Sohrab Vazir
Consultant | Founder | Global Citizen | Writer
Tag Archives: Start-up
How to boost your networking skills as an entrepreneur?
Networking skills are crucial in all walks of life, especially as an entrepreneur. Why? It’s hardly a surprise; First, humans are social creatures. We need human interaction to survive. Second, genuinely succeeding as an entrepreneur is primarily determined by who you know and your sales ability. Trust me: it all boils down to sales. For those who do not know me: I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) company, StudyFlats, when I was only 22 years old. As the sole founder and director, I scaled the business to over 30 UK cities. Okay, enough with the self-marketing, but feel free to read more about me here if you wish. In my years as an entrepreneur, I realised that one of the key determinants for an entrepreneur’s success is their networking skills, as well as their existing network. Personally, I always thrived on meeting new people and generally interacting with others. However, I did have my periods of being shy and introverted and therefore can relate to others who feel similarly. Building my own business helped me turn my outgoing personality, as well as my flaws, into effective networking skills. Today, I want to share 3 hacks that you can start implementing RIGHT NOW to improve your networking skills. 1. Get out there & talk to people I don’t care what it is, nor does it have to necessarily be business/networking events at first. Of course, business and networking events are essential for building a network relevant to your business. However, at this point, the purpose is to get in the habit of talking to ANYBODY. The best way to start is to take part in activities that you resonate with on a personal level, such as sports. Start getting comfortable with the idea of talking to anyone and shake off any discomfort/anxiety that you have about it. 2. Surround yourself with effective networkers | “ Your network is your net worth” One of the best ways to learn networking skills is by being in the company of effective networkers. “Your network is your net worth” is a golden quote and one that is particularly relevant to any entrepreneur. Moreover, simply being in the presence of those who possess a skill that you desire will enable you to adopt their positive traits/approach/mindset. 3. Approach and talk to influential people, especially if it makes you uncomfortable I grew up in an environment where I interacted with people who were either celebrities or nationally known within their fields of expertise. Initially, I recall that sense of anxiety when being surrounded by such people. However, since being a teenager I pushed myself to start conversations with such individuals. Interestingly, those conversations were always very positive despite feeling uneasy in the beginning. Remember this: “everyone is a human being with their own flaws and imperfections, including yourself”. Once you truly realise that, social pressure will have far less impact on your networking skills as an entrepreneur. As an example of this, in 2019 I was shortlisted as a finalist by NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards for North East England. These 3 simple hacks will help you take your networking skills to the next level. As an entrepreneur, your social and professional circle is paramount to your success. Therefore, developing your networking skills should be a key priority for any prospective and current entrepreneur. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting, and content.
Pros and Cons of WordPress
WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) used by millions of people around the world. It’s a great platform for building websites and blogs, but it’s not without its drawbacks. In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of WordPress. We’ll discuss everything from its ease of use to its security vulnerabilities. By the end, you should have a good understanding of whether or not WordPress is right for you. As mentioned WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS); a CMS is a software application that helps you create and manage digital content. that enables you to create a website or blog from scratch, or to improve an existing site. WordPress is free and open source software released under the GPL. There are many advantages to using WordPress as a CMS. WordPress is easy to use, has a large community of users and developers, and is very flexible. You can find a theme or plugin for almost anything you want to do with your website. However, there are also some disadvantages to using WordPress. Because it is so popular, it is often a target for hackers. WordPress websites can also be slow. This is due to the large number of plugins and themes. There are two ways to use WordPress: via the hosted version at WordPress.com, or by installing it on your own web server. Pros: While WordPress is a great platform for many users, it may not be the best fit for everyone. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of WordPress to help you decide if it’s the right CMS for your needs. Cons: About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content.
