So You Want to Start a Business
A free evening session for people exploring an idea.
Thinking about starting a business but not sure where to begin? You are not alone. Most people start with passion and drive, but there is so much more to think about, and it is not always obvious what actually matters or where to focus first.
This practical 90-minute evening session is designed for people who are exploring an idea, still in full-time work, or simply working out whether starting a business is the right next step. It cuts straight to the things that matter most, without the jargon.
Developed by Paul Sims of Negotia for Shaping Portsmouth’s business support programme and delivered through the Portsmouth Business Support Service, this session covers customers, finance, the law, and the common mistakes people make when getting started. You will also leave with a practical starter guide to take away.
Dates and Times
Dates for the upcoming sessions are listed below. Please book your place by completing the form at the button to the right!
- 7th May 2026 | 18:30-20:00 | Location TBC
- Further dates TBC
Location: Shaping Portsmouth, Upper 2nd Floor, Portsmouth Guildhall, PO1 2SA
📍HOW TO FIND US
What you will come away with:
- Clarity on whether your idea is worth pursuing and how to test it
- A clearer picture of your potential customer and your route to market
- An honest overview of the financial and legal basics to have in mind
- A practical starter guide to take away
- Confidence to take sensible next steps
This is for you if...
- You have a business idea but are not sure where to start
- You are currently in employment and exploring your options
- You want honest, practical advice without the jargon
- You recently started and want to make sure you have not missed anything important
About Paul Sims
Paul Sims is the founder of Negotia and a serial entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience helping start-up and scale-up founders build pipelines and revenue. A qualified executive coach with over 1,000 coaching hours, Paul works hands-on with founders and leadership teams to sharpen their messaging, design go-to-market strategies and build for sustainable growth.
Workshop Overview
This session is the starting point. Before you think about selling or scaling, you need clarity on whether your idea is solid, who your customer is, and what foundations you actually need. This is where that work begins.
If you are already trading and ready to grow, take a look at our Launch, Sell & Scale Workshop.
Delivered in partnership with Paul Sims, Negotia | Shaping Portsmouth | Portsmouth City Council | Portsmouth Business Support Service