Grow beyond borders with structure and confidence.
ASL Business Growth supports entrepreneurs and organisations with business registration, international expansion, strategic consulting and investment opportunities — and an escrow service that protects both sides of a deal.
- Operating in
- UK · Canada · Nigeria
- Group partners
- 100+ businesses
- Who we serve
- Entrepreneurs & organisations
Escrow available
Five services, built around how businesses really grow.
Most growth problems are connected: a new market needs a new entity, a new partner needs a safe way to pay. One team handles the whole picture, so you are never passed between advisers who do not talk to each other.
Set your business up properly from the very first filing.
Whether you are formalising a business you already run or creating a new entity to trade in another country, we help you understand which structure suits your plans, what the relevant registry will ask for and how to prepare it. We coordinate the process so nothing is missed, and you know exactly what follows once you are registered.
What you can expect
- A plain-English explanation of the structures open to you
- A document checklist agreed before anything is filed
- Coordination of the registration from start to finish
- Clarity on the next steps, such as banking and accounting
Enter a new market with a plan, not a leap of faith.
Expansion works best when it is staged. We help you test whether a market genuinely fits, plan how you will enter it and line up the local relationships that make trading practical — drawing on the group's own operations in the United Kingdom, Canada and Nigeria rather than advice from a distance.
What you can expect
- An honest view of market fit before you commit resources
- A staged entry plan with clear decision points
- Access to the group's partner network where it is relevant
- Support with registration in the new market
Turn ambition into priorities, owners and milestones.
From sharpening a business model to preparing for a new stage of growth, our consultants work alongside founders and leadership teams. The aim is a plan your team can act on the following Monday — not a report that sits in a drawer.
What you can expect
- Working sessions built around your specific objectives
- A prioritised growth plan rather than a generic template
- Practical recommendations on structure, operations and market approach
- Follow-up check-ins as you put the plan into action
Connect capital with credible, well-prepared ventures.
We help founders present their business clearly to potential investors, and help investors understand opportunities within the group's network. Every investment carries risk, so our focus is on preparation, transparency and proper due diligence — we never promise returns.
What you can expect
- Support preparing an investment-ready business case
- Introductions within the group's network where appropriate
- Encouragement to take independent financial and legal advice
- The option of escrow to protect funds as agreements complete
Transaction support designed around confidence.
With ASL in the middle as a neutral third party, the buyer's money is held securely and only reaches the seller once both sides confirm the agreed conditions have been met — so neither side carries the risk alone. It is particularly useful when the two parties are working together for the first time, or trading across borders.
What you can expect
- Help defining clear, verifiable release conditions before money moves
- Funds held securely by ASL as a neutral third party
- Release only once both parties confirm the conditions are met
- Fees and terms confirmed in writing before you commit
Money moves only when both sides are ready.
Funds are held securely by ASL until both parties confirm that the agreed conditions have been met. Step through a transaction below — or press play and watch the funds move.
Step 1 of 5
Step 1 · Agree terms
Buyer and seller agree what is being exchanged and the conditions that must be met before any money is released. Clear, verifiable conditions are the foundation of everything that follows.
Three markets. One team on the ground in each.
Choose a market to see what entering it typically involves and where the group’s own presence makes the difference.
Ruislip, London
51.57° N · 0.42° W
A UK presence, with the group headquarters on hand.
For many growing businesses, a UK presence opens the door to international customers, suppliers and partners. Because the group is headquartered in Ruislip, London, founders planning a UK presence work with a team that operates there every day.
What entering typically involves
- 01Deciding how you will operate — a new entity, a branch or a partnership
- 02Completing registration with the relevant UK authorities
- 03Setting up banking, accounting and reporting arrangements
- 04Checking any rules specific to your sector before you trade
Where the group helps
Group headquarters in Ruislip, London — governance, consulting and client support under one roof.
- Registration support
- UK–Nigeria trade
- Escrow for new suppliers
North America
Served via [email protected]
Explore Canada with a team that already has a foothold.
For businesses and founders looking towards North America, the group's presence in Canada offers a starting point. Enquiries are coordinated through the group desk, so your Canadian plans connect with the rest of your growth strategy rather than being handled in isolation.
