Advice please, on starting a business!

[Ninablue]

Hi I am a horsey mum, we have a little pony on loan for my six year old twins who ride a few times a week. Now I have always had horses and ponies throughout my life until I had a bad fall a few years ago and it really shook me up so I stopped riding! So I was delighted when my kids expressed an interest now I'm back on the yard mucking out etc.

The owner of our pony has six horses so as we are down very early I offered to feed and muck out out her lot too as I don't mind and the kids love playing round the yard (private). Anyway another person close to the yard asked if i wouldnt mind putting haynets in for her two as I pass and I did it as it really isnt a bother.

So this got me thinking could i start a business helping people who havent the time to get down their yards due to work commitments etc. I thought i could do an emergency call out, so they can ring me if they are stuck at work, their kids are poorly etc etc. What do you think? Is it a silly idea? I thought I would stick to my area of villages as lots of yards nearby. I could drive by leave a card and intorduce myself....

I would be really interested to hear your veiws on this. Thanks!!

I think people call themselves freelance grooms who do that don't they ? Sounds like a great idea - put cards up in your local tack shops etc too.

If you are good at plaiting and pulling mane/tails you could offer that too

And clipping? I always have to get someone in for that

Agreed - always work for somebody willing to do morning/evening turn out, mucking out, clipping and show assistance (plaiting, grooming at shows etc).

Think it's a great idea at our local yard we have a woman who offers to do this and I know she is always very busy.

I need you! I can't plait or clip and was seriously considering paying someone to do it/teach me how yesterday.I think you'd get a fair bit of business,but remember to cost your time and fuel carefully and don't under price yourself.

I would also look around to see how much people are charging for that.

You say you would propose emergency care. Are you sure this is what you want? I am thinking organization problems when people give you very little.notice etc... Whereas you could have regulars and get more organized re time etc...

The idea sounds great! Just think about what you want re /if work balance first so you can decide what you would like to do, regular looking after or emergency help perhaps not as regular commitment but last minute thing.

Good luck :)

Hey, great advice thanks so much. I didnt post on horse and hound forums as they always seem to shoot people down in flames over there!! I do get very honest advice though!!!

I havent clipped or plaited in years. I think i need to go on a course in leicestershire somewhere and get taught the basics again. Thanks so much will keep you posted!!!

XX

I'm looking for someone short term when baby comes if my sharer can't do more. A friend is looking at starting up the same thing. Good luck!!

Ninablue,if you get into plaiting and clipping,please get in touch with me.I really need either someone to teach me or do it for me.I'm in Leicestershire too.I'll be your first customer!

Mirage, whereabouts are you? Im on a pirvate yard in Ratby!!!

*Private.....

I'll message you.

People who keep their horses at home always need help if they need to be at work at short notice, are sick, on holiday, need a horse exercising, etc. Yards also need emergency cover if their regular grooms are unavailable.

However there are some things you need to consider:

• you would need insurance and this may eat into any profit
• you would need to find yards very close to each other as otherwise you would be forking out most of your money on petrol
• would this work out with your childcare arrangements? Some yards may not be happy (for health and safety reasons) for you to bring your kids to work.
• income could be very variable and you could be most in demand during the worst months of the winter
• if you were to offer house sitting services most people would want you to be able to stay overnight

Look into Bhs membership. Gold level gives you public liability, and this covers any horse you own, handle or work with.

Don't under sell yourself. Charge per hour, not per job. (but be scrupulously honest about it) Catching in can only take 5 minutes, but it can also take half an hour if the horse wants to be an idiot. Same re mucking out. One stable may take ten minutes, another might take 40. I get at least £8p/h for freelance, and that includes poo picking.
Horse owners are often looking for a bargain, but able to pay if they need to. If you undervalue yourself, they won't respect you for it!

Hi Ninablue, another Leicestershire person here (Charnwood area) We've got 4 horses and if our yard wasn't so obliging we'd be looking for someone

Don't know why I didn't think of this but the British Grooms Association might be a good place to start with as well:

www.britishgrooms.org.uk/

BTW I don't think BHS gold covers you if you are a groom. Their public liability specifically excludes liability arising from or incidental to any profession, occupation or business. However the BGA should be able to advise further.

I used to do this sort of thing! Also dog walking, rabbit cuddling, alpaca taming and the hip dislocating activity that was Riding An Obese Percheron.

Most businesses involve running at a bit of a loss at first don't they, until you can command a bit more per hour. Am in Suffolk but often need cover for holidays and emergencies so would be pming you if you were in this area!

(got my insurance through cliverton but have feeling someone else indemnified me for the advisory part of my work)