Startup Visa Business Ideas: 3 Simple Steps to Get Started
Are you thinking about your next step and exploring startup visa business ideas? Every successful venture starts off with an idea. Thus, the right business idea is the seed of future success. In this article, I want to help you get started with exploring startup visa business ideas. This article is essentially a “how to” guide for aspiring migrant founders. Brief intro about me: I moved to the UK when I was 17 on a student visa. Following the completion of my master’s degree at Newcastle University, I founded my own startup. My venture, StudyFlats, simplifies renting for students going abroad. It was built upon my own experience of being an international student in the UK. I scaled this business to over 30 UK cities and also obtained Settlement in the UK via the former Entrepreneur Visa scheme. Therefore, I’ve been there! And in this guide, I will hopefully make your life easier as a founder. Believe it or not, exploring startup ideas mainly requires common sense. Some of the largest companies in the world such as Uber are built on relatively simple concepts. Here are the steps you should take to come up with startup visa business ideas: Find a personal “pain” point Ask yourself the following questions: Starting off with things that are personally inconvenient in your life is a great first step in exploring startup visa business ideas. What are you personally skilled at? What is your passion? Do you possess a specific skill set or competence in a specialist area? Moreover, this could also be a particular life experience (e.g. going abroad). As a matter of principle, it’s essential for a founder to know the associated industry of their prospective venture. Therefore, an area in which you are already competent is a great starting point. For example: as an international student, I realised that there were no accommodation websites for overseas students. My proposed solution was a website that targeted international students before they moved to the UK. The key point here is that I knew my industry / international students because I was one myself. Startup visa business ideas relevant to the host market Finally, another important point to keep in mind is how relevant and applicable your idea is to the target destination. In this step, ask yourself these questions: Hopefully, these tips will help you in your discovery of startup visa business ideas and ultimately pursue the right one. Need help? Get in touch with me today or click here to find out more about my Startup and Innovator visa business consultancy. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats.I did so by obtaining an endorsement from Newcastle University under the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme (similar to the current Start-Up Visa). Subsequently, I obtained a further 3-year Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (which was replaced by the Innovator Visa). I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four, and also obtained my Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK. I now help other migrant entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses, and mainly with obtaining endorsements from the endorsing bodies.
Free Courses For New Founders
In this day and age, free courses for new founders can be super helpful. Starting a new business comes with many challenges and budget is usually the biggest. Therefore, in this article I will share a list of free courses for new founders as a starting point for your entrepreneurship journey. Of course, it must be noted that these courses are primarily centred around digital tools. Therefore, this article may not be applicable to founders seeking a non-digital free course. Introduction to Generative AI | Free Course by Google Great introductory course for founders and other individuals to understand the basics of Generative AI. Introduction to Large Language Models (LLM) | Free Course by Google This is a useful course for founders who wish to develop their own GenAI applications. Google Analytics | Free Course by Google Google Analytics is the fundamental tool that allows you to track your online presence as a founder. Therefore, it’s really important to prioritise learning about Google Analytics as you start your own business. Google Search Console | YouTube Series by Google Search Central Next up is Google Search Console. I mentioned how awesome Google Search Console is in another article about 5 Free Awesome SEO Tools. Google Search Console is the tool that will enable you to track the keywords that your website is ranking for. Of course, the features are far more detailed, but that’s the essential function of Google Search Console Google Digital Garage | Free Course by Google Google Digital Garage offers courses within a number of areas, most notably digital marketing. “The Fundamentals of Digital Marketing” course is free and also comes with a certificate which you can add to your resume or LinkedIn profile too. Digital Marketing Course | Free Course by HubSpot Academy One of the really useful free courses for new founders is the Digital Marketing Course offered by HubSpot academy. It covers the key elements of digital marketing which is very useful for every new business owner. Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace | Course on Udemy Right, so with this last one I wanted to highlight a different angle. So much of the current trends and directions are towards acquiring technical and commercial skills. Over the years there has been increasing attention towards “soft skills”, especially those applicable to the workplace such as emotional intelligence. Therefore, it was worth mentioning a free course for new founders that targets their interpersonal competencies. Introduction to Microsoft Excel | Course on Coursera Being proficient with Excel can go a long way, and therefore this course hosted on Coursera can be very useful to new founders Build a free website with WordPress | Course on Coursera This course is very useful if you wish to build a website for your founders, especially for smaller and more basic projects. Business Growth: Start-Ups, Investment and Negotiation | Stanford Useful course for first-time founders and/or business owners. These are some of the best free courses for new founders… For more insights check out my blog + discover more about my advisory learning programs for new founders below. About | My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content. For more info, please visit here.
