Small Business Support
Find the help you need to bring your business to the next level
As a photographer, there’s only so much I can do to support you in your business.
Photos can only contribute to your success if other areas are taken care of too. So here’s a list of fantastic service providers that work with a variety of small businesses. Find your match below!
Categories: Graphic and /or Web Design | Virtual Assistant | Coaching | Social Media Support | Marketing Support | Copywriting | Finances | Email Marketing | Personal Styling | Recruitment and HR
In case we haven't met...
My name is Anja. I’m a photographer and filmmaker for small businesses and families based in Worthing, West Sussex.
The main goal with all my work is to instil confidence in my clients by encouraging them to show up as they are – without changing what they look like, act like or what they care about.
I work with lots of small businesses along the South Coast of the UK and beyond and I hear the same questions and the same challenges all over.
One issue is that as a solopreneur, we have to do everything ourselves. And when we’re ready to ask and recruit help, it can be hard to find the right people and service providers to support us.
That’s what this resource is here for. It is a collection of other small businesses that cover most of the things small businesses need help with: Graphic design, website development, copywriting, finances ect.
Please note, I haven’t worked with everyone on this list myself so when you inquire with anyone here, do your own research to find out if they’re the right fit for you!
Graphic and /or Web Design
Leyla Alexander – Leyla Alexander Design
website: www.leylaalexander.com
email: leyla@leylaalexander.com
Social media: Instagram and LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: leyla@leylaalexander.com
What I/we offer: I specialise in brand identity and web design, and love to create joyful and engaging brand experiences that resonate with my clients’ audience and reflect their unique purpose.I also design marketing materials to help my clients promote their business e.g brochures, social media graphics/templates, podcast graphics, email newsletters etc
Who we/I work with: I love to work with big-hearted businesses, using my creative skills to shine a light on the good that they do and in doing so, put a little bit of positivity into the world.
Joanne Higgs – Higgs Creative
website: joannehiggs.co.uk
email: design@joannehiggs.co.uk
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: design@joannehiggs.co.uk and LinkedIn
What I/we offer: I am a graphic designer who specialises in branding and logos. I create branding and marketing materials for solo or small businesses. I have 3 main branding packages, but I have a flexible design service that is tailored to the needs of my clients.
Who we/I work with: My branding clients are normally a new business or at crossroads in their business; they have a small business and want to level up their business image. They are all ready to invest in professional design. I am friendly and relaxed, but I also bring order and clarity with my service. If I sound like the right fit for you and your business, I would love to chat.
Tom Kingham – Agency Kick
website: agencykick.co.uk
email: tom@agencykick.co.uk
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: tom@agencykick.co.uk
What I/we offer: Low/No-Code Web Agency – Specialising in creating stunning, brand-aligned websites on platforms like Shopify, WordPress and Squarespace
Who we/I work with: SMEs
Rachael Dines – Shake It Up Creative
website: www.ShakeItUpCreative.com
email: howdy@shakeitupcreative.com
Social media: Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook,
Best way to get in touch: howdy@shakeitupcreative.com
What I/we offer: We are a respected and experienced marketing and web company offering website design and development, graphic design inc branding, marketing plans and campaigns, social media, PR and SEO.
Who we/I work with: Small to medium businesses and charities. Sectors of strength are hospitality, arts & culture and charity. Our ideal clients are those who have been in business just a couple or few years and have juggled marketing alongside everything else. Now these people are ready for professional marketing support, whether for a project or regularly.
Katie Merrien – CommuniKate Design Limited
website: www.communikate.design
email: hello@communikate.design
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: hello@communikate.design
What I/we offer: Graphic designer (including infographics), logo designer, 2D explainer video animator, live graphic recorder and copywriter focused on accessibility and inclusion by turning written and complex information into visual communications and simplified text.
Who we/I work with: All businesses (big and small) who are interested in being more inclusive of people with disabilities, dyslexia, neurodivergence, different primary languages. Including Councils, charities, healthcare providers and individual businesses. I can also help people explain their products and what they do through visual introductory animations and/or infographics.
Fran Cook – Francesca Cook Studio
website: www.francescacook.com
email: hello@francescacook.com
Social media: Instagram and LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: hello@francescacook.com
What I/we offer: We are brand and digital design studio for positive change.
Who we/I work with: We design brands and digital products with charities, start-ups and entrepreneurs for causes we believe in and topics we are passionate about, including health, wellbeing, feminism, social justice and education.
