To think that not everyone is cut out to be a “business owner”

[Ffwithfu]

I’m probably being unreasonable but run a business that supports small business. Over lockdown I’m sorry to say that I’ve seen so many people that have no fucking clue thinking they can “start a business”.
From those who have no skills, to those who have done no actual research into the market. I’m fed up with the world and his wife thinking they can “run a business.

You run a business that supports small businesses.
What exactly is the point of your business if not to support?
Questions about best ways to reach customers, tax implications etc. sound like legitimate questions to ask tbh.
If they knew all the answers they surely wouldn’t need you to support them would they?

YABU sorry.

Sure it's fun watching dragon's den and how clueless some people are but everyone has a right to try something new and to succeed or fail. Business is very much like this as no-one knows until they give it a go, whether they'll ace it or fail miserably. And so what if they fail? We've a terrible attitude to failure and should learn to fail more, to accept any learn from it. Success is 99% failure.

I run a business and have been successful so far. But I don't claim to be great at it as you need to have skills in so many areas.

I too support companies and organisations that often have no idea. PhD's that really should know better but c'est la vie. You can either choose to help, support or educate or walk away.

Perhaps you could try harder to help these businesses? Alternatively turn them away and choose not to support them. That's the beauty of running your own business. You don't have an employer telling you what to do.

My dad had a small business (building trade). I always swore blind I wouldn't be self employed. He was successful, but worked long hours, no holiday or sick pay or pension plan.

I work for the BHS.

YANBU - and I get quite annoyed about the assumption, not from your angle. When I was made redundant 8 years ago, quite a lot of people were 'Oooh, start your own business, be your own boss!' and I had to explain to some, including DH, that having my own business was absolutely not something I ever want to do - the same I never want to skydive or climb Everest. It's totally not for me - I hate uncertainty and debt and working long hours. So this attitude I often see of 'starting your own business is the gold standard and everyone should want to do it' is really annoying to me!

I often wonder how many people get the money to start up obviously crap businesses. We have a glut of barbers in our area yet they keep on opening up and then folding, even during the pandemic! DP went to one once that wouldn't cut boys' hair (some attempt at some kind of hipster nonsense). That might work in the middle of the city but in a suburban area full of families it was doomed. The guy shut down in a couple of months, presumably when he ran out of money.

NHS not BHS. BHS are a now defunct chain of department stores. NHS provide free at the point of delivery health care for the UK funded from taxation.

How do you support businesses op? Are you a coach?

Not everyone has the skills or indeed in my case the mental fortitude and determination to have a small business.

About twenty of them are in the cabinet, indeed have no clue about business in general judging by their response to Covid 19.

@flaviaritt

Well, they’ll learn, won’t they? Not sure why it annoys you.

It's annoying because of the trail of destruction they may leave behind. They'll probably have unsatisfied customers, they may have wasted the time of suppliers and advisers. They may not declare their profits/pay their taxes. They may not pay their workers through payroll, or may not pay them at all. They are taking business away from proper businesses, threatening their survival. They may be risking the health/lives of their staff/customers. They may be risking their staff/customers livelihoods if they don't have the right insurance.

They don't exist in a vacuum. They affect everyone/everything they come into contact with.

Don't knock it. The people who don't have a clue keep you in business. The more of them there are, the more money you make. 🤷‍♀️

I run my own business. I don't know much about tax, nor do I want to, and nor do I have the time. That's why there are accountants and people like me pay them to sort the tax returns. Doesn't mean I'm shit at running my business.
Same with marketing. You're not taught 'how' to run a business, or how to get customers.

Its very stressful. People genuinely dont understand. We work more, we carry all the responsibilities, we carry all the risk, we are available at all hours. It's far more work than being an employee. It's just the path that made the most sense for us.

It''s like the firms who whinge that they can't get council/public sector contracts because of the formalities of the tender process etc - basically just checking they have pl/product insurance, H&S policies, HMRC registrations, professional/trade body registration, complaints procedures, quality control, etc. Er, yes, that's what "proper" business is all about! Your local hospital really isn't going to give a contract to Joe Bloggs who has no professional/trade qualifications and pays his unregistered workers cash in hand every Friday.

Absolutely. We have this silly situation where public procurement is supposed to be "SME-friendly" when we are also accountable to the public for procurement decisions (unless you are a government minister apparently). We can't give contracts to deliver public services to any Tom, Dick or Harry who fancies a go (again unless you are a government minister of course).

It's annoying because of the trail of destruction they may leave behind. They'll probably have unsatisfied customers, they may have wasted the time of suppliers and advisers. They may not declare their profits/pay their taxes. They may not pay their workers through payroll, or may not pay them at all. They are taking business away from proper businesses, threatening their survival. They may be risking the health/lives of their staff/customers. They may be risking their staff/customers livelihoods if they don't have the right insurance.

