareholder/partnership agreements in place at the start.
  3. Make sure you get paid on time, as managing cash flow can be hard enough. Use your terms of credit well. Credit check your clients before and during any contract delivery. (and yes, make sure there is a contract you are all happy with).

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.bradex.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradexbs/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CarlBradshaw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlbradshaw/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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