Michael Percy – Gridbury
website: www.gridbury.com
email: michael@gridbury.com
Best way to get in touch: www.gridbury.com/contact
What I/we offer: Brand design, graphic design, brand photography and squarespace websites.
Who we/I work with: Service providers in any industries. No product based businesses.
Julia Broughton – Letters by Julia
website: lettersbyjulia.com
email: hello@lettersbyjulia.com
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: hello@lettersbyjulia.com
What I/we offer: I provide lettering services, which can include working with a graphic designer to create a bespoke logo/brandmark or creating beautiful words for printed materials when you want something more unique than a font. I also do event calligraphy which includes personalising gifts or purchases in-store, promotional items for influencers, place cards for a dinner, etc
Who we/I work with: I work with both large and small businesses on providing a luxury feel and really nailing the small details. Businesses that hold events would be ideal (although I do not provide wedding invitation services or mural painting)
Virtual Assistant
Emma Waterer – Expert Virtual Assistant Services Ltd
website: www.expertvaservices.co.uk
email: info@expertvaservices.co.uk
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: info@expertvaservices.co.uk or by booking a time in my calendar
What I/we offer: We offer virtual administration and business support for small businesses either as a one-off project or for on-going support. We can help businesses set up their email accounts/calendars/admin processes when they first start out and then be their ‘back office’ team on an on-going basis. We are here to get all those jobs done that as a business owner, you just don’t have the time for, for businesses who need help but don’t want to bring on staff in their office and only want to pay for work that gets done. Some of the tasks we can carry out are: AdministrationDiary ManagementProof ReadingData EntryEmail ManagementCredit ControlAppointment BookingResearchQuotation follow upsLead QualificationEvent ManagementLife ManagementWhen taking on a new client, we conduct a full consultation either in person or virtually, to establish their requirements, confirm their preferred methods of communication and agree timeframes and budget. We can offer suggestions and advice for how to make your business administration run more smoothly. It’s a collaboration process between us and our clients. In short, you can rest assured that working with us as your Virtual Assistant is a seamless, efficient and productive process.
Who we/I work with: Our ideal clients are small business owners who are successfully doing what they do best to the point where their ‘to-do’ list is being neglected. Clients who are happy to outsource the non-fee earning tasks for their business because they know that it is more efficient and cost effective to get an experienced VA to do them. Some of the clients and industries we have worked with include: accountant/corporate speaker/author/acrylic manufacturer/events/newspaper group chairman/recruitment agency/plant hire/digital advertiser/marketing/night club group and rock star!
Mandi Martin – The Mandiverse
website: www.themandiverse.co.uk
email: hello@themandiverse.co.uk
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: hello@themandiverse.co.uk or phone (07708526402)
What I/we offer: Virtual Assistant services – anything from marketing, social media, managing processes, email and diary support, Google Business support – you name it… I just love supporting businesses!
Who we/I work with: Ideal client – someone who knows they need help/support but doesn’t want to employ or have the hassle of staff! Someone who is happy to have someone as passionate and excited about their businesses they are to work alongside them and help support them! Most of my clients at the moment are newly diagnosed neurodiverse – so we’re navigating new and improved ways of running their business. This also includes getting them decent branding photos!!! 😉
Jo Gardiner – Just ask Jo
website: www.justaskjo.co.uk
email: jo@justaskjo.co.uk
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: Either via LinkedIn, enquiry form on my website (www.justaskjo.co.uk) or email (jo@justaskjo.co.uk)
What I/we offer: I’m a creative business partner. I work with coaches and consultants tackling their creative to-do lists from writing content for social media posts, emails and blogs to creating workbooks and lead magnets, updating course content, brainstorming ideas and more -basically, I’m the essential extra pair of hands to keep things moving behind the scenes! I offer monthly retainers for those never-ending to-do lists and project support for those one-off tasks or to see them through a short-term period.
Who we/I work with: Coaches and consultants, predominately in the personal/professional development space e.g. Leadership and Career Coaches, HR Consultants, CV writers and Training providers. They tend to work with corporate organisations delivering bespoke coaching, training sessions, workshops and keynotes but also work on a 1:1 basis with self-funded clients.
