do you run your own business / work for yourself? Mind me being nosy?

[howdoesitwork]

I have seen people say on a couple of threads that they started a business when they had children so they could work around them. I would love to hear what sort of things those people do, how it works, what sort of money they earn, etc.

Also very interested to hear from people like Avon sellers, etc. Are these the sort of thing where you pick up a few quid here and there, or can they be more substantial?

Does anyone have a business, or work for an existing company, selling to businesses rather than to private individuals?

Obviously the more prurient personal financial detail the better (I don't care if you name change, obviously)

thank you in advance for tolerating my nosiness!

[ginbob]

she prob doesn't have time, that's the trouble isn't it, finding the time to go ahead and DO something about it. These things don't just fall into your lap unfortunately. I am at a crossroads having discovered I'll be paying £400 for the privilege of returning to my newspaper job. I've found this thread really interesting - if a little intimidating if I'm honest!!!

[doesmybumlookbiginthis]

I am a Qualified accountant but when my youngest started school I didn't want to go back to an office job.
I eventually set up an online retail website //www.bagnificent.co.uk selling designer and fashion handbags. When the recession hit I started selling preowned designer bags only meaning i had no money tied up in stock. Keeps me as busy as I want to be

[ginbob]

bit like ebaying old stuff but on a 'proper' footing, then ? where do the bags get sourced from?

[ginbob]

Right. Been thinking since yesterday looking at this thread, and come up with a list of 'things I could do from home'. Pet care service. Flute tuition. An arts and crafts class for little kids. Cardmaking. Proofreading. Would like to buy a Subway Franchise or similar but have no capital. Don't fancy the JamieAtHomes and Avon and Usbourne model, it's not for me. I am not ambitious and pushy enough? Does anyone do any of the above at all?

[doesmybumlookbiginthis]

ginbob- exactly like that but more trustworthy. The bags come from all over. People contact me to sell their bags for them. We have to authenticate bags first and then we put them on site

[sarahfreck]

Ginbob _ I work as a tutor - I kind of went into it by accident. I was unemployed and someone asked me if I would like to do some tutoring. I decided I had nothing to lose, tried it and loved it so much that I have made a business out of it. This is academic tutoring though not music. ( I am a qualified teacher but had been out of teaching for some years prior to tutoring.)
the pluses are:
doing something I love;
seeing children who have been struggling for some time begin to blossom and gain in confidence;
being able to use my creative skills;
not being around office politics, empire building and difficult bosses;
choosing my own work times (to some extent).

the potential downsides:
tax returns;
times for tutoring are limited to when children are not in school so it involves evening and Saturday morning work - I don't mind this as such, but it does limit the number of children you can teach;
having to be more self disciplined;
it is not a way to earn a high income because of limited times for teaching. I can live on it (just) but only because I don't have to pay rent or a mortgage;
the biggest problem for me is the potential isolation ( I live alone as well as working alone) but you just have to make sure you plan the right amount of "people contact" into your week.

[ButterPieify]

sarahfreck - have you considered advertising for home educated kids and adults who are studying basic skills? Can I ask what subject you teach?

[midnightexpress]

I'm a freelance editor/project manager, and have just started doing a few writing jobs as well (academic publishing) - I worked in-house before having the DC, but with 2 under 2, the childcare costs weren't going to make it worthwhile going back, plus I hated my boss job.

This fits in brilliantly with childcare because jobs tend to be divided into discrete tasks and so can often accommodate the number of hours I have available at a given time. When ds2 starts school this year I'll be able to increase my hours accordingly.

[carboy]

Hello

Myself and my sister set up fancy feet children's online shoe boutique when we were on maternity leave a year ago. We are now back at work and we are still running our online business.
It is hard work but it does bring in extra money and hopefully we will be able to leave our day jobs soon so that we can concentrate on our shoe business.

[Gennie]

Hello i am new to mumsnet and i haven't gone back to work since the birth of my 2nd son 18 months ago. I started doing avon but the 20-25% commision usually went on more avon products. I have found a new network marketing company called Ardyss International. I started this in September and have made in excess of £12k. very lucrative business and works well around the childrens childcare. Anybody doing Avon or any other network marketing or don't have any ideas to start there own business I would recommend this to. i would be happy to give any information to anyone interested

[Lizcat]

18 months after my DD was born I purchased the buisness I had been working for for 7 years. I now employ a team of 19 people, have 3 premises and turnover around £750,000 ex VAT.
It is hard like having another child and often DD has to take second place to the business.
However, when I take time off I am able to travel the world with my DD and experience a wide variety of life.

[childrenchildreneverywhere]

I used to have a really busy and well paid job in marketing, but just knew I couldn't leave my baby when she was born. We are lucky in that we don't need my wages to survive, we can live frugally on DHs earnings, so anything I bring in is a bonus and pays for holidays etc.

I teach baby classes with www.babycalm.co.uk and earn around £600 per month working an average of about 4hrs per week when my LO is at preschool. I think the nicest part, aside from being with my LO!, is that I get so much more job satisfaction now compared to my high flyer corporate job.

As my gran always says "they're only young once", I just didn't want to miss it.

[ki2]

I used to work in television but was always wanted to have my own business. When my second was a new born my best friend and I decided to launch our own rainwear company. www.rainwave.co.uk it's been really difficult, rewarding, amazing and we're still best friends! Having no experience we learnt the hardway but the best thing is meeting our customers and seeing how much they love our stuff!