If someone gave you a million

[Hopefulworker]

If someone gave you a million pounds to start a business, what business would you start?

Riffing off the interview question thread, I’ve been asked this and thought it was an interesting one as it shows a little about someone’s true passions/hobbies

@DontStandSoCloseToMe wow! That's amazing. I had a feeling there would be something similar but now I know it just feels wonderful. I'm off to look them up and probably donate to them. Thanks again for telling me. 😘

I'd buy a shop with flat above and start a social enterprise. The shop would include space for a) gallery selling mosaics and other locally produced crafts of high quality b) a workshop space for mosaic making courses, which would include free places and training for local residents including those with special support needs. Profit from renting the flat above would support the free community course places as well as other costs.

Property development. I would love to do it but feels so hard to get started without a decent amount of capital behind you.

One of:

a) Bookshop with facilities for readings, poetry open mikes, small performances by new talent and a second-hand section. Huge children's section focusing on stuff off the beaten track

b) Centre for affordable activities and enrichment projects for children for whom the cost of typical 'clubs' is prohibitive

c) Instead of starting my own business, I would give lots and lots of microcredits

A huge indoor dog park. Like the size of a supermarket.
Have agility equipment, water, different flooring, play areas, sand pit, ball pit, toys etc. Lots of different sections.

@YeahWhatevver

I think that concept exists! We have one in a town near me called a makerspace:

ipswichmakerspace.com/

It looks like an awesome concept and I keep meaning to join but have always had too many hobbies to start another one. I think they're a fantastic idea.

I'd respectfully decine the offer. I'd much rather be an employee than run my own business.

I’d buy land or open a garden centre .

Or buy property to rent out .

Or an art gallery selling work by local artists

I'd probably do property development because it's low risk.

The dream though? I'd open a bookshop with a restaurant built on the side - there would be a section of books diners could read for free and customers of the bookshop would get a small discount on the restaurant.

I would serve all manner of foods, would try to add dishes from books to the specials list. So clam chowder from Moby Dick or Egyptian Feteer Meshaltet from City of Brass.

I imagine I'd lose all the money, but it that's the dream.

It would be this or a combination.

Gym provision for people with disabilties is really poor in the UK. I would like to set up a disability friend gym and studio space alongside a course to train more PTs in assisting those with disabilities.

A stylish wedding venue that had a really large greenhouse styled orangery with loads of plants and a botanical garden! 😍

I would set up as an Angel Investor in small businesses (ie less than 5 to start with) as I think this area is under invested in and under supported with real business acumen rather than any tom dick or harry selling them all sorts of tosh

I’m another for property development but £1m would allow you to do it on a much bigger scale.

I'd buy a bridal shop so I could play dress up in the dresses without having to get married.

I’d be rubbish at running a business. SimonJT love the idea of the disability friendly gym, would be great if there was a pool, proper one, not just therapy.
A business I’d like to see would be for petite clothing, specially a range of trousers/jeans/joggers/PJs. However I suspect someone has investigated and the market isn’t big enough.

A vegan organic grocery shop that sold food at cost price. So the £1m would pay for buying the building and fitting it out, the sales would pay for the ongoing maintenance of the shop, and I would work unpaid.

Maybe I'd get someone in to cook/bake in the back so I could sell ready-made fresh stuff as well.

I’d buy a little guest house where I could have crafting retreats.

A brewery, making country wines and beers from ingredients we had grown ourselves. I've got it all planned out.

I would use a disabled friendly gym.

I'd open a campsite with a little b&b, plus a couple of tee pees and hurts.
I'd love it to have a little part with veg and rescued chickens, a goat, a pond and a couple of ducks.

And a small onsite cafe, which I would bake for. Proper stone oven.

Hurts? YURTS.

Anyone who chooses to start a business on the basis of their true passions/hobbies really shouldn’t be trusted with a million pounds to start a business.

A big all day breakfast place (with quality food) which has a big car park and is next to a busy main road.
Putting CFK and MaCD out of business and sell it once it is a success for double the price and move on to the next.