If you had 100k to start a business, what would you do?

[tooshiny]

I've recently come into some money and for health reasons I need to give up my current job.

Musing with friends what I could do to become self sufficient by using my 100k wisely so I don't have to rush out and find another job.

So, if you had the time, money and the skills, what business would you start that you reckon has a fair chance of success in the next few years?

I don’t know if 100k would be enough as I guess you’d need a large premises but where I live is lacking a good soft play centre so I’d go for that.

I'd have a pottery. Probably wouldn't make much money but I'd enjoy it. 😄

Jet washer and carpet cleaner.

Unsexy but it seems quite satisfying and the equipment would pay for itself quite quickly.

Me too, this would be my dream job!

Train to be a mobile beautician in eyebrow microblading. Mine charges £350 a pop!

My friends run a cattery. It is a real tie, 7 days a week.

Who looks after the cats in the cattery when the cattery owner goes on holiday?!

I have an interest in a particularly niche area of horticulture, so I'd probably concentrate on that. There is plenty of money to be made if done in the right way. As I said before, you need to see a gap in the market and be able to fill it.

Having said all that, a £100k windfall would allow me to retire now instead of in several years' time, so that is what I'd do with it.

Either a lovely ice cream shop -everybody loves ice cream!
or I’d buy a really good top class laser hair removal machine and charge for that.

I started an online antiques business with only 10K. I sell from several online shops based in different countries but you have to be prepared to sell international. I already had extensive knowledge of the antiques trade and specialise in jewellery and accessories. However I was only after a "lifestyle" business that I could manage myself. Never wanted the responsibility of employing staff, running payrole and so on. I retired from employed work a few years ago and drew my pension so its more a side hustle.

@ThreePears Completely understand that this would be a big commitment. Our local Cattery closes for the whole of Jan and Feb and the couple go away somewhere warm and exotic. My parents are retired and we often discuss running this as a family business. They have land which theoretically could work. Need a lottery win though so will just keep dreaming.

Find some suitable land for a secure dog field, ideally with some woodland for sniffing.

The access would be self service but there would be maintenance. Grass cutting, poo pick up from idiots who don't do it themselves and maybe provide drinking water etc. They are very popular around here and often sold out in the main.

Planning is getting incredibly difficult for small plots of land, large scale farmers diversifying are looked on far more favourably.

Set up costs are through the roof with a single acre over £25k, fencing £25k+, Tarmac entrances as generally specified by planning £20k+ and then there’s the £5-10k on maintenance kit.

We are almost fully booked and only turnover £50k.

The ice cream shop near us closed after one summer....because I guess not many people want an ice cream in the winter (they didnt sell anything else)

I’d start a women’s only gym. I dream of this regularly.

1. Something to do with farming (though, TBH, 100k wouldn't last long!)
2. Something in relation to knitting and sewing. I think that a shop would be nice and organised, but I'm not sure that I could handle all of the people distracting me and wanting serving when I was midway through a tricky knitting pattern!

100k won't go far, but student accommodation that can be rented out to tourists at Christmas and Summer.

Agree with boring.

An oven cleaning or carpet or sofa cleaning business. Jet washing or patio cleaning, something like that. Maybe all of them at different times of the year.

I'd open a plant shop and offer workshops to generate extra income.

With spa and meditation retreat on the side. Think I'm getting closer to £1m now!

I’ve always thought there’s a gap in the market for a “morning after the night before” babysitting service. When we used to go “out out”, getting a babysitter to look after the kids on the night of the event wasn’t so much of an issue. But the thought of getting up early the next morning with the kids while hungover basically put me off going out most of the time when they were small. So a service that sends a DBS checked, first-aid trained and early years experienced professional to the house early in the morning to be around to get the kids up, give them breakfast and keep them entertained until at least 10am would have been most welcome! Not sure it’s much of a money spinner though!

Any articles I’ve seen lately about women earning money seems to be those who set up cleaning companies and now hire an army of staff to do the dirty work while they live off the profits 🤷‍♀️

Yes, my preference would be cat sitting with the cattery just for school holidays (our cat sitters is always rammed in the holidays).

I'd also do cat concierge - taking them to the vets etc.

More realistically, I am going freelance in time for my son to start school.

100k would go on:

• 13k on a masters in my subject area
• 2k start up costs (it's a low cost service to run, I could do the "luxe" version)

The rest would just be money to support me in growing slowly in my sector without a rush to take on unsuitable clients.

I would book this 1000% - I've been trying to persuade my husband to ask his parents to stay over, because I'd just like ONE lie in together so we could both properly drink.

A cleaning company that's original
Hundreds of those about.😀

I would hold onto it for the time being and get yourself to the biggest uk franchise exhibition - there are a lot of shit and pointless franchise out there but the £35k plus ones can get you some better and more interesting ones at less risk than doing something from scratch yourself - do due diligence though, ask to see books etc, check out ones ‘for sale’ and ask to see their books, go onto companies house to check accounts etc, etc - I would look for the best value option with the best ROI and something that actually interests you under £40k -

Damn, maybe I should delete my post and get started on the idea myself 🤣