How To Create an Innovator Founder Visa Business Plan?
If you’re considering the UK’s Innovator Founder Visa, then one of your key questions is probably “how to create an Innovator Founder Visa business plan?” *Disclaimer: please note that I am not an immigration adviser, nor do I offer any immigration advice. My services are purely of a business nature. Rightly so, one of your key concerns should be how to create an Innovator Founder Visa business plan. In this article, I will briefly highlight 3 steps that you should take in order to create an Innovator Founder Visa business plan. However, it’s perhaps more accurate to state that these steps will provide the “groundwork” guide for how to create an Innovator Founder Visa business plan. Seek expert opinion Regardless of how much of a seasoned entrepreneur you may be, it’s important to get another perspective. The Innovator Visa route is expensive and you have to invest plenty of time into it. Thus, it’s key to get it right from the start. In this sense, I am the expert that you can speak to (more about me HERE). Determine the viability & innovative aspect of your concept Before taking any other steps, it’s imperative to ensure your idea is both viable and innovative. Here are a few questions/pointers to help you get started: Of course, these are only a small point but they will help to place you in the right path. Research the Innovator Founder Visa Endorsing Bodies Generally business plans follow a standard structure, with certain differences depending on the business and its industry. One of the most helpful things you can do is to get to know the endorsing bodies. Subsequently, it’s key to understand the endorsing body or bodies that you wish to target. In doing so, pay attention to the following: Hopefully these tips should help you get an idea about how to create an Innovator Founder Visa business plan…..Need help? Get in touch with me today for an informal consultation to discuss your business proposition. As a former veteran of the business immigration path, I am best equipped to help you create a solid Innovator Founder Visa business plan. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats.I did so by obtaining an endorsement from Newcastle University under the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme (similar to the current Start-Up Visa). Subsequently, I obtained a further 3-year Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa (which was replaced by the Innovator visa). I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four, and also obtained my Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK. I now help other migrant entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses, and mainly with obtaining endorsements from the endorsing bodies. Helpful Resources Immigration business plans: 3 things to keep in mind
5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Business Name
Choosing the right business name is a tricky task. The bad news is that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to choose one these days as well. But not all hope is lost. In this short article I will highlight five key things to consider when choosing a business name. Hopefully these will put you in the right direction and help you avoid any costly mistakes when coming with the ideal name for your business. First and foremost, you need to be mindful of the legal part. This means making sure that your chosen business name does not infringe another business’ intellectual property. With business names, this usually concerns Trade Marks. There are several sources such as the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) which you can use to check existing trade marks. The best business name has less than 10-15 letters. However, this can be subjective and vary. But the general rule of thumb is that the shorter the name the more memorable it will be. Next on the list is checking the availability of a domain name for your business name. Unless you do not require a website, which in this day and age puts puts your business at a very small minority. You need to ensure that the relevant domain name is available for your chosen name. Here’s a few things to keep in mind and ask yourself during this part: For checking and registering domains, I recommend Namecheap. Many entrepreneurs and companies don’t take domain history into account. For instance, a domain, although suitable in other aspects, may have been used in an illegitimate website before, or it could have a high spam score. The latter can considerably affect the “SEObility” of a domain. One of the most useful tools I have discovered, although it is not strictly useful for domain history, is the WayBack Machine It allows you to see snippets of a website through a historical timeline. For instance, below is a snapshot of StudyFlats’ (my tech startup) website from 2016 Last but not least, you have to make sure that the social media handles of your chosen business name are available. Ideally you want all handles to be available. However, depending on your business, one platform may prevail over the other. So these are five things to keep in mind when choosing a business name…. If you need help with choosing the right business name, have a look at my full services or book a call with me today. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content. For more info, please visit here.
