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Want to start a business but scared

13 replies

lovemy2babies · 07/01/2011 20:47

This sounds really lame but I want to start designing jewellery and turn into a business but iam scared!

Something like stage fright, what if I'm no good blah blah.

I'm a grown woman have a degree and a past career however have been a Sahm for 3 years and my confience has taken a nose dive.

So for those of you that have taken the plunge how did you motivate yourself to start and what keeps you going?

OP posts:
Jellykat · 07/01/2011 22:50

Hello.. I did this exactly 1 year ago.
What i did was i enrolled onto a local government funded business course, just 3 full days, and free!

I was with 5 other women who had ideas,and not only did we learn all about tax, N.I, marketing etc. but we were all petrified, and bounced ideas of each other, recommended places to get cards printed etc.. i bump into each of them occasionally, and we all ask how each other is getting on,which is great and supportive!

Plus the scheme helped with my business plan for start up grants, and i can go back at any time for advice! I'd recommend it as a place to start from,if there is one in your area.

Don't be scared,it's exciting!

Good luck!

IcanandIwill · 09/01/2011 21:33

Jellykat - do you mind me asking how you found the course? Thats just what I'm looking for but not having any luck with local colleges etc. Thanks

Jellykat · 09/01/2011 22:23

Well i'm in Wales, so it was funded by the Welsh Assembly.

It was originally called 'Business Eye',and i originally found out about it through the lone parent advisor at the local job centre.
So try your local job centre,library, possibly even your local tax office, i know when i rang to register as self employed with the HMRC they offered me a course too!

Keep an eye open for Craft Fayres etc, and chat to local stallholders of handmade stock,they may know of possibilities too..

Hope you find something! Good luck!

CaptainNancy · 09/01/2011 22:39

If you're in England, you probably want Business Link. We used them when we set up (aeons ago I'm afraid) and they were fairly helpful, particularly around information about statutory obligations (tax, NI etc)

lovemy2babies · 10/01/2011 05:25

Thanks jelly.

You are right it will be exciting Iam constantly imagining lots of fab success senorios and it's making me feel really alive if that makes any sense!

I have applied for the prince of Wales entroprise grant and have an initall interview for it in 2 weeks which is really motivating me.

I like the idea of group discussion and bouncing ideas off each other.

Does anyone know of a womens business network that does something like this?

OP posts:
Paula30CWR · 10/01/2011 09:36

Hi there,

It's totally understandable you are scared. Starting your own business can be a bit frightening but if you are motivated, I don't see why you shouldn't.

I'm 28, I'm expecting my first baby by the end of next month and I run my own company from home.
At the beginning I was soooo scared. What happened was that I was working in Market Research as a Research Exec and I loved it, but when the economic crisis came, my boss had to let me go. It was the beginning of 2009 and I was so upset. I always had the support of my husband - also in the Market Research industry - who encouraged me to go on but the job environment wasn't good.
As before joining my last job I worked for several years in translation and I'm a translator and Interpreter, I decided that I would start with it again. My biggest fear was though, feeling lonely. But I moved on, my two kittens were more than happy for me to be at home with them so the loneliness wasn't that bad.
Me and Phil, my husband, gathered all the info we needed to set up our own business. I would work on a freelance basis for translation agencies from around the world and London, providing translation and interpreting services in Spanish and English, and I would get my clients as well.
So, I started reading lots of books about getting clients, marketing your business, losing your fear of cold calling and I guess it all helped.

The first year was a bit difficult, but i gained sooooo much experience. Las year, we became a Ltd company and we did soooo well. So I was over the moon.
I got pregnant last year without even thinking about it too much (although we wanted at some point) and despite I will have to wrok just a tiny bit less with a baby, I think we did the right thing.
I want to be around my baby when he grows and working from home has that amazing thing.

Jewellry is amazing and I'd love doing it. I have a friend that started her own cake business and she sells delicious and beautiful cakes for any kind of event everywhere. She goes to different fairs, exhibitions with a friend and it's very good.

I don't know where are located and don't know how the business possibilities may be like. But try to carry own. Get magazines, books and read them. When you are ready, get a website and start advertising with low prices/ offers/ discounts to attract clients and you'll see that it works. It might not happen overnight but you'll see the results the more you try.

Where are you based?

Hope my story and piece of advice were helpful.

Have a lovely day!

Paula

lovemy2babies · 10/01/2011 11:20

Thanks for sharing your story Paula and congratulations on becoming an Ltd! you sound like you have had a great experience down to your hard work.

and I completely understand about feeling lonely working from home it's something that makes me feel nervous especially as my background was always working in a team.

I like how you put in the time for research to fully prepare you, Iam currently researching but often fel overwhelmed as there is so much out there and feel alittle lost.

I need to hone in on my experience as a student and project manage myself as if I was in my final year again.

How are you getting on being pregnant and self
employed? Do you still have all your energy as for me
being pregnant could be exhausting.

I'm hoping to get on to the princes trust course and get some fundin to enable me to take a course and from there invest in my own tools and materials.

Will carry on with some research today too.

Sorry this post is abit everywhere I'm breastfeeding my littleone to sleep at the same time :)

OP posts:
Paula30CWR · 10/01/2011 13:36

Hey!

Don't worry about feeling nervous because I didn't know where to start and then everything comes together.

I had the support of my husband and my family but I totally understand that it can be freightened.

You will be amazed about how much energy you will put into this and without knowing, you'll be managing your own business, which is great!

I'm in the final stage of pregnancy and I am trying to get everything done to have time to enjoy it.
I try to get the energy from everywhere. My cats are very demanding and I don't want them to feel excluded when the little one arrives. It sounds silly but these two have been my company when Phil worked and I don't want them to feel bad.
I do feel quite tired though. Sitting in front of the computer all day is not good but well, I am a business woman at the end of the day and need to work.

Where are you based? Are you in London?

Anyway, hope it all works out for you - I'm sure it will!

Paula x

debsbusybee · 11/01/2011 10:21

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kerstina · 16/01/2011 20:23

I would like to set up my own company designing handmade cards which i already do for craft fairs ect but am a bit clueless about where to start ! Any advice welcome?

Pingpong · 16/01/2011 22:21

"Does anyone know of a womens business network that does something like this?"

I don't know what part of the country you are in but this might be of interest to you for networking WiRE

sarahfreck · 21/01/2011 21:57

womens business network manchester

sarahfreck · 21/01/2011 21:58

oops Blush that was supposed to be in a google search!

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