By providing immediate, pre-emptive and financial solutions to protect, advise, support and simplify business operations, we enable entrepreneurs to reduce stress, save money and free up time, creating a highly successful, legally compliant business.
Our membership is focused directly at solving Specific common issues for business owners make life easier and more fulfilling.
With personal business success from startup to 4 locations and 50+ staff over 15 years, and 14 years spent expanding the membership of the Federation Of Small Businesses (FSB) Michael has spoken to over 10,000 business owners, from tradesmen to professional services and everything in between.
He’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt!
But he has a passion for more and better and that is why the Business First Network exists and the focus is personal –
‘To get closer to the Business owner’
It’s about you!
‘Business owners are very resilient, if there is a problem they do their best to find a solution and I want to make that solution immediately available. Success to me is having business owners use and benefit from our service’’
Michael Osborne, BFN Owner & CEO
Our service is perfect for the self employed owner running a business.
“I used the Business First Network as I needed to dismiss a member of staff and wanted to make sure I carried out the dismissal legally and in a professional manner. I am really happy with the support offered to me”
“As the owner of a busy café in a popular local holiday destination, I have to employ part-time and casual staff. I used the Business First Network to get advice and assistance with employment law and paperwork.”
“As a relatively new member of Business First Network I am very glad to see their assistance has already made an impact on my business. I have made use of their brilliant legal forms and they have saved my company and myself close to £2,000. The results of having a Business First Network membership are clear. Do not hesitate to become a member; I am very glad I did.”
“I get a lot of benefit from the Business 2 Business information sent out on a weekly basis, especially the information on tenders. I had been put in touch with Queens University in Belfast through Business First Network and I completed a one-off cleaning job for them. On the back of this I was asked to attend a “Meet the Buyer” event in Belfast. At the event I met the man in charge of the actual maintenance contracts for Queens University, we had a chat and he asked me to submit a tender for the full cleaning contract for Queens University, this would be a substantial contract and would mean a great deal to my company. The only reason this happened is because I am a member of Business First Network.”
“Thank you Business First Network for a great legal advice service. At the start of Christmas weekend I needed quick access to an up to date Mutual Non Disclosure Agreement to engage a new client. The Business Law service, included in my membership, was instantly available, with easy to use online forms to tailor to my client specification, the process took less than 15 minutes. I would highly recommend this service to independent contractors and consultants who need instant access to high quality, professional contract documentation at a very affordable rate. Being a member of Business First Network has many benefits for my company and I am happy to recommend BFN to any business owner who sees the value in a strong support network.”
“We have been a member of Business First Network for a while and registered with their Free Auto- Enrolment solution. I found this scheme easy to use, all the representatives were very helpful and answered any questions I had. We were able to get the scheme up and running with no problems at all. Thank you Business First Network!”
“As the owner of a busy café in a popular local holiday destination, I have to employ part-time and casual staff. I used the Business First Network to get advice and assistance with employment law and paperwork. It was great to find out that Business First Network are also able to assist me in complying with the new pensions regulations and that when my staging date for Auto Enrolment comes, I will have all the necessary recommendations and duties completed and will have a suitable pension scheme in place to meet the needs of my business.”
“As a member of Business First Network I have been able to get assistance with my Auto Enrolment responsibilities. I am now registered with Business First Network’s Pension Provider and looking forward to a smooth and hassle free implementation of Auto Enrolment.”
“I had only joined Business First Network a matter of weeks when I found I had reason to use the legal helpline and document template. Unfortunately I needed to dismiss a member of staff and wanted to make sure I carried out the dismissal legally and in a professional manner. I also know that if the worst does happen I have the correct legal cover in place to help me. I am really happy with the support offered to me and am confident that I made the right decision in joining Business First Network and would recommend them to any of my business contacts.”
“I made great use of the advice lines and was able to avoid a potential employment dispute. I was extreemly pleased with the level of service received.”
“I have definitely had my money’s worth out of my Business First Network membership. I was making some changes to my business and had reason to speak to a solicitor who not only spoke to me for an hour, but also out of office hours. I needed the reassurance that I was handling a legal situation correctly and with the advice that I received it meant that I handled a difficult situation proactively and efficiently, with as little stress as possible. I would quite happily recommend Business First Network to my business associates and friends.”
“We are a very busy company and therefore any queries or problems we may have, we need them to be rectified quickly and in a professional manner. We recently used the excellent Business First Network Advice Line which really impressed me. I would encourage any business owner to become a member of this organization.”
“The real benefit I have had from The Membership Plus Card is that it has saved me and my family money. I have saved as much as 9% in my local coffee chain to the 20% at the restaurant. The membership costs have been saved through my grocery shopping alone, never mind the computer purchases.”
“I called at the ‘Blackwood Golf Centre’ in Crawfordsburn to hit a bucket of balls – I asked the Professional if he knew of the ‘Membership Plus’ card and without hesitation, he confirmed that it would qualify me for 25% off the normal green fee of £20 for the main course, thus saving me £5 per round, but also a discount of 50% during the winter months, saving a whopping £10 each and every visit! At that rate, only 15 outings will cover our year’s Business First fee.”
“I was formerly a member of another membership organisation but was recently persuaded to join Business First Network. Making use of my Membership plus card on just two occasions has effectively covered the cost of my yearly subscription, therefore it hasn’t cost me anything to be a part of Business First Network and I still have access to all the incredible benefits.”
“I have not long joined Business First Network and have already saved over £200 by having a contract sorted for a new staff member. It’s great! I saved more than the annual BFN fee inone go. I also use my membership card all the time, regularly saving money on my groceries at Asda, pizza at Dominos, I even managed to book a hotel room that every other site told me was not available and I got it at a better rate. Can’t say fairer than that. I am glad that I joined BFN and would quite happily recommend them.”
“I joined Business First Network approximately 9 months ago. I have used my membership plus card for savings at restaurants, hotels, golfing and even saved on new tyres for my car. I have more than covered the cost of my yearly subscription already. I would recommend Business First Network to other businesses, after all everyone loves to save money!”
I spoke to a solicitor on the legal helpline for more than an hour out of office hours. I’m certain this one call would have covered my membership fee. I needed the reassurance that I was handling a legal situation correctly and with the advice that I received it meant that I handled a difficult situation proactively and efficiently with as little stress as possible.
I’m delighted with the business law resource, particularly the facility to automatically produce employment contracts which in the past has been very challenging for us.
I saved over £2000 through BFN’s insurance quotation service – Nearly ten times my annual subscription! I have no problem recommending BFN to other business owners.