3 Things to Consider Before Applying For the Innovator Founder Visa
Applying for the Innovator Founder visa requires thought and careful planning. Not only do you have to make your business a success, but you also have to adjust to living in a new country. None of the content in this article or website shall constitute immigration advice in any shape or form. For immigration queries, please refer to a regulated solicitor or an immigration advisor regulated by the OISC. Here are 3 things that you should keep in mind if you’re considering to apply for the UK’s Innovator Founder visa. Living expenses Aside from your business, you need to account for your living costs. Whilst this may seem obvious, the key point is long-term planning. You need to plan for several scenarios, several of which include: Planning carefully for this is essential and ensures there are no nasty surprises later on. Application, immigration & visa costs Aside from your business and personal expenses, there are other costs too. You must find out whether your endorsing body will charge you and if yes, how much. Depending on your circumstances, these costs can vary. Linguistic & cultural differences Again, this also depends on your circumstances. For some, this may not be an issue in the slightest. However, it may take time to get accustomed to cultural differences and different business practices. Therefore, it’s a good idea to learn about the UK’s business culture and everyday life if you’re unfamiliar. These are three obvious, yet underestimated, things to consider before applying for the Innovator Founder visa. If you need business assistance for your idea/company before applying for the Innovator Founder visa, then get in touch with me today or visit my page to find out more. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats.I did so by obtaining an endorsement from Newcastle University under the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme (similar to the current Start-Up Visa). Subsequently, I obtained a further 3-year Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (which was replaced by the Innovator Visa). I grew my business to over 30 UK cities, and a team of four, and also obtained my Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK. I now help other migrant entrepreneurs, such as myself, with their businesses, and mainly with obtaining endorsements from the endorsing bodies.
The Link Between Immigration and Entrepreneurship: An Insight
Immigration and entrepreneurship are two seemingly distinct, yet interrelated, socio-economic phenomenons. The changing natures of commerce and human mobility continue to evolve per global trends and affairs. In this article, I will investigate the link between immigration and entrepreneurship. The other key objective is to identify the influencing factors of the connection between immigration and entrepreneurship. In doing so, I will first provide a brief historical outlook. Thereafter, I will evaluate the latter In light of the fundamental changes through technology and globalisation. Before proceeding further, it is beneficial to provide the readers with concise and separate historical overviews of immigration and entrepreneurship. This enables this research to: “Brief history on Immigration and Entrepreneurship” Immigration: historical & contextual outlook Migration theory Understanding the correlation between immigration and any other socioeconomic phenomena demands a comprehension of human mobility and displacement in a historical context. Immigration is a phenomenon that most of the global population is aware of in some shape or form. Besides, this is a trend that is unlikely to change in light of the anticipated prospective global migration landscape. Interestingly, the work of Rystad (1992), dated three decades ago, makes an exclusive reference to this argument. He states that global migration has to be regarded as a “permanent phenomenon” instead of a “temporary movement”. An interesting point that must be highlighted is that Rystad made this observation in 1992. Fast forward to over thirty years later and Rystad’s view continues to demonstrate its validity. Understanding a socioeconomic phenomenon such as migration demands an insight, however brief, into its existence through a historical lens. It is unfortunate that the limited scope of this article does not allow for a sufficient analysis of migration history. However, the work of Manning (2013) provides a useful starting point. He highlights several key important historical events of human migration as well as their outcome for both the migrants and their destinations. For instance, in an ancient historical context, Manning (2013) refers to the mass migration of the speakers of Indo-European languages to Iran (known as “Persia” by then) and India. The importance of this event is the substantial cultural change in their destinations as a result of migration. Furthermore, Manning’s work is highly relevant to this article as he categorises migration into four different types. He divides migration into the following categories: The fourth form of migration (cross-community) is perhaps the focal point of analysis. Nevertheless, it’s imperative to note that the author argues that most forms of migration have derived significant social, and technological changes in their destination communities (Manning, 2013; pp. 4-6). Why do people immigrate? Lastly, understanding the incentives behind migration allows for a better comprehension of the correlation between immigration and entrepreneurship. Therefore, I will refer to the work of Manning (2013; pp. 7-8) as in my view he offers a thorough categorisation of why humans migrate. According to the author, voluntary human migration may be motivated by the following four factors: From the aforementioned, it can be argued that, overall, improvement of circumstances, self-transformation and risk are common elements. What is entrepreneurship? Entrepreneurship is defined as: “the control and deployment of resources to create an innovative economic organisation (or network of organisations) for gain or growth under conditions of risk and uncertainty” (Dollinger, 