Everyone has to learn. The first time someone starts a business they’re going to either learn about this stuff, or not. That’s what starting a business is like. I see no reason to let it wind you up. If a business is shit it will fail. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's annoying because of the trail of destruction they may leave behind. They'll probably have unsatisfied customers, they may have wasted the time of suppliers and advisers. They may not declare their profits/pay their taxes. They may not pay their workers through payroll, or may not pay them at all. They are taking business away from proper businesses, threatening their survival. They may be risking the health/lives of their staff/customers. They may be risking their staff/customers livelihoods if they don't have the right insurance.

If they are paying the likes of the OP to support them, these things surely won’t happen.

@WhyDoYouAsk

You run a business that supports small businesses. What exactly is the point of your business if not to support? Questions about best ways to reach customers, tax implications etc. sound like legitimate questions to ask tbh. If they knew all the answers they surely wouldn’t need you to support them would they?

Absolutely this.

At least they have the awareness to ask.

I have a different problem in that prospective clients don't know they need me or the work I do. So much harder to educate!

Its very stressful. People genuinely dont understand. We work more, we carry all the responsibilities, we carry all the risk, we are available at all hours. It's far more work than being an employee. It's just the path that made the most sense for us.

And you make all (or most of) the money as a result. That is the trade off. You presumable aren't doing it just to give yourself a hard time.

I dont get annoyed by people ACTUALLY wanting to start businesses. I get annoyed by people looking at us and going "well it looks easy, you're loaded, I should start a business instead of working my bollocks off for someone else." Oh yeah pal, it's so fucking easy, you'll work soooooo much less.

We had an employee complain that we get more days off than him. Problem being, we were at that moment on holiday, and were working. Doesn't seem to realise that when he has holidays he doesn't hear from us, but he calls us several times a day for benign shit. Genuinely once rang us because there was a wasp in the office

Whiterabbit
At least they have the awareness to ask

Not only this but they presumably are paying for the support service the OP provides. They can ask whatever they like.

I dont get annoyed by people ACTUALLY wanting to start businesses. I get annoyed by people looking at us and going "well it looks easy, you're loaded, I should start a business instead of working my bollocks off for someone else." Oh yeah pal, it's so fucking easy, you'll work soooooo much less.

The problem is there are two ways to start a business. One is with a loan or scraping together all you have and then growing it through the sweat of your brow, the other is to start with a nice chunk of capital and just use it to make more money. The latter is easy, that is why you get jokers like Donald Trump making billions.

Its very stressful. People genuinely dont understand. We work more, we carry all the responsibilities, we carry all the risk, we are available at all hours. It's far more work than being an employee. It's just the path that made the most sense for us

And you reap all the benefits presumably.

@Eleganz

Its very stressful. People genuinely dont understand. We work more, we carry all the responsibilities, we carry all the risk, we are available at all hours. It's far more work than being an employee. It's just the path that made the most sense for us.

And you make all (or most of) the money as a result. That is the trade off. You presumable aren't doing it just to give yourself a hard time.

Not reliably. There have been times I've earned nothing. Times I've put my own savings in to pay wages, or taken loans to pay wages. I've only recently started earning the same as my highest paid employee. I work a hell of a lot more and am always on call. It's a gamble, if it works then I'll be able to sell, or I'll waste all my time and money on something that fails. I'm entitled to what I earn because I took the gamble. But dont for a second think I've got it easier or better.

I work with a lot of businesses, not many have a lot left in the pot after wages. And everyone (that I know) prioritises wages, it's been awful to see people going down during covid still making sure their staff get as much as possible while left with nothing.

@Eleganz

I dont get annoyed by people ACTUALLY wanting to start businesses. I get annoyed by people looking at us and going "well it looks easy, you're loaded, I should start a business instead of working my bollocks off for someone else." Oh yeah pal, it's so fucking easy, you'll work soooooo much less.

The problem is there are two ways to start a business. One is with a loan or scraping together all you have and then growing it through the sweat of your brow, the other is to start with a nice chunk of capital and just use it to make more money. The latter is easy, that is why you get jokers like Donald Trump making billions.

True. But when I live in the same type house and area as you, you can presume I didn't take option 2

I agree Op.
I am in a similar position to you.
I don’t mind basic questions I mind the abject lack of planning.
I give my services for free right now (I run a business and friends and friends of friends ask for some steers).
I’ve been really surprised by the amount that haven’t even GOOGLED how much their product would be worth/whether there is a market is extraordinary. People who haven’t asked a single other person whether it’s a good idea.
Running a business is bloody hard and often takes years to set up to turn a decent profit
I think people are attracted to the get rich quick mentality and see insta influencers making serious money after a year. But that’ll happen 0.5% of the time!
Also coming up with the idea is the easy bit. Making it happen is ten times harder!

Not sure you are in the right business either to be honest, it’s a strange opinion to hold if you run a business that I would assume mentors/coaches SME’s.