Join in if you are self-employed and work from home

Leopardlady

Hi please can i join?

I am a self employed security consultant, who works from home. I have too much debt and not enough work, and my OH is getting very stressed this month too. He is a lecturer at a uni so gets paid quite well, but my debt is impacting on him at the moment.

My business is 2 years old and is going ok, i earn a steady income from one client but could really do with more. I also do Body Shop at Home on the side, trying to bring in extra work.

I have done lots of temp work since setting up, and worked at Tescos. All in the name of paying the bills. I had a good job in London but was bullied out of it, then they asked me to work freelance for them as i was the only one in the 7,500 employees who could do what i did. It worked out quite well, as although i am not flush with cash, i wasn't when i had that job either, as all the extra money went on travel costs.

I now enjoy my garden at lunch time and this takes the stress out of the day. I have worked my but off over the last few months creating a product and it is going down quite well, i just need some paying customers. I have three major bids in at the moment and one sounds very positive, i just have to wait to get it.

Anyway i hope to be able to follow this thread closely as this site is my major procrastination

Thanks for setting it up OP

renniwano

Hi guys..

Hope everyone is doing well with things..

Not been feeling too great this end.. so things have been put on hold for a week.. not great for business.. but really needed the rest..

Now that i've had the rest, i've ended up with a sore throat and feel rotten.. which is just typical as planned an evening of work.. so topping up with hot water and honey and other remedies..

Just wondering though, if someone orders something bespoke and you make it then don't hear from them, how long would you give before contacting again with a deadline for payment ??

All answers appreciated..
Nikki xx

Purpleroses

Welcome Leopardlady!

hi all! sorry not been on lately work has been hectic!

Renni when we make bespoke items, when its finished i write or email them to inform them that its finished with a pro forma invoice included with the terms that they can have the item when they pay and it should be within 30 days. If i don't hear anything within a week I call until I speak to someone. I don't like being pushy but some people need to be pushed!

renniwano

Cheers..

After emailing twice for payment... (she usually pays via paypal immediately after confirmation the stamps are made) I have now sent an invoice direct and will see what happens after 7 days..

Horace

Hi all

I havent been in long - I was out on a training course all day which was absolutely fab. I think I enjoyed it more because I was listening carefully when the trainer asked if anyone wanted a book by Brad Sugars called The Business Coach, my hand immediately shot up and I got it:j The book retails at £24.95:eek: I met a few interesting people, some of whom I will work with in the future and one in particular who hires out PA equipment as well as being an entertainment agency - a meeting is being arranged next week.:j

We talked about people paying or rather not sticking to your terms with regard to invoices - if your terms are 30 days then you wait a couple of days after the deadline and phone them - be polite, if they still don't pay then ring them again and be a bit more forceful, if they don't pay after that then pass the debt to a debt collection agency.

With regard to bespoke items I would expect the customer to put down a deposit and then after the goods are made and are ready for collection, then take payment for the goods then. If they don't collect the item and show no interest in it, keep the item and sell it to someone else and keep the deposit.

Off to get something to eat - I am really tired.

renniwano

Sounds like you had a great time.. and a tiring one at that..

Think I may have to start taking a deposit.. I can't sell on anything that I make bespoke as they are usually copyright imaged stamps for other people.. so don't think I would stand well on that one..

So.. short of taking it down the debt collection route if it came to it.. it's a deposit route I think.. or payment upfront which a few customers do manage

Cheers

TCM_3

Renni, I would definately take a deposit for bespoke things, maybe 25% or enough to at least cover the materials. I have had people order expensive things off me then never come back with them and they would not maybe be something that everyone would buy so I'm stuck with them and if at least you can cover the material cost you're losing out on your time but not both if that makes sense!

Horace

I am still recovering from the course yesterday as it was very full on - the chap that presented is a self-made millionaire who has various companies of his own..his business training company is called thebestofbusiness which has a directory of somekind and is a way of promoting business (I need to find out more about it). I would recommend his courses. I am toying with the idea of doing some more but am considering cost - he is offering 3 for the price of 1 at the mo and already I have been cheeky and asked for an early payment discount:rotfl:

Some tips from yesterday - don't be afraid to ask suppliers for extended terms, never pay bills early, lease equipment instead of buying it (this has some tax benefits too). If you want to pre-pay for a service or product, ask for a discount for paying early.

I cancelled an appointment I had today, it is to be re-arranged. I have been on the phone to virgin media as I ended up with a problem after they told me to do something but that's all fixed now:j I rang up my web designers to say that I wanted to make changes to my website and that I need some way of making changes myself..now I need to send them an email saying what I want to change so they will give me a quote. I also concentrated their mind because I asked how to move my domain from them to another host, little do they know that I will be moving sooner than they think:rotfl:

I am also thinking about having a blog on the site too - where I can give wedding tips and keep people up to date with trends etc. If I keep it interesting then people will keep returning to it.

This Saturday I shall be taking part in another charity car wash (its good that sponsors are seen to be helping out) and I been dared to wear my bunny ears - not one to refuse a dare, I shall be there wearing full waterproofs and my bunny girl bunny ears:rotfl:

Hope you all have a good day..off to do some more work.

Mudbath

Afternoon! Well, I managed to work this afternoon with only the odd twinge. We're away over the weekend so hopefully by Monday it will be much, much better.

I'm up to 1079 words on my assignment and want to get up to 1500 today. I'll post later when i've done it!

Speak to you later xx

Horace

Hi all

Hope you're enjoying this gorgeous weather?

I took my car for service and MOT today so I am waiting for it to be done. Have made a few calls today and am currently waiting for some details from the wedding mag that I have advertised in - with a view to advertising on a regular basis (I am trying to cultivate them so that they will give me their advice column). I am waiting for a few call backs too.

After my course on Wednesday I am feeling a lot more motivated and have even picked up the research for those assignments that are hanging over my head like an executioners axe:rolleyes: I know, I know but I lost all interest in them. But I am definitely getting back on track.

Well off to do a bit more research and then finish writing them..I have to do it now or they will never get done:rolleyes: