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?

I have just read the whole thread and realised I am clearly not marketing what I do freelance well enough! Which is ironic...

I make people sound good, and teach them how to make themselves sound good.

Essentially that means looking at their CV and covering letter, web presence like linked in if they want me to etc and telling them what I think, seeing whether that matches what they want to be and if it doesn't, making it do that. Then I also do coaching for interviews - usually over the phone but I would live to have an office so I can work on the physical cues as well. The phone doesn't tell you if someone slouches halfway through an interview or fiddles with their rings. I do it for both employed and self-employed people.

Often people are great at what they do and know how to market it but aren't that 'personable'. Their 'about me' section on their website is a bit crap or they're not highlighting their key skills or best areas. I do trumpet blowing on paper and some interview coaching too.

I also have a TEFL business on the side which could franchise but I would need a big cash injection and (crucially) geographical stability to kickstart it.

So what are you going to do about it frakio? How do you imagine people will find you: word of mouth? advertising? specialist talks? Come and share your plans.

I work in a specialist area of the wedding industry, and I'm just back from exhibiting at a huge wedding fayre (horrible word!). If anyone had suggested several years ago that I'd be working in this industry, or that I'd be selling myself at a wedding show, I'd not have believed it. In many ways I am so, so far out of my comfort zone at a wedding fair, yet it's a fantastic opportunity to tell people about my services, and to explain to them what I do, and to respond to their questions and ideas. I've already got 4 firm bookings from the weekend, which covers my direct costs three-fold. People who have booked me since then have said "I thought you were really nice, and exactly what we are looking for" or "we really liked your enthusiasm for what you do". So why am I posting this here?

Not to boast (although it's lovely to share the little excitement of success) but rather to remind myself, and to show others that we have to, and we can, do things that are not what we would call our 'natural' style. If any one is hanging back, hiding their products or services under a bushel, in fear of somehow getting it wrong, I encourage you to get out there and market yourself.

Thank you greatwork. Its a great reminder.
''If any one is hanging back, hiding their products or services under a bushel, in fear of somehow getting it wrong'' ....this is me.
I know my service is in demand. I know that I can talk about it endlessly. I know that I find it fascinating and would learn about it forever.
But I have a new client tomorrow and am terrified that i wont be 'good enough'. I foresee being up for many hours tonight ensuring that I am completely on top of it tomorrow.

Write trade books (a la Xenia). I've just taken delivery of possibly the most boring book ever written (not its byline) - 56 euros, + VAT, + shipping 20+ (top rate was 54 euros, really? REALLY? gold-plated pigeons was it? ). Bizarrely they've given me a "free towel" with their logo on.

Because trade books and towels seem like such the obvious mix.

I am struggling right now with marketing via social media channels - I realised that whilst I am technically able to use the software, it doesn't mean I should - and I have been accidentally spamming like mad. So I've taken a step back or two to try and work out how I'm going to go about this and am doing an online seminar (free) with hubspot (someone recommended these guys!) tonight on the subject of Facebook marketing. I think QED right now is that "corporate branding" page on fb taking the piss out of big name companies - Boden is a prime example of this "ooh look at our cakes/lunch/puppy/paper hat" type bollocks and lots of "what are you doing this weekend?" without actually engaging. I want to try and get it right - yet at the same time I don't have time to spend hours and hours and hours every day "chatting" on twitter and the like.

gratework fayre is a fabulous word if they use it correctly - i'm guessing as it won't be a hall full of lovely food, so in this case they're not, and i totally agree with you

Greatwork, what is it you do?
I'll be doing some wedding fayres next year too :)

Just advertised in the highland wedding directory which is given to all brides when they visit the registrars.

In the words of Nathan from queer as folk... I'm doing it, I'm really doing it :)

re business insurance k2togm1 you may need an insurance company/broker that has policies for small businesses including both personal and product liability (plus insurance for craft shows or fairs if you intend to attend any?) - Blackfriars Group act as a broker, their number is 0161 300 2930 they have trademan insurance packages, Stonebridge Insurance would also be worth contacting.

terranotsofirma I'm a celebrant, so I actually do the marrying of the people getting married. It's lovely, lovely work and it plays to all my skills and interests. I get to be nosy, bossy, creative and involved in some moving, touching and funny occasions.

At the wedding shows I really am selling 'myself' - no table loads of sparkly products to hide behind, and I am continually surprised by what I can do.

Happy to share my experiences of wedding shows if it would help you.

Yes please. You weren't at dream wedding show in Aberdeen were you? I spoke to a humanist celebrant there.
How do you become one/get into that field?

the one quarter i haven't got enough cash to pay the rent is the quarter that the buildings insurance is due (the LL pays it, they screw me for it).
the invoice normally arrives 2 weeks late, so i pay it 2 weeks late. this quarter, it arrives 4 days early because they want the insurance reimbursed. I haven't got the money to pay it yet.

hmmmn advertising much?

that's what I thought!
I love the "honest i'm in a rush..."

That and the advanced search of 0 posts....

now why do I feel patronised....

I'm signing in too. Looking to develop an innovative product aimed at women and want to partner with a product developer. I've done the research and IP searches, have a detailed spec on hand and think I'm onto a ground breaking winner. Need another ambitious individual to join me in the journey...:)

"most of us would be suggesting to our children that acting, drawing, music, modelling and writing however much fun they are might be a nice hobby to keep alongside your lucrative profession and once you have your Oxbridge degree and find you are making loads of money from those areas by all means then give up the day job but perhaps not before."