2008; pp.9-10). The aforementioned presents an accurate description of entrepreneurship as it acknowledges several key components that form the philosophy of entrepreneurship. Thus, we may categorise its principal elements in the manner below: “Entrepreneurship is the control and deployment of resources to create an innovative economic organisation (or network of organisations) for gain or growth under conditions of risk and uncertainty” Dollinger, 2008 Analysis Background & author’s note Before proceeding to highlight external academic work and/or research, I would like to highlight a key point. Dollinger’s definition of entrepreneurship emphasises resources and risk. As the following sections of this research will focus on the “risk” element, there is a key gap in the existing literature. This gap is evident in the lack of reference to how migrant resources can be a driving factor in increasing migrant entrepreneurship rates. Per my personal experience, many migrants either have no resources (i.e. cash, liquid or physical assets) OR they have a fluidity of resources. For instance, prospective migrant is far more likely to convert their (physical) assets into cash for the purpose of immigration. The aforementioned demands extensive research and analysis which are beyond the limited scope of this research. Nonetheless, it is important to identify, acknowledge and further evaluate the “resource” factor of migration in the context of entrepreneurship. Immigration and entrepreneurship: the link As the starting point of this, I will begin the analysis with a Harvard Business Review article by Vandor (2021). Vandor adopts the stance that immigrants are overall more entrepreneurial and more likely to start businesses. His work is valuable to this research as he draws his hypothesis using several studies. Moreover, he also examines the personal factors surrounding individual migrants. Thus, the aforementioned facilitate a better understanding of the link between employability and entrepreneurship. First and foremost, it is useful to consider some studies concerning migrant entrepreneurship; notable statistics include: In a theoretical context, it was previously stated that “risk” is a mutual factor between pursuing entrepreneurship and migration. The statistics above also further support the idea that a direct link between entrepreneurship and migration is present. However, establishing the latter also begs the question of “how” they are relevant. Perhaps this is the vulnerability of the existing literature surrounding this topic. This is evident in Vandor’s rationale behind the link in question, as well as highlighting the differing viewpoints. In reference to existing research, Vandor (2021) refers to issues such as employment discrimination and adverse policy effects. However, through a study conducted by himself, Vandor argues that the inclination to pursue either entrepreneurship and the decision to migrate share a common factor. This mutual element is the willingness to take risks. Remarks As stated earlier, the scope of this research is…
5 Reasons Why Your Website is Failing You
Are you struggling with lead conversion or a consistently high bounce rate? The issue could be your website and today I’ll share 5 reasons why your website may not be generating results (and what to do about it). Success requires a thorough awareness of where you need to improve. Understanding your website’s issues is the first important step towards better numbers and UX. So, here are 5 areas of potential improvement: Okay so let’s start with an obvious one. If your website’s design is old, too basic or simply visually unappealing, it will take a toll on your conversions. Yes, you could get away with this in the 2000s or even early 2010s. However, with all the tools available today, there’s no excuse for bad design. Solution There are so many design options available that require minimal technical skills. Nonetheless, this is mostly the case if you only require basic functionalities. If you do not require a complex website, Content Management Systems (CMS) are probably your best shot. The most popular example is WordPress. It offers so many different templates. Check Themeforest to get started. Well, I probably don’t need to write too much about this one. We all hate slow computers and websites. In many cases, speed is the primary reason why websites are inadequate. There could be various reasons for this one, and it could get technical depending on how your website is made. Solution As a first step, run a speed test on Google’s free tool: PageSpeed Insights. This tool informs you of the steps you can take to improve your website’s speed. The solutions depend on your website, your technical skills and whether you have a developer or not. The font that you use makes a tremendous difference to the overall feel & UX. Solution Make sure you invest a substantial amount of time and attention to the font that you will use. This is applicable whether you are manually adding a font or purchasing a pre-made template. As well as UX and aesthetics, what your website contains is the ultimate factor. Content is what will keep your user engaged. It also determines whether they will take the next steps on your website. Thus, whether it’s from an SEO or a user retention perspective, your content is imperative. Solution Ask yourself the following questions: If you need help with content creation, especially for SEO, then contact me for help! The majority of users in many sectors visit websites on their phones. It’s so important to take an active approach in optimising your website for mobile use. Hopefully this article should give you an idea as to how you could improve your website . In this day and age, your website is essentially the front office of your business. Therefore, you are losing potential customers If it does not create a positive user experience. If you’d like help with your digital strategy, I’m a business consultant with over 6 years of experience in digital enterprise. Find out more about my services here! About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content. For more info, please visit here.