Coaching
Sarah Potter – La Dolce Vita
website: www.ladolcevita.co.uk
email: sarah@ladolcevita.co.uk
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: sarah@ladolcevita.co.uk
What I/we offer: I help women get out of their own way so they can show up consistently for their business and life. I help them create marketing plans that flow with how they want to live and work and nurture the strength of mind and energy to make them happen so they can easily magnetise soul clients they are excited to work with
Who we/I work with: Soul-led female founders, leading businesses that spark positive change in the world
Nicola Thomas – The Busy Brain
website: www.thebusybrain.co.uk
email: hello@thebusybrain.co.uk
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: hello@thebusybrain.co.uk
What I/we offer: I’m a coach working with ADHDers to help them reach their goals.
Who we/I work with: Women who were diagnosed with ADHD as adults and need support navigating a neurotypical world. Primarily support them through work/business development to get to where they want to be in a way that feels natural for them.
Social Media Support
Candela Llanos – ACCIO Branding
website: portfolio
email: candela@acciobranding.com
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: candela@acciobranding.com
What I/we offer: I’m a brand marketer focusing on cohesive brand strategies. I specialise in brand building, brand and product launches, and social media branding, ensuring consistent brand voices across various platforms.
Who we/I work with: Mainly the hospitality industry: restaurants, boutique hotels, B&Bs, coffee shops, and bakeries.
Samantha MacMahon – Clear Day
website: www.clear-day.co.uk
email: sam@clear-day.co.uk
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: sam@clear-day.co.uk
What I/we offer: Regular social media support, one-and-done products: social media strategy, social media audit or power hour
Who we/I work with: Usually service-based businesses, mostly but not exclusively women. I love working with businesses who are looking for someone who can really capture their voice so their content sounds like them.
Becky Greaves – The Mindful Gingernut
website: www.themindfulgingernut.com
email: becky@themindfulgingernut.com
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: becky@themindfulgingernut.com
What I/we offer: I’m a social media manager, with a love for video editing and editing podcast transcripts!
Who we/I work with: Small businesses and entrepreneurs in the health, wellbeing and leisure space.
Jenny French – Jenny French Social
website: jennyfrenchsocial.co.uk
email: jenny@jennyfrenchsocial.co.uk
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: jenny@jennyfrenchsocial.co.uk
What I/we offer: I’m an Instagram trainer for small businesses helping them to tap into the power of Instagram marketing by teaching them exactly what they need to do get more clients and customers.
Who we/I work with: Mostly female small business owners
Marketing Support
Lisa Walden – LW Marketing
email: lisa@lisawalden.co.uk
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: lisa@lisawalden.co.uk
What I/we offer: Support for small business to generate leads. Digital and email marketing. Communications & events. Tech background mainly B2B with B2C travel experience.
Who we/I work with: Any small business needing marketing support to generate sales. An ideal client might have a fixed marketing project or need regular input from an outsourced marketing manager. I’m an extension to a team without the cost of employed resource.
Kat Hounsell – Small goes Big
website: www.smallgoesbig.co.uk
email: kat@smallgoesbig.co.uk
Social media: Instagram and LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: kat@smallgoesbig.co.uk book an intro call with me here
What I/we offer: I help businesses to understand their customers more so that they can build stronger connections through marketing and create better customer experiences. I provide packages focused on building strategies and act as a senior marketing resources for businesses who don’t have someone in-house. For smaller companies I also offer a power 2 hours so they can borrow my brain.
Who we/I work with: I work with B2B SMEs who have limited senior marketing resource in-house. I have a background in Market Research and have also worked in tech-led businesses (including agencies and start-ups), so I know the challenges they face.
André de Almeida – Andre Almeida Marketing
website: www.andrealmeida.co.uk
email: andre@andrealmeida.co.uk
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: andre@andrealmeida.co.uk
What I/we offer: After 12 years as an employee I’ve decided to start my own marketing 360 strategy solution business to help small businesses through strategic marketing. In a nutshell I offer marketing strategy, that can be for a product launch or rebranding or simply help their marketing get back on track.What’s included in my freelancer marketingmanager service:Market research, opportunities, marketing audit, strategy and planning, and consultancy.
Who we/I work with: Smalls business that are currently facing a problem with their marketing, either by underperforming, overspending, going through a brand change to name a few examples. With no more than 2 people taking care of the marketing department/projects. And ideally dealing directly with the owner. Clients can be based in the UK or overseas. Ideally I like to take on clients on retainer or at least for 6 months so I have time to implement and see results.