LOL that it exactly what I tell my 9-year-old Xenia. Although following "enterprise week" he has started busking, and is averaging £40 per hour (deduct price of my coffee as I sit nervously behind him).

I've just been sending out bills today although that is arguably one of the most important things I do and without it we have nothing.

(I busked with the violin once. It was quite well paid compared say to cleaning although you have to audition to do it on the Underground these days in London. The issue with chidlren is that they think someone who has a ncie car is "rich" even if it's just a company car and they are an estate agent on a pittance or they see that £40 an hour and think it's brilliant but you couldn ot do it for say 8 hours a day and probably not make a 40 year career of it. A few London professionals fund orchestras or opera groups - if you have the money from your career you can often spend a lot of time on and invest in your hobbies although I would never put off any of my children who wanted to seek a career in something they really wanted. I just want them to make informed choices).

Does anyone have any tips where I can find people who are interested in joining our new business. Its new and has no money to pay a salary but will profit share. I think its ideal for anyone wanting to start their own business and it has the advantage of not requiring a franchise fee. I have tried Gumtree and to be honest it does not attract the right level of intelligence and integrity.

Gita,

I've been working in my business idea for a year now..am due to launch in May but also due to give birth to my first in Feb. Sod's law that the two would be so close together!

I'm doing as much as possible in advance to get all the tricky time consuming systems sorted (bookkeeping,CRM, sales words etc), but quite concerned about how to manage a newborn baby and business!

However, I do think that in the long run ill have more flexibility as a mum if I own my own business and the effort - reward will feel fantastic.

It's really great to hear about others going down the same route :).

Coming to this late. EmNewMum I always feel you have to treat your business as another child you have to lavish attention on it encourage and nurture it to help it to grow into a worthwhile entity.
I have to admit to being a lot further down the track my business is now a temperamental teenager. I have just sold a section of it that was less interested in and am now taking it forward in the direction that interests me.

Late to this too. Is the FB group still going? I'm pretty new to all this business malarkey, I'm a freelance storyteller.
I'm at the point where my name is out there, I've got people enthused about my product (personalised framed stories) but nobody has yet opened their wallets. It's all "I know someone who's thinking about having a party" and "I told my friends and they think it's great", but it's all mouth and no trousers thus far.
How do you move from promotional freebies and cheapies that are "free" advertising, to actual paid work? Seems a hard nut to crack!
I can ride a year's no profit, but ideally I'd like a bit of income before Christmas to reassure me it's financially viable.

Lonecatwithkitten,

Sounds like you biz is going great guns, congrats :). Have you got any advice for me on how to manage a baby and a business?

You do have to accept that there will be times when you can't keep all the balls in the air at once. You have to accept that there will be times when you will compromise on the business side and other when it is the family side.
When you get to the point of having employees delegate what you can, but accept that when the excreta hits the air conditioning you will be the one with your back against the wall.
The bigger you get the bigger the problems.
I am now at turnover of three quarters of a million and 17 staff.

Hello - I would definitely be interested in joining a dedicated Facebook group, especially as social media is where I mostly hang out .

Social media is integral to my marketing and research business; I offer social media training, activity management services and wider marketing support to business owners.

I've been going for two years, starting out as a freelancer and then creating a brand and online presence from there. I had never planned to set up on my own, it was just bourne out of necessity (financial and flexibility of hours).

If this is helpful to anyone starting out...

What has worked best:

• business networking...I didn't know anyone locally at the start, but tried out lots of networking groups at different times of day; now I know lots of local business people. I joined the committee of one group and I chair meetings for another group (can use my skills gained in 'corporate land' for both). Business networking is extremely important for my business, and it's not just about the people in the room, you need to build relationships over time.
• connecting and developing relationships with other business owners (think 'informal mentor') who are more established than me and better connected (this leads to good quality introductions)
• willingness to support and generosity of spirit from other small business owners 'we're all in the same boat' mentality (surprising after corporate life)
• volunteering a limited amount of guest speaking activity on marketing/social media at business networking groups (unpaid but it raises your profile...NB: don't give away too much of your time for free). Ditto making a skills contribution to voluntary groups (e.g. School PTA, local NCT etc)
• social media; I get referrals and make connections with businesses, esp. via Twitter and LinkedIn groups
• other targeted marketing activity (practice what I preach' ) including writing blogs (my own and as a guest blogger for local community sites), distributing promotional postcards

What has been most challenging:

• getting set up: website, business card and networking (in that order, as you can't do the 2nd and 3rd without having the 1st and 2nd sorted)
• adapting to the peaks and troughs nature of being self-employed (and the financial aspect of this)
• keeping the enquiries and proposals pipeline going
• getting paid (on time/at all) - larger companies seem to be the worst at sitting on invoices and I am also pursuing one small business via the Small Claims Court for a stupidly minor sum

What I have learned:

• to focus on doing what I am best at, and to outsource that which I am not
• collaborate with other specialists where possible (there's no point being fabulous on your own all the time)
• to be stricter and perhaps a little less trusting when it comes to getting people to pay up
• that there are some brilliantly supportive business owners out there who can help you and provide advice and guidance if asked (don't be shy, people love to share their experiences)
• that, for the first time in my career, I am using all my skills and loving it . And I am much more motivated working for myself!

Happy to share with anyone who needs it.

I've just made my first sale! Woot! Three days after going live! Double woot!