Who wants to be an entrepreneur? Start here... (and those who are, help here please!?)

[WilfSell]

OK, I was inspired by the 'earn 1k a month working from home' thread, which turned into an inspiring if terrifying 'don't sell yourself short' thread. And wondered if, those of us who might like to work for ourselves but don't currently, could get started here? I aim to keep my job, and perhaps try to move to part-time at some point. I have some business ideas, some good, some over-ambitious, mostly attempts to roll-out my current skills into a private consultancy, not necessarily linked to my existing job (university research/teaching).

I know it is an incredibly tricky time to think about this, and I'm sure it is not easy or comfortable to make a living... But some people manage it, so why shouldn't more of us?

Well done Nanky

Well I have bitten the bullet and really got started with my venture, Ordered my stock, started putting some feelers out and have made 2 bookings, so fingers crossed I am on the way to getting back my investment.

I'm feeling quite excited about it all, 2 years at home with twins, and I am so keen to get going. DP has his own business, so my aim is to make more money than him
I don't want to out myself by doing a shameless plug (and I like my mumsnet anonymity) but if anyone wants to know or give me a bit feedback/opinion I'll PM my website.

Advice from all the experts on here required. I have been thinking of starting my own business for sometime. I currently work for SS and have gained a large number of qualifications over the years. I would like to set up a therapy business, one of which would include hypnotherapy. Apart from the standard uses there is a growing number of people working with children for nail bitting, bed wetting even helping with assertive skills if they are being bullied etc. Would anyone consider using this for their children? Feedback/thoughts/comments very welcome.

Slippers sounds like a great idea to me, I'm not in that position yet as my girls are very small but I'd be happy to pay for an alternative therapy. Once you've had a few 'successes' I think you'd have a great business from word of mouth recommendations. Good luck

thanks for the encouragement, folks!

I am on a bit of a high after being offered the work - it's one thing to regard yourself as being shit hot and awesome, but quite another to have someone else think that you are worth giving their hard earned cash too!

Dolomites, I used to work with the Scottish Womens' rugby team - which was great, but not quite the same as the current French men's team. Flap your fan over here, please!

At the risk of seeming ungrateful - I don't really want to build up a sports practice. I love the work, and I'm good at it, but, sports physios are ten a penny here.

So, some advice please - would you consider it better to have a website focusing on one type of work/skill 'v' a website summarising ALL your types of work/skills?

One of my patients is an IT guy (handy) He is quite insistant that I should have a website with a focus on sports stuff, or at least a page mentioning it. I don't - I want to be doing something different, and there's no-one doing private domi stuff well in my area.

The sports stuff comes in by word of mouth already - the team contract will be a twice weekly clinic at their training night which is regular income. I don't see the benefit of adjusting my website which makes me look like a specialist in elder care (which, I am. As well. I also bake a really good scone and can do invisible repairing of teddies who's foot sustained a scissor injury. I am blardy mahvellus, by the way. I expect you've noticed that already?)

Also - anyone ever do a "membership scheme"? I need to raise some cash - doing a lot more spending investing than am bringing in just now. I thought of offering the team a deal, pay £ membership fee to my "clinic" and I'll give them discounted treatments. I'll get a lump sum from the members (£40 fee for the year? That's about a single treatment at a physio clinic) still make money from the training nights, and I'll get word of mouth advertising from the "members" to their non-member friends, who could come along to the training night session for treatment. There's no hire fee for the room for my clinic - bit jammy.

Is that a good idea, or am I selling myself short? I need an ultrasound machine, I've been borrowing one - but it's time to get my own. So, I need about 1k. Turns out, that's more than a day's work at the mo...

Anyhoo, I'm going to knuckle down and get some work done. I've got a cup of tea, the kids' budgies are having a wee fly out their cage, I've got a load of washing on and another one out. this working from home might just suit me fine assuming I can get off mumsnet

morning
marking my place for later, lots of ideas but all jumbled atm. I finally have free time after several years raising DCs and a degree to use. Leaning towards the publishing a book area, but way too many ideas floating around in the ether of my brain. Time to focus I think. This thread should help me focus...

Nanky my tuppence worth would be to not 'dilute' your website....but someone here may be able to advise on a way to link to this area of practice e.g. Could you have a separate 'sports' page on there with a different feel to it....
making clear that you can do it but that's it's a different area of practice?
To me, looking for a sports physio is different to a Geriatric care one...
But that might just be me

I think you cant ignore it, the bottom line has to be watched. If your IT guy thinks your good enough...perhaps in time you can employ someone to keep your sports stuff ticking over allowing you to continue to specialise?