Copywriting
Sam Brown – Made Simple by Sam
website: madesimplebysam.com
email: sam@madesimplebysam.com
Social media: Instagram and LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: sam@madesimplebysam.com
What I/we offer: I help business owners engage their ideal clients. I create copy that captures their offering, sounds like them on their absolutely best day and creates the connection their ideal clients need to feel to take the next step of signing up to work with them.
Who we/I work with: I work mainly with service providers but also some product businesses. My core clients include coaches, accountants, designers and parenting experts.
Lisa Kissane – Silvertongue Copywriting
website: www.silvertonguecopywriting.com
email: lisa@silvertonguecopywriting.com
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: lisa@silvertonguecopywriting.com
What I/we offer: Words for wellbeing people: sales copy and strategy support for wellbeing businesses
Who we/I work with: Mostly female, over 40, solo business founders with a passion for making mental health and wellbeing services more accessible
Annabelle Williams dos Anjos – Fresh Copy
website: www.freshcopy.co.uk
email: hello@freshcopy.co.uk
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: hello@freshcopy.co.uk
What I/we offer: I help businesses make money with their words. Ads, web copy and emails mostly 🙂
Who we/I work with: Coaches and creative agencies
Finances
Rachel Stewart – Blue Leaf Accounting
website: www.blueleafaccounting.co.uk
email: rachel@blueleafaccounting.co.uk
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: rachel@blueleafaccounting.co.uk or phone 07841140216
What I/we offer: We support sole traders and small limited companies with everything accounts. From starting up and getting things ready to launch a business, to the seasoned business people who want more control of their cash, and all the fun tax stuff in between.
Who we/I work with: A sole trader or directors of a small limited company who want to understand their accounts. I love clients who have a lot of questions because it means that we can work together to set everything up well.
Linda Booth – We Do The Books
website: www.wedothebooks.co.uk
email: Hello@wedothebooks.co.uk
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: https://www.wedothebooks.co.uk/contact-me
What I/we offer: No nonsense accountant offering bookkeeping, annual accounts, payroll, limited companies, and lots of fun!
Who we/I work with: I work with small businesses who are organised and want to embrace technology.
Katie Mason – Trust Accountancy Advisors Ltd
website: www.trust-accountancy.co.uk
email: katie@trust-accountancy.co.uk
Best way to get in touch: katie@trust-accountancy.co.uk
What I/we offer: All aspects of small business accounting. Book keeping, vat, payroll, financial statements, self assessment, corporation tax
Who we/I work with: We work with Self-Employed people and small Limited companies who are looking for bookkeeping & accountancy support.
Vanessa Morris – Morris Accountancy Services Ltd
website: www.morrisaccountancyservices.co.uk
email: info@morrisaccountancyservices.co.uk
Social media: Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: info@morrisaccountancyservices.co.uk
What I/we offer: I’m an accountant offering all accountancy services – bookkeeping, accounts, tax returns, vat, payroll
Who we/I work with: Small businesses using Xero or freeagent or open to using them
Linda Owen – LMO Bookkeeping
website: www.lmobookkeeping.co.uk/
email: Linda@LMOBookkeeping.co.uk
Social media: Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: Enquiries@LMOBookkeeping.co.uk
What I/we offer: LMO Bookkeeping provides Self-Assessment help for sole traders using FreeAgent software. We specialise in FreeAgent and Xero accounts packages along with their linked-apps.
We also help small businesses become more financially organised through training, software provision, systems integration, VAT returns etc
Who we/I work with: We work with Self-Employed people and small Limited companies who are looking for bookkeeping & accountancy support.
Email Marketing
Elin Parry
website: elinparry.com
email: hello@elinparry.com
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: elinparry@fastmail.com
What I/we offer: I’m Elin an ecommerce & digital marketing consultant with over 10 years experience.I’m a Shopify specialist with experience in Squarespace, WordPress and Woocommerce. I use email providers including Klaviyo, Mailerlite and Dotdigital to create marketing emails and automated email programs such as welcome and customer re-engagement.I’ve been a part of multiple website build and redesign projects and I have a good understanding of SEO best practice, UX design and photography and other image requirements.I can plan and manage projects and campaigns, working efficiently with developers and external partners and I’m a great communicator who is happy to fit in with an existing team, with experience supervising and mentoring, or to work solo.I’m creative, with a background in design and a sideline in floristry.
