To those of you who started something and it grew!

[Liftmyselfupagain]

I often read on MN of people who started a ‘little’ business and how they’ve worked to have successful businesses often out earning their partners?

Im so curious to hear from those of that have done this. Did you get see an existing skill set and network, was it product or service based? I am hoping to do the same but have apparently become very risk averse.!
what did you come up with?

I just expanded a hobby and the more time I put in the better it does. It’s a making/manufacturing business with a wide product range but not craft fair type things.
It’s shrunk as well before dc went to school. Now it’s growing again
I keep overheads low and have never borrowed any money to start or expand.

I taught myself to sew nearly 14 years ago. I recently expanded for the third time and opened a bricks and mortar alongside my online stores.

It's not the the faint hearted and isn't easy by any stretch of the imagination. There have been many worrying years post Covid.

I always wanted to do a business but was scared to jump and risk the regular income even though I knew the earning potential was higher if I did.
I then unexpectedly lost my job but with the payoff and the lotsnof accrued holiday had about 6 months income paid to me. So I thought nows the chance and if it doesnt work out in 6 months I will get a job. I never looked back. Its hard work being self employed especially in the early days and to some extent im a bit of a workaholic but the results are all mine and my families im bot working for anyone else's profits and the flexibility with a child is priceless

What did you end up doing? Well done!!

I saw a gap in services (health and social care) - the market itself was flooded but I found a niche gap that I felt was very much needed, hugely underserved, but I needed lots of training to fill the gap. I took the gamble, paid a lot for training and set up costs - and paid consultants/contractors for the bits I didn't know. I reinvested in my training so eventually I can do it all alone which means maximum profit - and also I get to give the client the hours and attention I want (which is a lot more than the contractors were doing). Ive only just got to that point so I am really stoked.

I only really started it in September and it was on a hunch that it would be wanted and successful and it turns out it is! Its not just the fact its successful that has made me so pleased with myself, it is the endless messages I get from people in the industry and the clients who are beyond pleased that my service now exists. Without sounding like a knob, I am so so proud of myself. Its a second career for me (Im old) and I have had a really shitty decade and I have worked very hard so Im super pleased to be doing something so rewarding.

Well done!

I did. Left a well paid but hideous job and just…went for it. In hindsight, I was bloody clueless and I took an enormous risk, basically selling everything I owned to finance it. The first few years were bloody terrifying and COVID was horrific. We made it through though and the business is debt free and continues to grow.
I absolutely do not regret it, but all other people see is the nice lifestyle it provides (and it does). But the stress is epic and relentless and the bigger it grows the worse that gets. You never, ever get a true day off because, ultimately, the book stops with you. Oh and everyone tells you that you are “lucky” because they do not see the decades of sleepless nights and the prematurely grey hair!

What an inspiring thread and an inspiring bunch!

Funnily enough my partner did the same. We weren't together - its a new relationship - but I feel it is part of our attraction to each other. I love his story. He was in a dead end office job, LOATHED it, dragged himself in for 17 years as you do. He got made redundant, and used that payout to begin his dream of being a PT. Three years later his business is thriving and he skips off to work each day. He has ADHD and you can see how much he gets from it and how it has improved his mental health and wellbeing. I didn't know him in the 'dark days' as he calls it, but in pictures you can see even in his eyes he looks dead. His spark is missing. I call him the labrador because he jumps up raring to go and is just so inspiring to be around because he loves what he does. I need to be around energy like that. Its one of the many reasons I fell in love with him.

Hes not hugely successful money-wise, and he stresses sometimes in high cancellation times (like xmas), but he is very successful in my eyes because he gets paid for what he loves to do. As do I.

The downsides are we are both ADHD and find it hard to switch off. Especially me. My hyperfocus is amazing for getting shit done and it really is a gift at times for those who run businesses - but it can mean you live on little sleep, racing brain, and get too business obsessed if you aren't careful. We check each other for that now, which helps. When I lived alone and was single I could work endlessly (through choice) and would often get overwhelmed. Its good having a person now who checks you aren't overdoing it and taking time for other things!

Our art gallery Sales in 2025 are 66% up on when we opened in 2026. I'm 54 and plan to retire at 60 from my weekday job and run it full time with DW

Oh please tell me more!! This is one of the things I want to do…. doubt we’re in the same neck of the woods :) Well done

@Liftmyselfupagainwe started with about 16 paintings on the walls, a pasting table with sweets and one card spinner. We now have about 100 paintings, grid mesh units, 4 card spinners. So "art and gifts" rather than enormous white cube with a painting on each wall.

We really want to sell more original art in 2026 but the other things keep the lights on