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Original poster

To want to have a small business with no *real* skills?

31 replies

gracke · 20/06/2022 10:58

I'm really just looking for advice/guidance/ideas here.

I'm a young mum with young children and I've been thinking for a while about how I'd rather not be employed (especially while they're young, in particular). I envy those who are running successful small businesses, so instead of sitting jealous, I've decided to start brainstorming/seeking advice to see if it'd be a feasible idea for me to do alongside home-studying a degree.

I have my A Levels (high grade) and some work experience. I drive.

I'd love to become an author but I'm looking to do something in the very near future when I commence my degree.

Does anyone have any ideas for small businesses? Or any way to figure out for oneself what the best thing to do is/where talents lie?

DP seems to not take me seriously when I talk about wanting this as I don't have a clear direction of what I actually want to do!

OP posts:
Chikapu · 20/06/2022 11:01

I think having a clear idea of what you want to do is an obvious first step, it just sounds like a pipe dream tbh.
Are you writing anything atm?

Sprogonthetyne · 20/06/2022 11:01

What's your degree in? It would make sense to think what transferable skill you have from that.

Aprilx · 20/06/2022 11:05

I’m sort of with your DP. How can you start a small business when you have absolutely no idea what to do or what skills you have. Maybe you should start with employment and then branch off in due course.

ElephantsFart · 20/06/2022 11:05

Make a list of your skills (and think out of the box - raising kids, managing a home and work experience included).

Then list what aspects you enjoy. Do you love detail? Being creative? Spreadsheets? Being an author is possible but it’s a tough gig, particularly when you’re young and your time is so fractured by a young family.

Original poster
gracke · 20/06/2022 11:09

@ElephantsFart 100%, that's why I'm not putting all hope into that now, just casually writing!

I'm very organisation. Love lists, planning, managing my own time.
Enjoy writing and reading a lot - both my main hobbies. Love animals (and have experience with).
That's about as far as I've got but I'm going to sit down and think further about transferable skills and what I actually enjoy - sometimes hard to think about what you really enjoy doing!

OP posts:
NightmareSlashDelightful · 20/06/2022 11:09

I run or part-run three businesses. One of which is connected to writing (my first degree is in creative writing).

You do need to know what you want to do. Or at least have a rough idea of the sector, or what expertise you bring to the table.

Otherwise it's all too vague -- you're anchoring an ambition primarily around what you want to take out rather than what you can put in, if you see what I mean.

What is your reasoning for not wanting to be a salaried employee while your kids are little, by the way? No shade to that question, it just seems like a remark that begs a bit of context.

What job are you in at the moment?

Lallybroch · 20/06/2022 11:10

Do you have a college nearby that offers a NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Creating a Business Start-up course? My local college offers this to adults for free and I've just completed it. It really makes you think about what's involved in running a business, if you don't have an idea of what you want to do it can help you to look at various ways of coming up with ideas, and if you do have ideas it can help you drill down if your idea is a good one. It then goes on to look at the legalities and practicalities of running a business as well as the financial implications.

Whilst I applaud the idea of not wanting to out of employment, you have young children and are already studying for a degree. Personally, I would take this time to research help that is available to you - such as courses like this, look into various types of business that you might be able to run once your children are at school, and how your degree might be of use to you in running that business.

Whatever you choose to do, I've realised that you have to be committed to it and you have to enjoy doing it don't rush into anything and think it through. I really would recommend you try and do this course if you can as it really helped me to understand what is involved.

CupidStunt22 · 20/06/2022 11:13

DP seems to not take me seriously when I talk about wanting this as I don't have a clear direction of what I actually want to do!

Well how can he take you seriously? You have no idea what you want to do, no idea of how, no ideas at all. People don't just spontaneously start random businesses...they take a skill or talent or hobby and work out how to monetise it.

You have no higher education and seemingly little experience, along with little time. A business isn't just going to fall into your lap.

DeanStockwelll · 20/06/2022 11:16

You need to decide what iou would like to fo or uou will end in running in 6 different directions.

Are you hoping to work from your home , a shop or other people's homes

laundry business
Dog walking
House cleaning
Business cleaning
Baking
Child care
Book keeping
Proof reading

The list could go on but it needs to be something you are already interested in / good at

Then look into, is there any similar business nearby , ask around see if there is a need for your service.

Insurance
Equipment
Time
Out lay
Potential income
Can you arord for it to fail once you have sunk thousands into it

LesGiselle · 20/06/2022 11:31

OP, being a freelance content writer might be exactly right for you. Low/no start up costs, work your own hours, choose your jobs. Have a look at Upwork/similar. It's a competitive-ish market, but good writers with excellent grammar, who meet deadlines will always find work.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 20/06/2022 11:33

I envy those who are running successful small businesses

Do you talk to many of them?

I am one, I think. I have a small business that pays for me and DH to be home with our baby. But it's bloody hard work; even though it makes enough money... And it was even harder in the early days. I'm not saying this to make you think it's not possible - It is; and if I can do it, anyone can. But I wouldn't want to be starting it with the aim of spending more time at home, and there are weeks that I fondly remember having a job that had clearer boundaries, even though my industry is not one that you could ever walk out the door at 5pm and be off duty.

It sounds like you could be good at doing admin work, or being a virtual assistant? But competition is strong, and you'd need to put a lot of effort into promoting yourself and building up a client base. Something like dog walking or boarding might be easier to get established in, as you'd only be competing with people in the local area, but there's qualifications/experience/regulations you'd need to comply with...

You really do need a strong idea of what you want to do, and a reasonable plan to make it work, before this is something you can consider seriously.