Who we/I work with: I specialise in helping small and medium sized businesses, either as a fractional ecommerce manager or offering support with email marketing and written website content. I tend to work with fashion and lifestyle brands and I have worked some food and drink companies too.My clients often have a gap in their ecommerce and/or email marketing, either because they’re a start up and need help setting this up or due to growth when these roles have expanded beyond the knowledge and skills in house. I can fill these roles on an ongoing basis or come in temporarily to set things up, help recruit and train.
Courtney Evans Murdock – CLEM VA
website: clemva.com
email: courtney@clemva.com
Social media: Instagram and LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: courtney@clemva.com
What I/we offer: I’m a freelance creative community manager! Specialising in email marketing and newsletters for brands who focus on social impact and making the world a better place! I also have studio ERNIE! A web design studio working with new founders to create their corner of the internet
Who we/I work with: I work with community-driven brands focusing on creating better social wellbeing! POC, female-founded brands and those in the wellness space is my jam!
Personal Styling
Emmanuelle Styliste
website: emmanuelle-styliste.com
email: contact@emmanuelle-styliste.com
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: contact@emmanuelle-styliste.com
What I/we offer: I am an online personal stylist and I specialise in colour analysis, body shape and style discovery, offering tailored guidance to enhance my client’s wardrobe and overall image.
Who we/I work with: I work with women who like to wear comfortable clothes but want to look stylish and feminine.
Caterina Avanzi – Caterina Avanzi Personal Stylist
website: www.caterinaavanzi.com
email: personalstylist@caterinaavanzi.com
Social media: Instagram
Best way to get in touch: www.caterinaavanzi.com
What I/we offer: I help professional women and female entrepreneurs to reconnect with themselves. Style is within us but sometimes it gets lost in our various phases of life. Hence I help women to find it again. I accompany them in what I call it “a style journey”.I provide body shape analysis, wardrobe detox, colour analysis, personal shopping. These can be taken individually but my packages are where the real magic happens as I work with a client for a longer period of time.I also work with branding photographers and support their clients with finding the perfect outfits that will show their true personality in line with their brand.I do group styling too.
Who we/I work with: Professional business women and female entrepreneurs who are looking to find themselves again.
Recruitment and HR
Samantha Pewsey – Pewsey Consulting
website: www.pewsey-consulting.com
email: samantha@pewsey-consulting.com
Social media: LinkedIn
Best way to get in touch: samantha@pewsey-consulting.com
What I/we offer: I become part of my clients business to manage their recruitment process so that their time isn’t used on the hidden costs of recruitment. Depending on the needs of the business I will manage the whole process from writing job spec and advert to offer OR I can bespoke the service for example: advertising and providing a shortlist. I am values led and will ensure all people who interact with the recruitment process are treated well which not only protects but enhances the brand of the business.
Who we/I work with: I love working with values led and BCorp business owners who are spinning so many plates but want to find the right people to grow their business. Usually they employ between 5 and 150 people and are passionate about providing an exceptional service/ product. They are forward thinking, innovative and often leaders in their field.
Pip Foulsham – Pip Foulsham HR
website: www.pipfoulshamhr.co.uk
email: pip@pipfoulshamhr.co.uk
Social media: Instagram and Facebook
Best way to get in touch: pip@pipfoulshamhr.co.uk
What I/we offer: I provide HR support to small and medium businesses to help them solve people problems, increase employee engagement and retention, and generally put the pizzazz in their people plans!
Who we/I work with: Small and medium businesses, up to circa 40 employees, small businesses looking to start employing people.
As you may have guessed, the list above doesn’t necessarily offer all of the services you might need but hopefully there’s someone in there who can help you with some aspects of your business if you need it.
If you’d like to read more insights on what it’s like to run a (family and personal photography) business, feel free to browse through some of my most popular blog posts:
- The tools I use to run my business
- My biggest mistakes in business
- A look behind the scenes: my helpers in business
To put my photographer hat back on, let me close this article by telling you that one thing a lot of (new) businesses ignore is the power of personalised and beautiful photos that represent them and their brand. Stock images won’t get you far when you try to show your audience why you’re different (i.e. perfect for them) – your own brand photos can massively improve how your potential clients perceive you.
So if you’ve never had your photos taken – or if it’s been a while – I’d love to find out what you do and whether I could help you present yourself online.
Not quite ready to chat yet? No problem, why not download my freebie instead?
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