MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
afternoon all
im thinking about starting my own business - its just an idea at the mo, but im quite motivated to take a step in that direction.
so my questions are -
where the hell do i start?
any grants available for new businesses?
should i bother?!
any other advice?
thanks for any help/info you can send my way!
ta
Ben
What Matt said, and get on as many of their free/subsidised workshops as you can now - because with any luck you'll soon be far too busy to even think of leaving the office for a full day.
Well honestly, tut tut and all that, grant this, workshop that...if you're already looking for freebies, then don't bother even starting. You will rarely be more satisfied than when you're working for yourself - so in the words of a famous sporting brand (and one of my own), "Just F***ing Do It".
Expect not to be able to eat normal food for a year or two, forget about shiney new things for your bike, just work hard and you'll be "lucky". Even though I don't believe in the concept of "luck", I did find that when I kept my head down and worked hard, opportunities came along to make things better and build the business a bit more and make a bit more money. When I felt sorry for myself because times were tough and the clients weren't knocking on my door asking me to do their work for them, it would just get worse and worse.
Have a good accountant and good friends. Don't go asking for a loan and run your business in credit for as long as you can. A small business bank manager once said to me that most of the small businesses that failed in their first year or two were almost entirely down to the person, not due to economic downturns, changes in the markets, cashflow and all the other excuses. I always kept this in mind...the buck starts and stops with you.
So, punk, do you feel lucky??
If the idea is good go for it, if you have the confidence in yourself to put the work in go for it.
Get yourself some sort of plan if you are going to approach organisations for money, support etc. Also have some idea of the direction you want for the business and what you want out of it.
Get a good accountant/solicitor who you trust, they will help set. The businesslink advice can be very good but remember it's your business.
It could be now or never.
And remember it's not an order until you have been payed.
What business?
What kind of business? Have you done your research? Is there a market? Can you sell?
Too many variables, more detail needed really
From friends who have their own businesses, networking is very useful for getting leads to help start you off. (I guess this depends on your field though)
They seemed to get good results from local Chamber of Commerce/Small Business breakfast clubs - lot's of similar small businesses offering and needing services.
Though they may have just gone for the breakfast....
I went on a Businesslink talk while living in Falmouth. Sort of worth it.
The guy next to me wanted to produce 'real cornish turkish delight' in his kitchen.
Still makes me laugh just thinking about it..
You need to ask yourself why you want to do it ?
Setting up a business is very easy. Employing people and growing a business isn't.
I have been self employed for just over 4 years, the first 18 months were tough and I almost gave up... it takes a lot of hard work and effort....but for me the flexibility of the working hours is great....
I get to do what I want, when I want.......and it fits in nicely with riding! 🙂
If you have a good business idea, then go for it and good luck with it!
My outlook at the time was give it a go and see where it takes me...and the worst that could happen.... is that it would not work.
One good piece of advice which was handed down to me and I have stuck with it.....is....dont borrow any money or get any credit and if you can, work with what you already have...
In my experience some of the Business Link guys are super-dodgy ("here's my Business Link card, and here's my personal card - [i]I[/i] can get you lots of introductions and really help you out").
Apart from that there are plenty of sharp operators out there trying to line their pockets at your expense; don't get conned.
Otherwise good advice above; take your time, do your research, work hard, don't borrow money.
Expect neighbours and freinds to ask for freebies,
expect the day you start earning money , people will ome and take it off you, government , council and thieves,
expect little time off,
expect phonecalls at 10.00 clock at night asking if your eworking tomorrow of customers,
beware of buisnress link or the missing link as they are better known as, as they offer little real help, no money or grants