Most small businesses don't make money for the first three years - could you survive on DH's salary while you got started? That's not to say you'll lose money, but there might not be much in the way of profit.

doadeer · 20/06/2022 11:40

Honestly having a small business is so exhausting. It's competitive, relentless and unstable. Yes it can be so rewarding and satisfying but you need to have a strong usp. I run & co-run three businesses and you need such a diverse skill set, marketing, finance, customer communication plus the actual core of what your business is.

PineappleWilson · 20/06/2022 11:43

I really wouldn't. from people I know who have their own businesses, they pend more hours doing their roles than I spend doing mine, as an employee. You want time with young children, to be able to have family holidays etc. Also, service industries like taking in ironing, doing nails / brows, dog walking etc. (not saying you'd do any of these) will be the first to be hit as people tighten their belts, so you'd be in a more precarious position.

A lot of authors stil have a day job as writing just doesn't pay enough by itself.

DelilahBucket · 20/06/2022 11:53

I'll be honest with you, you are living in cloud cuckoo land if you think you can look after small children, and study for a degree, and start a business.
Earning even a very part time income from a new business is like two full time jobs at first. MLMs have led people to believe they can earn loads of money while looking after their children and juggling life. It really isn't that simple.

xogossipgirlxo · 20/06/2022 11:58

doadeer · 20/06/2022 11:40

Honestly having a small business is so exhausting. It's competitive, relentless and unstable. Yes it can be so rewarding and satisfying but you need to have a strong usp. I run & co-run three businesses and you need such a diverse skill set, marketing, finance, customer communication plus the actual core of what your business is.

This. My husband is a sole trader and I wouldn't change my FT job to his business. I shut the door and I'm gone for the day, I get my payslip on time, as money is not my worry, but my boss', while he works 24/7.

KitKattaktik · 20/06/2022 12:06

I have been self employed since 2013. My main business did fall into my lap as it were, a chance conversation with a friend gave me the idea and it went great guns until lockdown. I was working hard and earned an awful lot of money! My second business is more of a hobby that pays as I make ornamental things to sell - but that falls off a wall as soon as people start to tighten their belts financially.

So in the last 2 years, my income from self-employment has greatly reduced and this last two years I haven't earned enough to even pay tax.

Small businesses can pay, but you do need to put a whole lot of time into it because you're never really "off the clock" plus you don't get paid holiday time, no sick leave... and the buck stops with you.

LesGiselle · 20/06/2022 12:10

I'll be honest with you, you are living in cloud cuckoo land if you think you can look after small children, and study for a degree, and start a business

It depends on the person, their support and the business model. I've done something very similar and succeeded. The OP is organised and good with time management.

No one is going to show up and say it will be a walk in the park, but it is possible.

Isthatarealname · 20/06/2022 12:11

I don't want to put you off but I am self employed in a job I am trained in. There are advantages that I can chose my hours/work round the kids but it is exhausting. For reference I haven't left my laptop at home on a family holiday for 4 years. I am often awake at 3am making mental lists/worrying about clients.

I am lucky that I am a service and my overheads are low but I still have subscriptions/insurance etc. I earn well for the hours I work but if we could afford it I would just focus on the kids and give it up.

Pinkdelight3 · 20/06/2022 12:12

It's not clear whether you mean a very small business that fits around your kids and make a bit of money - the laundry/dogwalking kinda gigs a PP listed - or running a successful business which is the kind of thing that takes over your life. I've got more experience of the latter and of writing for a living and both are mostly 7-days a week commitments that need bags of passion and persistence. I guess you're very early stages and that you've got time to explore possibilities while you study for your degree and hopefully find the thing that you want to do. But I'd bear in mind that with young DC it can be easier to be employed so you have set hours, paid holidays and all those benefits whereas when it's all on you, it's very hard to say no to work or to put off projects/clients till it's convenient. I found it best to work part-time and slowly build up my own work on the side until I was really confident that I could generate enough income working for myself. I still work weekends and have needed a supportive, hands on DP to make it work with raising the DC.

HotChoc10 · 20/06/2022 12:17

I think you can definitely start a business without any major 'skills' (people have already mentioned dog walking etc).

A business doesn't have to be a fancy shiny new idea or product, it can just be a normal service other people need.

driedgrassinavase · 20/06/2022 12:22

You have to be either skilled or passionate to run a business, preferably both. It can be really difficult, stressful, time consuming and frustrating. I certainly wasn’t cut out for it and I knew what I wanted to do. Made a go of it for a year and ended up closing it down. It’s not an easy option. You really need to think hard about what you can give to it to make it work.

Journey0falifetime · 20/06/2022 12:26

Is your small business idea linked to your degree ?

Do you have savings to invest into your small business or a business loan ?

What is your degree in ?

GreenManalishi · 20/06/2022 12:31

I think it is absolutely possible. I set up my own business seven years ago, mid divorce, in order to be able to support my DC in our new sole parent household, do school runs and be around in the holidays. I'd been a SAHM until that point since mat leave from my previous employed role. Don't listen to people who tell you you can't do it, you just need to have the idea, be focussed and make it work. There are people out there running successful businesses and most of them have nothing you don't have, the only difference is, they did it. Don't be put off if it's what drives you.

It was the best decision I have ever made. I'm never going to be loaded from it, there are no fancy holidays, but it provides an income and gives me flexibility for the kids. I also am under no illusion it will be successful forever, and I could be driving a bus next year if it all goes tits up. But even then I will be proud of what I have acheived. I won't say that I don't wake up at 4am with the fear sometimes, I also get called in the middle of a day off, or on an evening out of the blue and then I'm off in work mode until that's sorted, and it can be hard to switch off, but that's just part of the deal.

Do it!

doadeer · 20/06/2022 12:43

@GreenManalishi

Do you mind me asking what your business is?

GreenManalishi · 20/06/2022 12:46

I'd be easily identifiable and I want to remain furtive, but no worries if you want to drop me a message x