Career change?

[Fawnandwren]

I am 31. I've just qualified in a profession which took 6 months and about 5k worth of training (my own money) with the hopes of setting up my new business. I left my crappy job at the beg of Feb (redundancy voluntary) I qualified last month, 2 weeks before lockdown, so I haven't been able to set up my business properly.
I'm not sure if it is being in Lockdown or if it is the fact that the industry is too competitive and I'm better working for others than working for myself, but I'm starting to rethink that this isn't for me now.
I'm contemplating doing further training to qualify in something else.

AIBU or AINBU to throw the towel in so early?

Need more detail on what your profession is to comment

You're being unreasonable to throw in the towel before even picking up the towel! You spent all that money for a reason and I assume you looked into it before you parted with the cash?

What do you mean too competitive? Do you have something to set you apart?

Have a degree in a broad related subject (sorry need to keep this anonymous and if I write too much it will be telling) was going to teach with it, got on a PGCE course. However, due to buying first home and then an accident which has left me unable to teach now, could do part-time though.
I decided to train and offer a specific body therapy, which is amazing and has great results. I had to qualify in different areas first to be able to provide this service. Fast forward to now I'm all qualified, but since I first looked in to doing this last June it has really taken off. The profit margins aren't the same due to many other people now offering it and so competition has risen. I'm new to this industry, I have no client base and I haven't got many friends to try this on (they all don't want it or at least to pay cost price for it)
I'm now contemplating going back to uni and completing a masters in education/social care to become a HMI. I'm going to call ofsted and find out before starting a masters if this would enable me to work in this field after successful completion.
I totally appreciate I'm being a bit defeatist. I just thought by 31 I would have been in a well established career that I enjoy.

• I have

I should also mention I have 5 years experience working in a school

Eh, yanbu I don’t think.
Shame you wasted the money (although it could be a side-earner for you?)

I’d take a good career as an employee over being self-employed any day, especially in a ‘therapy’ type job, where you are always needing to bring in new clients and because cost per session is high it’s hard to get going before you’ve built up a reputation. It’s hard work for low reward unless you love it for its own sake. If you’re not passionate about starting your own business I’d chuck it before you sink any more money on it and get a job with a regular income (hmi sounds good to me, but a bit niche? Cant be that many vacancies? Is it a career as such or a job people move onto after being successful in other areas?)

Thanks @Lilyamna I am actually thinking to either take a part-time job and substitute it with this as a side earner or do my masters and again do it as a side earner. I can't do a full time role as I need to be home based for half of the week due to a few reasons. Hopefully I make the money back on the course eventually!

Ofsted inspector apparently I could with my experience and the masters and they were recruiting last year. But I'm going to do my homework before embarking on another course, student debt and no career at the end.

• I could become an ofsted inspector

You can only make decisions based on the information you have at the time, so if the economic landscape and prospects have changed I think it's reasonable for you to reassess your future plans.

Thank you @SilverOtter, I really think it is a case of me feeling like I should have had a proper career by now. I spent 5 years in a role overqualified, but I loved and another 5 overqualified again, hated but paid really well. So starting my own business was meant to be the fresh beginning. Maybe it will be 4th time lucky 🍀

I’m 40 and currently retraining - it’s never too late!

Slightly off topic but I’m sure OFSTED ask for five years teaching and two years management experience in several settings to be an OFSTED inspector in schools so I’d be very surprised if becoming a HMI would be an option. Personally I would think about doing a masters from September and then hope that the jobs market improves by the time you graduate.

I know to be an inspector in a school you need QTS plus I think a few years experience as a head teacher. Not sure about being a HMI in other settings. You’re never too old to retrain though! Get yourself out there