What have I done..

[AllThisBatshitteryAndMore]

I gave up my office job, and tried to start my own business. Ive just done my books and the past 6 months have generated £44 after taking out all my supplies and mileage etc. I am so embarassed after all my talk of working for myself, I have absolutely stuffed it. I am living off savings and another PT job, but wow, I feel so stupid. So what do I do now? Admit to everyone its awful and throw in the towel or suck it up?

It’s been a very long time since I had kids entertainers at least 10 years but I know for a fact I paid about £250 for two characters to attend for 2.5 hours as me and my partner at the time fell out really badly over it. You’re very much undercharging.

Too hot? What are you doing?

Don’t admit to people that you weren’t making money, just tell them it isn’t what you thought it would be like, and you’d rather do x.

What stuff - consumables that are used up every time, or things like props and costumes you can use repeatedly?

There is a method in my questioning.

Im interested to know about the heat too. Is it part of the act?

You need to charge more and figure out what you do like doing and start charging for that. A lot more!

Go back and get it another job that you like! Nobody is going to make a living out of being a children's entertainer. That's a really daft idea. Just say to people you changed your mind. So they might talk about it for 10 minutes and then they'll move onto something more interesting..

Just go back to a full time job if you don’t like it. Why would that be embarrassing?

I think if you really hate it, then at least you tried and were brave. Is there anything stopping you from getting another job to secure yourself with?

If you really want to keep at it then I'd reach out to a local business hub/ local council/women in business initiatives to see if you can find a mentor. I know in my local area there's grants you can apply for plus they'll go over your 3 year business plan to make sure it's sound, that your pricing is fair, help with the cost of premises and allocate you a mentor.

£20p/h doesn't sound much for a kids entertainer tbh unless you're removing insurance and other overheads from that.

If I wanted a children’s entertainer, I’d hold back hiring someone who charged £20 an hour. I’d think they must be rubbish to be so cheap.
Charge more.
Its very normal not to make much, or even make a loss, in your first year of setting up.

Yes I've taken out insurance
, and all travel expenses, laundry etc. I'm doing basic party stuff. I don't livrv in a fancy area

Did you do a business plan, did you get any advice from someone doing similar, do you have a mentor etc? Starting and running a profitable business is hard, or everyone would do it. Also it's often a few years before you become profitable. I'd seek some professional advice, some people can be good at producing the goods bit not necessarily the admin, marketing etc. Don't give up just yet, but get someone to help that knows a bit about it

Look, being blunt, no one is going to care that you've gone back to employment & have chucked in being a children's entertainer.

you don't need to tell them it was partly a financial decision, just say it wasn't as much fun as you thought it would be & you far prefer your new job!

You're not stupid or embarrassing. You took the risk and gave it a go. That's more than the vast majority of us do.

May be have a look at this podcast: How to fail (screenshot):

Just start looking for another full time job.

Nobody will mind that you've decided to walk away and you don't owe anyone an explanation either.

Draw a line under it, chalk it up to experience, and move on.

Onward and upward!

Everyone is missing the point. I just don't like the work. It's stressful, it's hot, I just don't like finding work and doing it. I wanted something I could do for myself and please myself. But I don't like it! I should have just stayed in a office job but that was full of people that were difficult to work with

Sorry this sounds like a you problem. Work is hard, that's why it's called work. Perhaps look for a job where you don't have to interact much with other people. But definitely stop what you're going, you should be enjoying it.

Do you have ADHD? I don’t normally armchair diagnose but you know…

You like being told what to do and when to do it. Running a business no one but you controls what is going on and how you work. I would love to be an entertainer. Before COVID I was a DJ with my partner. The only thing holding me back is not having a licence and where I live I need a licence.

If you want to work for yourself how about being a virtual PA, sign up with an agency. You can work from home and have some control over what you do.

Can you write op are you good at it. You could become a freelancer. I hired someone for £300 to help with a write up. Money well spent.

I will probably have to pay him more because the project is not finished.

"Admit to everyone its awful and throw in the towel "

Yes! Don't stick at something you hate in an attempt to save face.
Well done. You took a leap. You tried it. It wasn't for you. Just own it and move on.

You don't give up work for an untested business idea, you do it as a side hustle until you're sure it can support you......

I agree with SheridansPortSalut, if there is no doubt in your mind pull the pin.
Honestly, besides you who is going to give a second thought as to whether you continued or not, who else does it matter too? You’ve tried it, good on you for that, you didn’t like it, move on. Sooner or later you’re going to have to have an income, probably sooner than later.

Cast around get another office job if that’s where your skills lie or apply/think of another income stream.

Cut your losses, chalk it up to experience and go back to what you were doing before. Or something better!