New topic - Make It Your Business

[KateMumsnet]

Hello hello,

Welcome to our new topic. We’ve teamed up with the folks at Make It Your Business, who have just launched, and who aim to help women who want to start their own business. It’s a non-commercial partnership between Mumsnet and Make It Your Business - we’re giving MIYB members a forum to chat with others who are keen to go it alone, and they’re letting their members know that Mumsnet is a great place to exchange ideas.

Make It Your Business offers women who are looking to set up their own business information, advice, inspiration and a chance to network. They put on events around the UK, and offer videos, blogs and a monthly newsletter for those who register (it’s free to do so). It’s founded by entrepreneur Alison Cork.

Alison and her team will be posting in this topic from time to time to give you a heads up on events or news you might be interested in, or to answer your questions - they’ll go by the names AlisonMakeItYourBusiness and SophieMakeItYourBusiness.

Most importantly, we hope that those of you who are thinking about going it alone and are looking for some support and companionship along the way find this new topic really helpful.

Thanks
MNHQ

Hi,

I started a thread in this topic as I could really do with some positive stories to convince me that I'm making the right decision! If anyone else has ideas to share I would love to hear them!

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/makeityour_business/3155455-help-me-just-do-it

First step will be to have some goals

Seriously, I'm finishing an online course over the next couple of days and weighing up the next training priorities. From a marketing point of view, I need to smarten up my website and social media profiles, and have some research on that side of things to do.

This is a great idea, a run a little one woman business as a sole trader and it's so hard to make your passion a profitable business. I'd be interested in marketing ideas and the business side of being a creative

Hello! Recently set up my own business, watching with interest

@BiologyMatters it depends if you want to start as a limited company from day one, which involves costs and legal responsibilities, or as a sole trader. It might be an idea to operate just as a sole trader whilst you establish your business, and then convert to a legal entity at a later stage.

@FrontRowSeat probably best to think first of what really interests you? Do you have a passion? Have you identified a problem to which you think you have a solution? The key thing is to identify a product or service for which you think there is a demand.

All entrepreneurs take risks, but they should be calculated risks - research your subject thoroughly and you should be able to minimize possible losses.

@MaggieDo - actually over 76 per cent of SME’s (small to medium sized enterprises) are what we call micro businesses, which employ just one or two people (including the owner). And the majority of those are run by women. A lot of mums favour micro businesses because of the responsibilities of looking after children, and it’s a good option for someone who wants to dip their toe in the water of enterprise. From little acorns, as they say...

Following as I am starting to dabble with the idea of setting up my own tiny tiny business!

Don’t undersell yourself! Starting small is fine and good - take it slowly. Women tend to be more conservative than men in the way they grow their businesses, BUT are 13 per cent more likely to succeed...go figure!

@pioe what is your business?

@MinnieMinchkin what is your area of business?

@NetflixandWill what business are you thinking of?

Oh this is excellent. Successfully self employed here but in the beginning would of really benefited from other people in the know

@ICanStandtheHeat that’s what we thought too - if we could get as many female entrepreneurs as possible to ‘download’ their experience and tips into a public space, how helpful that could be. Glad you agree!

Hi @AlisonMakeItYourBusiness thank you - consumer PR. There's every reason to do it. I just need to be brave enough to actually DO IT! Do you have any advice? I think I fear the lack of security - sickness, what happens (to my clients and my bottom line) when I go on holiday, what happens when there's no money coming in?

Hey everyone,

I own a limited retail company have a shop that coming to the end of its lease soon. I'm looking to move into a new premises to continue trading which is stressful! I'm going to be watching here to see if there's anything helpful for me too!

Placemarking. I’ve been running my micro-business for 13 years now ... but still a newbie really!

Blatant place marking, going into year 3 of tiny tiny business and expanding slowly again this year to make it tiny rather than tiny tiny

Bookmarking...juggling with launching a business and a full time career (and husband and 3 kids). Taking small steps, background in finance and venture capital so possibly even more risk averse than the average!

Me! Tentatively registered as self employed last year and have been working on recipes a lot but need advice!

How difficult is it to be certified as a food producer in my own home? Is there a guide on what I need to have in place?

Secondly my products contain alcohol (around 6%) but I'm unsure about what licensing I would need to sell at food festivals and things?

Hi👋 following this thread with much interest! Any advice on starting up a private day nursery much appreciated xx

@pioe I think that social media is one of the best and most cost effective ways to get your unique message and personality out there. Also try local media - there is plenty of business probably on your doorstep, and the local paper and radio station will almost certainly be looking for relevant human interest stories.

Thank you @AlisonMakeItYourBusiness I'm making instagram my main focus at the moment it's a visual business so I need to show people my product if hat makes sense

Hi @pioe! Instagram is the perfect place to visually display your products! I'd recommend looking at what social media platforms your competitors are using to see how they creatively sell their products. Instagram is great for reaching younger customers and is perfect for telling your biz story over time!