The Business Box

The Business Box of Companies group is made up of six professionals who have been through the process of becoming self employed. Now, after successfully navigating the choppy waters involved with running an SME, they have created a one-stop shop style service to help other professionals strike out on their own or expand their businesses. They hope the business will be able to meet most of the needs a start-up could face.

The venture is the brainchild of Carol Webb, who also runs a bookkeeping and accountancy business. She said: "I went self employed in August 2006 and had an office management background, so I knew lots of things that helped me set up a business of my own. But as I networked with other people I realised there were lots of others out there who felt scared and timid at being out there on their own."

Seeing an opportunity to provide a different kind of start-up service, she recruited a team of successful business minds to join her in the venture. Most of the team, who also have expertise in IT, administration and law, operate around High Wycombe, with one in Waddesden. They arrived at the name "Business Box", to signal how the group can tailor its services to each particular customer. Ms Webb said: "It works on a modular basis. You buy the box but choose what chocolates you want going into it."

Each member will continue to run their businesses in parallel to the new company, and Ms Webb hopes eventually the team will be able to leave their original companies in the hand of employees to focus on Business Box."

Brian McLelland runs a business law firm outside of the group. He said: "I think the one thing that's different is that we're all SME's ourself. We've been there ourselves and do understand the pressures that exist. Hopefully it will help businesses avoid some of the mistakes we have made in the past. It's a joint venture with different skillsets, different individuals and different businesses."