Can’t start a business / venture without money ?

[Fireflyfly]

I would love to one day set up my own business / become self employed . ( I say one day - I’m almost 40! )

Im a teacher and I want out . I’ve not been teaching long , still an ECT .

I would love to do something to do with children’s mental health / wellbeing . Something to help them be able to deal with and regulate their own emotions and to find ways to relax and let their minds just wind down . I regularly see children so overwhelmed with just their emotions and not knowing how to deal with them . Something fun though - not another lesson!

I see people going into schools and delivering workshops on different things , my daughter attends a social group ( She’s autistic ) and they have people come in with different crafts etc and they do these activities and it’s also in a therapeutic way .

I don’t know where I would start and I have no money to be able to put in to act kind of business so it really is a pipe dream. If I had money I would invest in courses and take time out of work to build on this , delve deeper etc .. but I do think that surely for any business you need to make an investment .

What would you do if money wasn’t an option ? Any business ideas or ventures you would like to start ?

Some councils provide grants if you have a business plan and its something to help in the community. My friend got one. She's a PT bug she does it in the local parks fir all abilities. The Council now advertises her as a service to the community

Do you have any qualifications in children's mental health? You should get at least an. MSc in psychology and some relevant training. Otherwise it is quite possible to make kids feel worse with well meaning workshops that aren't actually right.

Can you find an organisation that runs similar workshops and work for them for a few years before starting out on your own?

Business plan, properly thought through and detailed and then get a bank loan. If the business is viable then you will get investment.

Alternatively if you want to start very small, drop down to four days a week and work on your business on the fifth day and at weekends.

What @parietal said.

Also, is there a commercial demand for this service? You talk about going into schools, but I can't see them having the budget or time to accommodate this sort of thing.

But you might be able to do it privately on a one to one basis, if you're in a relatively affluent area where people can pay.

I did start my own business a couple of years ago without any money, but it was a writing business so probably a little different to what you're thinking of.

I became a childminder 20 years ago with alm0st no money in the bank and just the handful of toys I owned for my own baby son.

A colleague of mine has a very successful (no trance) hypnosis practice working specifically with children from 7-16. Is this something you'd be interested in?

I don't think you'd need a loot of money to set this up - the main thing would be earning money whilst you get it off the ground. Could you take a year off teaching, tutor after school and on Saturdays to make money, and use the days to try out this business and see if there is a demand for it?

The people delivering these kind of workshops are either not usually doing it full time or travel a lot.

I know people who do maths/maths inspiration workshops. It's really only a sideline and they very much have a gig career - some workshops, some teaching, some consultancy.

Start a website liking people up with others to share their business ideas. I don't think there is one?

@PassingStranger isn't that just LinkedIn?

I'm a HCP who works with children and I've set up my own business very slowly. Without saying exactly what I do I provide private EHCP reports and also offer support for things like emotional regulation and behavior. I'm doing post graduate qualifications at the moment specifically related to what I know is in demand in terms of private work.

I started doing a few hours a week around my full time job (compressed hours). I took a loan out for a few thousand to buy what I needed initially and it took a year to earn that back. My business is now earning a small amount but I haven't taken any money out of it yet as I need to build a cushion.

I still have a full time job with a toddler, a baby on the way and zero savings (thanks to maternity leave, paying for my post grad qualifications myself and this business!). I'm determined to work for myself and have found lots of opportunities in places I hadn't considered but i'm not yet able to take them all on whilst still working full time. I hope to drop hours after my next maternity leave and then be fully working for myself within another year or so. If you want to do it make a clear plan but think in achievable baby steps!

That’s interesting ! What’s it for , is it to help with trauma etc ? X

Wow that sounds really interesting - and something that is really needed ! Sounds like you worked really hard to achieve it , well done and I hope it just keeps on growing and thriving for you x

Tutoring is something I have thought about it but because I don’t have masses of teaching experience I feel that I don’t have what it takes

I am starting a business and found business gateway really helpful. There are loads of free resources online from business gateway and also generally about writing a business plan etc. And one thing I have found really useful is checking out the competition - have learnt loads from their websites and seeing what they offer, prices, how they market etc - maybe start there - who does what you are thinking of or similar and what do they charge etc?

I don’t know where I would start and I have no money to be able to put in to act kind of business so it really is a pipe dream.

I don't think the limiting factor, it's your lack of clarity over what your value proposition is.

Happy to DM you details if you're interested.

Yes please !

It's not been quick or straight forward without money to invest upfront but it's doable if there's a demand for what you're offering. I could probably have done it quicker if I'd not done it alongside having children, I've partly held on to my full time job so I get maternity leave!

A good accountant (who costs more than I earnt the first year!) who also offered good business advice so I didn't have to worry about that side. Over time i've also gained confidence to charge a decent rate, I started lower but quickly increased. Good luck getting started.

You need to commit to something long enough to become really good at it. Ect years are tough because you’re learning at a horrendously fast rate. Could you give teaching long enough to become good and then either supply or part time to finance the business start up? Don’t use your next increment to live on but use that too to start building a savjngs cushion

There are some options in this business grants article