NEW businesses have been encouraged to ensure they get expert advice when they set up on their own.

André Palmer, partner at Willis Palmer in Colchester, said without the independent advice about finances and legal requirements, his company may not have been as successful as it is now.

And he encouraged new companies, or people who are thinking of setting up their own business, to enter Super Start, a Gazette-backed competition that will help kick-start a new business with cash and advice.

"The main problems faced by small businesses are to do with paying themselves, managing cash flow and employing staff.

"When we started out we couldn't afford to go to acountants and solicitors as it would cost hundreds of pounds." said Mr Palmer, whose business contracts out independent social workers.

He set up his business with Mark Willis four years ago and have been based at Colbea, in George Williams Way, for the last two-and-a-half years.

"We would probably have ended up going down the wrong route if we didn't have the advice available at the Colchester Business Enterprise Agency (Colbea). If businesses enter Super Start competition they will have a chance to get advice for free."

Super Start is open to people who are thinking of starting their own business or have already done so. They need to put together a business plan which will be assessed by a panel of judges.

Six finalists will present their ideas to the judges - Gazette editor Irene Kettle, Tony Fisher of Fisher Jones Greenwood solicitors, James Tucker of Larking Gowen accountants, Russell Felstead of Barclays and Patrik Minder, owner of The Lemon Tree restaurant in Colchester and winner of the businessman of the year award at the Gazette's Colchester Business Awards 2007 - in a Dragon's Den-style final on March 27.

There will be two winners who will each recieve £2,000 to put towards their business and hundreds of pounds of advice from the judges.

Mr Palmer said the rewards of working for yourself are worth entering the competition.

"The great thing about working for yourself is you are directly reqarded for the effort you put in. You can make your company what you want it to be by putting your ideas in there. You have so much autonomy and freedom compared to when you work for someone else," he added.

Click on the Super Start logo on the homepage to find out more.