Going it alone - Self Employment

[iamapieceofcheesecake]

I wonder if any mnetters out there could help me.
I have been thinking of becoming self employed for a few years now, the trouble is I just can't seem to pluck up the courage to 'go it alone'!
I haven't a clue where to start. Is there anyone I could speak to that could push me in the right direction? I live in Ipswich if thats of any use and would like to start a web based shop in the first instance and then maybe progress from there.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time.

Anyone...?

Have you had a look at the Business Link website? There is lots of info there for new businesses, and I think you can get some free advice.

DH & I are both self-employed, but we worked in big businesses for the first 18 years of ours lives so we sort of knew what to do etc...

Do you work at the moment?

I work saturdays in the industry that I would like to become self employed in so I am fairly knowledgeable on what things are supposed to do etc.
I will try business link tonight, thanks for that, I must get ds out in the fresh air soon.

I've heard business link are very good and I think there are grants which will pay 50% of your website costs up to a certain amount. It is fairly easy to get something up and going yourself though. Do a google for Bluevoda. It is free and very, very easy to use. Combine it with the Paypal shopping basket and it doesn't take long to get something up and running. I started a web based business at the beginning of the year with completely no experience and am so pleased I took the plunge as although it is early days, it is going very well. Good luck.

Thanks Kittypickle, will do. I get a certain amount of webspace with ntl for free, should I use this?

Oh Kittypickle - that's interesting about the website costs - do you know where I can find out more about that?