Business development and advice
Cost of doing business support
Cost of doing business: get practical support
Rising costs are a significant challenge for businesses and employees. These difficult times are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Find out about the practical resources and support we can offer to help your business. We’ll update this page regularly as new support becomes available.
Ongoing impact on business performance
43% have experienced worker shortages
44 % affected by rising energy costs
72% affected by rising costs
(having to absorb costs, increase selling process or change suppliers)
How we can help
Our support and resources can help you to adapt and navigate the rising costs of doing business in a number of ways.
We can help your business take action to:
- Reduce costs
- Improve your productivity
- Enter new markets
- Bring about positive change in your workforce or people
- Manage your finances more effectively

Find Business Support
You can find guidance on reducing the costs of running your business on the Find Business Support website.
Business development and advice
Need support to take your business where you want it to be? Our specialist advisers can help you overcome day-to-day challenges, enhance your business practices or explore new markets and opportunities to grow and scale your company.
Learn more about our business development support
Workplace innovation support
Our workplace innovation services and best practice guidance will help empower your staff to make your business more efficient, productive and profitable.
More details on our support
Step 1
Online resources
- Find Business Support website - further information and insights on reducing the costs of running your business
- Business development and advice - our support can help you to overcome challenges, improve your business practices and explore new markets and opportunities
- Workplace innovation support - make your business more efficient, productive and profitable
- Read our business guides - get insights on a wide range of topics to help your business
- Sign up for our free online Net Zero Accelerator tool - it can help your business work towards a net zero future using practical, inclusive and data-led solutions
Step 2
Specialist engagement
Our specialists can help your business by:
- Providing impartial advice and guidance
- Helping you to identify and develop projects
- Offering direct project delivery support
- Helping you navigate the support landscape
Step 3
Business case development
We can also provide help with business case development, including:
- Help with technical and financial feasibility
- Options appraisal
- Developing support applications
Step 4
Funding and grants
Looking for funding to grow your business or launch a new project?
- We can help you navigate the funding landscape in Scotland
- Our support can help your business find and access the right funding, and, in some cases, offer our own funding
Step 5
Partner funding and support
You can also find support and funding from our partners, including:
- Business Energy Scotland - free support to help you boost your profits and help tackle climate change
- Zero Waste Scotland - guidance to help your business use resources efficiently
- SIETF (Scot Gov) - funding and support to help decarbonise energy-intensive industries
- SEPA - guidance from Scotland's environmental regulator
- The Funding Information Gateway - this funding database includes international, national and regional innovation funding opportunities
Next steps
We know it can be difficult to tackle challenges that seem overwhelming. Get further guidance and find out how other businesses have taken the first step with our support.
Aldomak: using renewable energy to beat running costs
Find out how Glasgow-based, family-run confectioner Aldomak is actively embracing renewable energy due to cost of living pressures.
Five ways to boost workplace innovation
With the cost of doing business rising, workplace innovation can deliver a range of benefits. Learn five ways to help maximise the potential of your workforce by improving workplace practices.
How to access finance and secure funding
Watch our series of financial readiness guides to learn about different types of funding for your business and how we can help you to access it.