My Experience of the UK Business Visa System
If you’re considering a UK business visa, learning about other people’s experiences is helpful. For those unfamiliar with me or my work: I started my business in the UK as a 22-year-old international graduate on a business visa. After successful extensions and further UK business visas, I obtained permanent residency in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain). This was all through my initial business: StudyFlats. Firstly, allow me to elaborate that this is the old visa system and many aspects of this article may not be relevant today. Nor is this any form of immigration advice and it is solely my personal experience. I received two endorsements from Newcastle University for the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa (the former version of the current Start-Up Visa). I subsequently obtained a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa (T1E). The latter was the former version of the current Innovator Visa), although with different requirements. As part of the T1E visa extension requirements, the two below were the primary; Whilst they may seem relatively straightforward (though demanding), it was, in fact, quite the opposite. The manner in which the two requirements above were required to be demonstrated to the Home Office was quite complicated. For instance, your proof of investment or job creation would not be acceptable via bank statements/payment proof alone. I was required to enrol my staff on PAYE (provided by HMRC). Plus, the investment proof was subject to stringent requirements. The investment aspect on whether the money was invested via share capital or director’s loan. Below are just “some” examples of the concerns that I had; As stated, I received two endorsements from Newcastle University for my start-up, StudyFlats. Generally speaking, the process of obtaining endorsements can be long and complex. However, it is difficult to define a universal set of problems on this note. This is because endorsing institutions each have their own requirements. This is the case even under the current UK business visa system. This was very confusing and strict to adhere to. One example was when I wanted to rent an office space (as remote working was not yet the norm in 2019). I discovered that, by law, each person is entitled to a minimum space of 11 cubic metres. As I in fact was employing 4 people (instead of 2), this required plenty of time and consideration. Read more about this on the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). As mentioned earlier, the investment aspect itself was quite tricky. An example of this was that the director’s remuneration could not be counted as an investment. Moreover, deciding an investment structure (share capital vs. director’s loan) could have future ramifications if StudyFlats were to raise investment. Employing staff as a solo founder/director is tricky enough. Combine the latter with strict immigration requirements and the degree of complexity is limitless. This is particularly with strict employment laws being in force. Tip: there are lots of “P” forms that you will need to learn about. Therefore, I suggest cracking on with pre-emptive research if you’re planning to recruit staff. Last, but certainly not least, the biggest struggle was just managing and growing the company. Do a simple search about entrepreneurship challenges and you will come across SO much material, and perhaps millions of problems. Entrepreneurship is a tough journey. However, it can be extremely difficult when pursued in the business framework. This is not to discourage founders. If you have a viable idea/business that you believe in, you will overcome the challenges. If I could do it, then so can you! In short, UK business visas can be complex….. However, with the right mindset, management and direction you can overcome the complexity. As stated, the current UK business visa system does substantially differ from the Tier 1 Entrepreneur route. Need help with a UK business visa endorsement? As you have probably seen through my countless disclaimers (another aspect of being an entrepreneur in the UK), I am not an immigration advisor. However, I am a business consultant who can help you map the right idea and also help with your business planning. Better business planning and awareness will maximise your chance of getting an endorsement. And that’s why I’m here! Get in touch with me today for a free 1:1 introductory call. About My name is Sohrab Vazir. I’m a UK-based entrepreneur and business consultant. At the age of 22, and while I was an international student (graduate), I started my own Property Technology (PropTech) business, StudyFlats which I scaled to over 30 UK cities. I currently help other entrepreneurs and businesses of all size with the digital marketing strategy around SEO, copywriting and content. For more info, please visit here.