Save your business thousands in just minutes. Call Make It Cheaper on 0800 038 3240

I launched my business for £17
Name:
Kemi Laniyan
Company:
Corporate Homes
Company profile:
Corporate Homes is a specialist residential letting agency based in Central London. We primarily provide apartments for young professionals new to the UK, providing whole apartments or professional flat-shares. Unlike most other agencies we are quite a niche market, and we are quite hands-on with our residents. We provide a host of other services, such as giving tenants a set monthly fee which covers all their bills and includes internet, access to a phone and a weekly cleaner. We aim to make shared living much easier, and provide relief to the landlords that their apartments will be well kept for the year. Because many of our clients are new to the UK, they often need to form new networks of friends and find out where the cool places to go are. To ensure our tenants get the very best of London, we started an affiliate club which entitled our tenants to discounts on various services.
Position:
Co-director
Founded:
March 2007

I launched my business for £17

Overview

I had just been forced to finish another business that I'd invested a lot of money and time in when I decided to start Corporate Homes. Despite not having money or a job, I knew I didn't want to go back to work and still wanted to run a business of my own. That meant I had to find a way to market the new business with no money.

The challenge

My challenge was to find a way to create my website, brand and marketing material with a non-existent budget.

The solution

I decided to do everything in-house and make use of the internet. I found a ready-made logo rather than paying a big fee for a graphic designer to create it. I bought one from an American firm which cost me £4.

I researched on the net and found a brilliant company, Homestead, where I could create my own website. The choice and ease of creating a professional website was fantastic. In total it cost me no more than £3.09 per month hosting my website, and it was free for the first month.

I was also able to create a database on the site, using a separate online database system. My database for displaying all of the properties cost £9.99 per month.

With my logo and website created, I printed off our brochures in-house, which got us more business than I ever managed.

So I launched the business for £17.08!

Key lesson

Don't be put off by the costs of starting up your business. With a little imagination anything is possible!

Top tip

Research anything you want to do for your business online first. Do everything yourself during the early stages of trying your idea out.


Find out more about Corporate Homes

 

Smarta Business Builder

To help you on your business journey, we've created Smarta Business Builder, the complete online tools package for growing your business. Website Builder, Business Plans, Accounting Software, Legal Documents and Email - all in one place - from just £20 per month with no contract! Try it out today.