Advice VERY much appreciated...

[CloudyShed]

Hello

I am an Artist that has worked her nuts off for the past 15 years to make my business viable and into profit. Its worked and I have a good reputation and last year made about 15k turnover and about 7 profit...not bad as was working around the babes and painting when I could.

However, my business is not really a money-spinner and, given that I am over 40 now with a freelance husband I do want to make some good money and not have to be so horribly scared about his short-term contracts coming to an end all the time.

My decision is this dear mumsnetters... DH and I are considering opening a small business together making short films for websites. His whole life has been in telly, I have the sales skills and can do the production pretty much in my sleep (am virgo and have had my own businesses for eons now) I do like telly and its quite glam even but am scared about leaving my treasured art career to put my time and effort to another venture.

We need to make some regular money and everyone pretty much needs unstupidly expensive film content for their websites (am talking £300 for a 1/2minute film).

What do you think? Would LOVE your thoughts as I don't want to chew my families ears off about it...they have been so supportive already as its been a hard horrid few years work wise for DH particuarly...

Thank you in advance

hello, i completely sympathise with your plight. I am in exact same position. Half term has brought it all to a crunch as just never enough time when you run your own business. I Have built up a bespoke business from scratch and i started it on my own with 4 children in toe. My DH makes far more money than me currently but manages his business not so well. I have spent all week thinkin gi must give up my job but i know day 2 i would hate eveyone for making the sacrifice. We all need a bit of something thats your own. If i gave up mine to work with him all the time i know id feel like the lacky! You might be less sefish than me, so find the trasition easy. I would really miss the creativity in my job and that's something i wouldn't get from moving bits of paper around. Good luck in your choice.

From your description, I don't understand what your product is or who the customers are? I'm not sure I have seen that many videos on websites to be honest.

Hello

Well done CloudyShed for what you have achieved to date, no small feat.

I think there is a market for sole traders/consultants who want to introduce themselves to their potential customers. I follow lots of them on twitter and a number use video. I know from employed roles how much it normally costs to have a video made, so I'd see £300 well spent personally.

Also I have been on a Key Person of Influence event, and their programme suggests that businesses follow their suggested method which includes uploading a video onto your website - to make it more appealing. Content has always been king, but I think that is even more true these days with social media.

However, with mention of telly, not sure if you mean videos for businesses.

Is there no way you can test the water before you both jack in what you are doing?

Good luck.
WS

Would your husband do both his current type of work and this new venture? I wonder if you would both be up against everyone that has a DSLR with video capabilities? At least in TV 'proper' the skills your husband has are recognised, even if there are younger cheaper people coming up behind. You might be disappointed to find that the general public are not so discerning when it comes to the quality of the videos that they want for their site and are looking for the cheapest deal available.
Having said that, I do think it is an up and coming market and was thinking about how to get video for my site only today!

my problem is that I HATE videos that are part of websites - I always hit skip
and when we got a media lady to do a video of DH for his youtube channel, she missed the point about the emphasis we wanted
so now the most successful videos we have are shot by me on our little camcorder and edited by my daughter
and we have them on youtube linked to the site so we get the best of both worlds.

Corporate training videos on the other hand ........

Lovely Lovely Ladies...Thank you so much for your thoughts. I hadn't checked in for ages as I thought I had no messages - was a bit down about it too. Then...

Hey presto there you all are!!!

THANKYOU!

Off to 'parent consultative' now...(why not parents eve anymore?!) will write more later...you are all lovely

Thanks

Hello again..

Righto..

5babyangels...I feel your pain. I have decided to do my books early (or the year just ended) as I figure that might help me make my decision. My thoughts are that we probably should go ahead with the new businesss but with one or two conditions...1.. that my business ticks over in some way.. perhaps by supplying galleries again rather than chasing sales myself and 2...I'm going to insist on some business coaching/mentoring. Its not as expensive as you may think and more importantly we are going to need a third person to make decisions and plan with. Thats my thoughts so far....pm me anytime.

Hello ws...thanks for your thoughts too. thanks also for the link and going to have a good look. Video for websites is becoming more and more accepted now so I think our product is going to be in demand. You're right about not going full time to start though..hopefully we won't have to if more work comes in for DH..fingers crossed.

Thanks Bluehorizon for your thoughts too. I agree that the quality isn't going to be magic...but its the cutting of the film that will make it. DH has all the equipment we need to do it. Also agreed on the cheapest deal going being the most popular for independent businesses...yay! Bring on sensible prices...would you like a film my dear? you can be our first customer!!!

Talkingpeace...sorry to hear that you weren't happy with your film that you had made...keep your daughter cutting for you! ace idea!

Thanks everyone..