If anyone is interested, there are still some places left on the Mumsnet Academy course on Social media. On 15th Sept in Perth

Ooh. Just saw the posts about not putting ads on here - I can have my post removed if you want. (it's Mme here, name changed to write the thread about MN Academy course)

I have been thinking about how to grow my business, I'm currently a freelance makeup artist.

I'd like to branch out into other beauty therapies, train in colour consultations and offer theses services.

Another thing I am good at (my friends tell me) is decluttering wardrobes and personal shopping.

Possibly would like to train in life coaching, confidence building and offer all these services under one umbrella.

Do you think this is a good idea and do you think it could be offered as an online/remote service also, maybe using Skype if a client was unable to come to me in person.

I don't have a spare room I could use as an office but want to put a summer house/garden room outside to use as an office/studio.

I will need to put a fair bit of money(which I don't have currently) into the training and office so it will be a slow start I think.

What would you call a service like this?

terra, you have lots of options, just initially thinking here that if you were to change or diversify your target market, you could add to your business, linking to previous posters, have you thought about offering mobile/home visit services to:

1. new mums needing beauty therapies without hassle of leaving the house
2. disabled ladies wanting to maintIn their beauty regime
3. elderly

just a thought anyhow!

not sure about the implications or legalities of visitng random homes though, but bit like a window cleaner offering home services, it should be fine?

We had the Gruffalo on saturday.

that was my make-or-break event.

basically, it was "if no one comes or no one pends money i'm going to have to close".
thankfully, lots of people came and lots of people spent (it was my best day in a long long time), so I think i'm safe for a while.

I hope it means that lots of new people have now found me, and that they will come back, and that they will spread the word about the shop to their friends.

Now it's a hard slog until christmas - i've got to get in touch with every school on my books to tell them that they have been customers in the past and it'd be lovely if they could spend some sodding money here, and get the shop known to everyone who will be buying christmas presents.

Yes, I'm thinking about those markets as potential clients, especially mothers, I used myself as a test subject here and managed to claw my way out of depression by getting my life organised and reinventing my image, I am aware that may sound quite shallow to some but its true.
I am also looking into volunteering for look good,feel better which is a cancer charity helping women who are going through chemo.

Me me me!! Am going to read through this thread properly tonight but I want to join in! Looks raaaather inspiring :)

This is my first week of PT work, have reduced my hours from FT so I now have thurs and fri free to research and plan my dream business :) :)

marking my place.

WopBop I am planning on reducing my hours to pt in the new year so I can build my business. I know its your first week but how does this affect what you pay in tax when you start having a turnover from your business?

What type of business are you setting up - if you don't mind me asking

It will ultimately be an amazing cake and coffee shop with lots of squishy sofas and yummy treats! I have such a clear visipn in my mind. Will probably start trading at markets etc first of all because I can't open a shop yet as we don't live where we ultimately want to live and raise our kids, so no point starting properly yet to then just relocate. Currently live in London, no kids yet. A lot of my thurs and fris will be spent perfecting my recipes at this stage as well as researching the theoretical and legal side of things.

Haven't looked into tax yet (really going to be starting from the very beginning!!). Now I'm part time I'll only be earning £150 a week so I don't know! Clearly got lots of research to do

Sounds great- make sure you let us know the address when it is open!!

When you start a self-employed business you should tell HMRC that you have a new source of income. Most self employed people pay Class 2 National Insurance which is currently £2.65 a week (generally paid by direct debit 6 monthly; if your self employed income is low you can opt out of this but if it is your only earnings it is probably best not to (google mranchovy class 2 for more info)).

You won't have any more tax to pay until 31 January 2014.

If you claim Tax Credit or other means tested benefits you must tell them about your new source of income and the amounts you get may change.

Business Link (a government web site) is the best source for information about tax and the other responsibilites when starting up, although there are some knowledgable Mumsnetters who regularly post in this topic for any specific questions.

Thanks for that. At what exact point do you notify them? When I actually earn some money or before that? As initially I will be advertising/promoting business but will have no customers.

terra You absolutely do NOT need to set up an expensive "office" to start a business. More than one empire has been started using a laptop balanced on the bed! Have a google for "shared entrepreneur dorms" in san francisco! Sounds like procrastination to me - and back to Xenia's "don't wait for it to be perfect".

you have to tell them within 3 months of starting up.

definitely don't need an expensive office if you're not doing a shop - just make sure you have access to a computer and internet/email.

... and a printer out of the reach of jammy fingers!

i love the spirit of enterprise on this thread
too many sticklers out there in RL saying to me but what about...what about...you can't...blahblah
Thinking cap on once DCs are in bed. Right now I have dinnertime homework duties. helping the next generation in our home, as I see it!