What entering typically involves
- 01Considering where in Canada your operations should be based
- 02Understanding the registration options and the authorities involved
- 03Planning banking, payments and cross-border operations
- 04Building relationships with local partners and customers
Where the group helps
North American presence, with Canadian enquiries handled through the group desk at [email protected].
- Market-fit review
- Entry planning
- Cross-border payments
Ilasamaja, Lagos
6.52° N · 3.38° E
Work in Nigeria with a local team beside you.
Nigeria is a market where local knowledge makes a real difference. Our West Africa operations in Ilasamaja, Lagos give international businesses — and diaspora founders returning home — a team on the ground that understands how things work locally.
What entering typically involves
- 01Understanding the registration route for your type of business
- 02Preparing documents and coordinating the filing
- 03Identifying reliable local partners, suppliers and service providers
- 04Protecting early transactions with new counterparties through escrow
Where the group helps
West Africa operations in Ilasamaja, Lagos — close to clients, partners and the wider ASL ecosystem.
- Local partnerships
- Registration support
- Escrow-backed deals
Requirements vary by sector and structure, and they change over time. The steps above are a general guide only — we confirm exactly what applies to your business during a consultation, and recommend independent legal and tax advice where it is needed.
From first conversation to lasting growth.
Every engagement follows the same four stages, whether you are registering your first company or opening an office in a new country.
We listen first
Discovery
A consultation to understand where your business is today, what you want to achieve and the constraints you are working within — budget, timing, markets and people. No obligation, and no pressure to buy a service you do not need.
You leave with
- A shared understanding of your goals
- An initial view of which services fit
- Clear next steps and how we would work together
We structure the route
Plan
Your goals become a structured plan: the order things should happen in, the decisions that need making and who is responsible for each. Scope, costs and terms are agreed in writing before any work begins.
You leave with
- A prioritised plan with milestones
- Agreed scope, costs and terms
- A single point of contact at ASL
We do the work with you
Execute
We coordinate the work — registrations, introductions, market-entry steps or escrow arrangements — and keep you informed at each stage, so you always know what has been done and what comes next.
You leave with
- Coordinated delivery across the services you need
- Regular progress updates
- Escrow protection where a transaction calls for it
We stay close
Grow
Once the foundations are in place, we review progress with you, adjust the plan as markets change and connect you with the rest of the Alpha Step Links ecosystem when it helps — from corporate travel to team training.
You leave with
- Periodic reviews against your plan
- Access to the wider group's services
- Support as you enter further markets
Ambitious businesses at every stage.
The group’s vision is to build the premier global ecosystem for African entrepreneurs. These are the people and organisations we build it with.
You have an idea or an early-stage business and want to set it up properly from the start — or you are ready to take it beyond your home market. We help you build the structure that serious customers, partners and investors expect.
Typical starting points
- Business registration
- Strategic consulting
- Escrow for first deals
Established small and medium-sized businesses preparing for the next stage: a new market, a stronger operating structure or larger contracts with partners you have not worked with before.
Typical starting points
- International expansion
- Strategic consulting
- Escrow services
Individuals and organisations looking for credible opportunities connected to African and diaspora-led businesses, with transparency about risk and protection for funds while agreements complete.
Typical starting points
- Investment opportunities
- Escrow services
Companies and institutions setting up operations in the United Kingdom, Canada or Nigeria that want one team with a presence in all three, rather than a different adviser in every country.
Typical starting points
- International expansion
- Business registration
- Strategic consulting
Not sure where you fit? Tell us your goal and we will route you to the right specialist.
Start with a conversationGrowth and escrow, in plain English.
The questions founders and finance teams ask us most often. If yours is not here, the team is a message or a call away.
Business registration, international expansion support, strategic consulting, access to investment opportunities and escrow services for entrepreneurs and organisations.
Ambition deserves a solid structure.
Two ways to start. Whichever you choose, the first conversation is about understanding your goals — costs and terms are only confirmed once we both know what the work involves.
Plan your growth
Register, expand or prepare to raise.
Tell us where the business is today and where you want it to be. We will recommend the right starting point — registration, expansion, consulting or investment readiness.
Protect a transaction
Close your next deal with escrow.
Buying, selling or contracting with a new partner? Agree the conditions with us first, and funds are only released once both sides confirm they have been met.