Would you like to run your own business?

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cavykind

Well seeing as the new year is approaching and it's all about hopes and sometimes dreams for the future...

How many of us here would like to be able to set up and run our own business? I'd love to, but realistically I don't see it happening, but hey...that isn't the attitude is it ::)

I'd love to open a "New Age" shop selling crystals, self help books Cd's, Tarot cards etc etc, offerring ethical readings and therapies by skilled practitioners. have workshops, study days and the like.

so.....What would you like to do if self employment was an option :D
 
I do, ;D ;D
I run a dressmaking and alteration service from home, sometimes I wish I had a little place to go too, especially when there is a lot to do like kids,housework, telephone etc
Have to discipline myself to work hours but does fit in around the kids which is good for me
I started about 3 years ago now.

I would recommend it too any one, if you have a talent or something to offer go for it
I love being my own boss

Good luck and go for it

Karen
 
I have my own business, I specialise in educational animal handling workshops for children ages 2-16, visiting schools, nurseries, libraries, museums, childrens centres and birthday parties all over Manchester and the North West with my range of 10 animals, which live at home with me.

Depending on what kind of business you want to run, It really isn't that daunting. I'm 21 and have been doing this for 6 months. Previously, I ran my own dog walking business from the age of 19.

Yeah, it's hard work and can be expensive setting things up but the pros out way the cons by a mile. There is absolutly nothing better than not having someone tell you what to do and how to do it, when you have to work etc etc. And usually, it's doing something you love so there never are those Monday blues again....Every weekday is Friday for me!

If anyone is thinking of setting up a business, I don't mind giving you any advice.
 
Wowsers Andrea!

That sounds like a COOL job. Need an assistant? ;D

Id love to do something like that
or
Id love to retrain as a masseuse or complimentary therapy practitioner. Or learn to give really good manicures :)
 
I would love to be an animal behaviourist but I can't afford to go back to school so i wan't to have a little craft shop or a pet shop (not selling animals). None of them are ever going to happen though so here I sit at the council wasting my life :(
 
YAY!

We could open a pet shop together in London :)
Then we could give eachother time off to study to become animal behaviorists :)

(We can dream ..... )


Anyone know how to write a business plan?
 
Oh how fab would that be Jen? I'd love to do that. Trouble is, you need pots of money and a lot of nerve. I've got a bit of the latter but none of the 1st. Not much use that is it? ;D
 
I'll just have to keep on playing the lottery then ......

I'm sure that with the right business plan and a lot of research it would be possible to get a small business loan or something.
 
Billies Mum said:
I'm sure that with the right business plan and a lot of research it would be possible to get a small business loan or something.
Click to expand...

Not with my credit rating. I can't even get my mum to lend me a fiver ;D
 
I think my CR is ok but I'm not really one for taking risks

I wish i was - id be running my own business by now
 
Its such a shame isn't it? I hate to think that at 37 this is all I have to look forward to. I'll never be able to retire cos we won't be able to live, so the most I can hope for is that I pop my clogs at around 50 so everyone else can work and I can Rest In Peace ;D
 
Yes I do but my husband is self employed and doesn't have one. So my pension pay out will put us just above the poverty line so we won't get help with our rent or council tax. It happened to my great gran.
 
Oh no - thats not good

Can he get a personal pension instead of through work?
Sorry if thats obviously answered but i dont know much about being self employed
 
It costs a fortune. Some months he doesn't work at all and then we can't afford to eat let alone pay into a pension.
 
My partner is selfemployed, (IT Technician, so computer fixing and building etc) and I dont know..

it has its advantages, you can do what you are best at, on your own terms, but the financial insecurity is just dragging me down a bit.

His business is relatively new, and the average income per month is something like 600 pound now. Sometimes its almost double, but sometimes its alot less - you just never know.
then there is all the trouble with advertising, leafletting, we had to change accountants now because the last one was rubbish, its just so much hassle...

I have friends where the couple both work in low paid jobs, but because they both have a steady income with little outgoings, they can actually save up alot more money than we can.

I mean, they can say well we will be getting so and so much each month, of that we can save so and so much, so in half a year we should have the money for this that and the other.

I cant do that, because I never know how much money we are going to have next month. Makes it difficult to plan ahead...


I would love to have my own business, but I could never do it. I like to know that there is going to be that amount of money coming into my bank account each month, and all the risk involved with self imployment is just too much.

Of course, it has very nice sides - my boyfriend makes his appointments starting from 11 AM - so he can always have a sleep in.
He doesnt have a boss putting pressure on him. He has personal contact with the customers, going out to their homes, and isnt just answering phone calls as a technical support guy somewhere for a big company.

He can take time off whenever he wants basically - because he can come out to customers in the evening, weekends, whenever it suits him and them, he isnt bound to the 9 to 5 schedule.

