I'd like to be self employed but doing what?

[GalaxyInMyPants]

I'm fed up of working for others and want to work for myself.

Anyone any ideas what I can do?

I don't want to set up a shop or coffee shop, etc.

I have got about 60k I could use if needed to set something up or use while I retrained in something.

I fancy learning how to make something or provide some sort of specialist service. I'd like to clear ideally 1.5k a month but could manage with 1k.

Jobs I've done in the past inc pony trekking leader, cleaner, sales assistant, admin work, clearing blocked sewers and midwife.

I don't really have any talents I can think of. Can't sew, not a brilliant cook. Anyway I want something which pays a better than the "mum does cupcakes" career.

Stuff I've thought of but many of which would probably be unpractical include,

Horse dentist (seems nearly impossible to get trained)
Dog walker (wouldn't earn enough)
Chimney sweep (not sure enough need but fairly cheap training and set up costs)
Tree surgeon (I'm nearly 40 and think I'm too old and not strong enough)

Don't really fancy plumbing or electrician. And don't fancy going back to clearing blocked sewers although buying a jetter and set of rods and doing that would be fairly easy and good money. Just had enough of been covered in shit.

[beachestoexplore]

I see you have got a plan now but I initially thought farrier. You mentioned horses . A friend's husband makes a very good income as a self employed farrier and loves it!

[GalaxyInMyPants]

No, this thread has been really helpful.

I'm going to drop my hours at work to enable me to do my reflexology training.

Then once that's done leave work and do massage and reflexology. I can add a few smaller things such as Hopi ear candles and indian head massage as I go.

Do some more yoga classes and see how that goes. Even if I'm never good enough to be an instructor I'd enjoy doing more yoga.

[Gumnast2014]

Oops didn't read all thread only first but where it sounded like that

[Gumnast2014]

What do you actually want to do?

Only you know and your dissing everyone's suggestions and sounds like you can't be arsed doing much

[sleepdodger]

If you can iron honestly it's a gold mine
£10hr min / or per piece charge
I pay £30 week, she only does a few people and often does it in evening around family, even on that v pt time basis it would be £150 before deductions,

[fruitypuds]

You don't need a shop to be a florist, just as you don't need a restaurant to be a chef. We have a local one who does flowers for special occasions www.helenpearsonfloraldesign.co.uk i.e. order in what you need - less waste that way too! She has a monthly stall in the local artisan market too, for publicity.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

I'd like dog grooming as well.

I could do a few different things I guess and see which takes off.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

Humanist celebrant is interesting. I've often joked that I'd love to be a vicar but I'm not exactly religious. I do think being a vicar would be a lovely job though.

[Daisytea]

Mobile dog groomer - mine is fully booked until October and charges £40 a dog.

[Selks]

Pilates teacher
Train to be a therapist e.g. cognitive behavioural therapist, counsellor
Photographer
Locksmith
Graphic designer
Web design, IT work

[Selks]

Chiropractor
Osteopath
Alternative therapies - acupuncturist etc
Humanist celebrant

[MrsAtticus]

Could you set up your own domestic cleaning company? You could start off by yourself and build up a team of cleaners as you get more custom, so eventually you just have a nice work from home managerial role?
Boring compared to some of the other suggestions, but could work. I know a lady who has successfully built up such as business over the last 5 years and done very well.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

Doing some other courses while building up the massage/reflexology side of things is a good idea.

Penises, do you find your garden office warm enough to use all year? I know you can get the ones with underfloor heating and fully insulated, etc which is what I'd be looking at.

[PenisesAreNotPink]

Yes to a swishy garden office where you do massage and reflexology

Why don't you spend a couple of k doing some courses that you might fancy just to check it out - like pottery, yoga, flower arranging or other shit?

It wouldn't be wasted if it would help you find something you like - if you turn it into a business you can write it off against tax too.

I think lovely garden studio reflexology is something a lot of people would pay for.

I have this type of thing (counsellor though)

[GalaxyInMyPants]

I quite fancy being a yoga teacher as well but I'm quite shit at yoga. Enjoy it, but not very flexible.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

Years ago I did an ITEC massage qualification so am a qualified masseur. Maybe if I did reflexology and a few other things as well I could set up my own business.

I could buy one of those swish garden offices to put in the big back garden and use as a treatment room.

[Migsy1]

reflexologist

[Ragwort]

I doubt there is much demand for handmade willow duck houses unless you target MPs.

Why not go along to a Franchise exhibition to get some ideas? Doesn't mean you have to buy a Franchise but it might help you focus some thoughts?

I still think gardening would be good, gardeners are always in demand.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

I've just been out for a walk and seen some handmade willow duck houses.

I fancy trying to set up a business making something. But something fairly non straightforward to make, so something I'd have to learn how to make and practice.

But maybe something a bit more mainstream than willow duck houses.

In my head I'd like to be a successful potter or possibly artist. But I can't paint and I've never tried pottery.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

I don't fancy doing as much retraining as a whole other degree which I'd need for pharmacy.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

Yes I think I'd definitely want to do something which other people couldn't just start doing unless they did some training. So no to ironing, etc.

Floristry is a possibility but it would involve having a shop. And I'd rather work out of home or out a van. I don't want to be committed to having to open a shop every day.

I am a total technophobe so while software design appeals I'd have to do some serious training. I have a mate who is a self employed website designer but he has to do other jobs as well to make ends meet.

[LapsedTwentysomething]

Things I'd be looking into would def need retraining for:

Networking or software design
A different career in health (pharmacy?)
Business related training (hr maybe?)

[BobPatandIgglePiggle]

florist?

[BobPatandIgglePiggle]

web design?

cleaning / ironing / mothers help service where you just do the admin and employ others?

book keeping?

a service to help bereaved people sort finances etc? A friend of my Mum's lost her mum last week and is swamped with the paperwork / letting people know / paying bills / dealing with stuff - i'm sure there must be a market for this?

sandwich van

exec taxi service

[GalaxyInMyPants]

No, can't stand kids.