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Starting My Own Business - help!?

8 replies

liquoriceallsorts · 08/07/2007 18:55

Am thinking of starting my own business and want to set up a soft play place. There is none in our area and the nearest one is 30 minutes drive away. Has anyone done this and know anything about it. Terrified but its something I've toyed with for ages and just about to plunge in! Thanks

OP posts:
lilymolly · 09/07/2007 08:09

see similar thread which may help

choosyfloosy · 09/07/2007 08:14

Congratulations and best of luck. Not exactly the same but my dh has been self-employed since last May.

Tax credits will accept a forecast of income which can help. My dh also found a free Inland Revenue seminar on what could be offset against tax for small businesses very helpful - well worth trying to fit one of those in.

Are you doing a franchise or an independent place?

BecauseImWorthIt · 09/07/2007 08:15

The most important thing to do is to write a business plan to prove to yourself that there is a business opportunity that you can satisfy.

This needn't be too terrifying!

You need to work out what your costs are going to be. These will fall roughly into two camps - the money you will have to fork out to start with (i.e. buying kit, fitting out your space, etc) and then your monthly, regular outgoings - e.g. wages, rent, utilities, etc.

Against these you will have to work out your likely income. This is more difficult, but it will involve you working out likely levels of traffic and how much per head you will be charging.

Do your own research - work out how many comptetitive facilities there are near you, bearing in mind that what competes with you may not necessarily be another soft play centre, but could be, for example, a good, child-friendly swimming pool. Try and work out the size of market available to you - this will be quite hard I think - but you need to see if you can get an idea of how many people there are in your catchment area (which you also need to work out as well!) with children of the appropriate age.

Hope this helps - no doubt much more to think about!

amidaiwish · 09/07/2007 09:05

i've been thinking of doing something similar.... if you are in SW london CAT me!!

bubblerock · 09/07/2007 09:27

There's a thread Here on UKBF. It's a good forum for business they will help with any questions you have.

liquoriceallsorts · 09/07/2007 10:24

Hi - thanks everyone, I will definitely follow the links. Choosy - not franchise independent. Amidai - I'm in Cornwall sorry! Becausei'mworthit - business plan sounds terrifying! Thats the bit I am freaked by - but shouldn't be! Have found a company who supply the equipment and do it all for you (business plan, planning with the council) but unsure of whether they will charge ludicrous amounts of cash for this!

OP posts:
bubblerock · 09/07/2007 10:30

ROSPA guidelines

choosyfloosy · 09/07/2007 11:22

Would be very suspicious of a company who do it all for you for a fat fee - you might as well go for a franchise which would at least offer a name etc as well?

I would look in phone book for Business Link in your area. Free service and again dh found them helpful - they met with him and effectively did the business plan for him in their discussion, emailing it to him a week or so later. Also had all the contacts for regulatory questions etc.

If that doesn't work out, then try the company IMO.

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