But I find it alot of heartache when things arent going right for a few months and then he starts wondering, if we want to have a family, shouldnt he be working somewhere where he can ENSURE that at least so and so much money will come in..
Its making us weary emotional quite often.
 
I do agree with Abnoba, it's hard for people who already have financial commitments, or a family to think about. But thats why I always encourage people around my age to just go for it. As it stands, I have no finacial commitments as I still live at home. I recently bought a new car out right so have no finance.

It can be frustrating not knowing what money is coming in, but a business takes at least 2 years to get established. This is where I am very lucky, I have ventured into a unique career, where there isn't much competition. Plus, it's a service that most, if not all schools want, at some point, so business is always there. And it's getting to a point know, where they are looking for, and contacting me.

Despite only being 21, and I am not worries one bit about my pension. I hope to be retired by around 50, when I will have rangers working for me. It's going to take hard work though, but I believe I can get there.

It's hard for someone to set up their own business who have finacial commitments, but depending on what the type of business is, you can get grants to help.
 
Billies Mum said:
Wowsers Andrea!

That sounds like a COOL job. Need an assistant? ;D

Id love to do something like that
or
Id love to retrain as a masseuse or complimentary therapy practitioner. Or learn to give really good manicures :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, it is a great job. I love every single minute of it, I have always loved animals (Been to college studying animal care and every job I have had was with them) but I never knew I could love kids so much too!

Sorry, not looking for an assistant yet, but in a few years time I will be!
 
OK then

Let me know if you ever consider starting a London branch ;)
 
Hello

I'm new to the forum, having got our first piggies (the Pichu Brothers) about a month ago.

I've been self-employed as a gardener for 2 years now.

I used to work in a personnel department (so it's a complete career change for me), but after our second child was born I gave up work to look after our children. I really didn't want to go back to admin work. I think once you have children your priorities change and you re-evaluate what's important in life.

My husband had the idea for me to do gardening professionally once the children were both a school, since I was a keen gardener and often helped neighbours with their gardens and he was sure there would be a demand for my services.

I bought a completely inspirational book on starting your own gardening business, and have never looked back. There seem to be quite a few books about for different types of business that guide you through the practicalities, benefits and the pitfalls of setting up your own business.

Now I really enjoy my work (even at this time of year) and being my own boss, even though, having lacked self-confidence for most of my life I thought it might be beyond me. Admittedly, I only do it on a part-time basis, to fit in around our children's schooling, and we don't have to rely on the money (my husband earns enough for all the essentials - my earnings pay for the little extras), but I'm so glad I've taken the leap. I only wish I'd done it years ago.
 
At the moment no - but that is because I am still paying for the disaster that was my previous relationship! Very long story but lets just say I had to move back to my parents with some debts that I now need to pay back. Once that is done - who knows! I have already decided that once I have paid everything off (not long to go now!), I will re-train so I can do a job I love rather than one that is OK.

Well Done to all of you who are doing what you want to do!
 
Will hopefully be able to start a little business when I am a rodentologist :)

As soon as we're on the straight and narrow and funds are available, the course will be bought :)

..... well that's my dream/hope anyway :)
 
I'd love to do dog grooming from home but wouldn't have the confidence to start it up. I love bathing and trimming my little Spaniel (just don't let him near a mirror for a week :o!)
 
When I was younger I wanted to groom poodles but it look too complicated :D
 
lolseh said:
When I was younger I wanted to groom poodles but it look too complicated :D
Click to expand...
I don't like all those pom poms on poodles so I'd just give it an all over trim. This would be why my business would probably only last about a week!
 
I used to be a grooming stylist. But it just wasn't for me, I loved it at first, I felt proud when a scruffy dog came in and went out looking great.....but after a while ( 3 years as a saturday girl and 9 months full time) it got boring. Even though I love dogs, it just wasn't for me, and it isn't for everyone believe me.

I used to be a grooming stylist for a big pet resort called My Pet Stop (There is one in Manchester and one in Leeds, but they are planning on putting them everywhere - It's a one stop pet resort, state of the art "apartments", the best vet, Grooming, Hydrotherapy, behaviourist and training Check the website www.mypetstopdenton.co.uk) Now they charge a fortune for grooming and we were only only ever busy at Christmas when all the other groomers were full.

Now, my friend has a grooming parlour of her own and even though she is rushed off her feet constantly, she hardly makes any money. It all depends on where you are and what the competition is like. Usually there is at least one or 2 groomers in a small town...where I live there are about 12 within 3 miles.

I would recommend it if you do your research first and find that competition is minimal. As someone mentioned, mobile grooming is an option - over heads are minimal...but you haven't got access to all the best equipment....you can't exactly lug around big huge dryers, or cabinet dryers, and you have to make do with breaking your back over low baths. :(

Just a little advice.... ;) Hope I don't come across too negative.
 
My dog doesn't get the pom pom kinda clip he get's a Lamb Clip or somethin like that I think the other one is just for when your showing them.
 
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