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

Horace

Hi all from cold and very snowy birmingham (I am now sick of the sight of snow no matter how pretty it looks outside my window).

Well Angel - they do say in business that you need to have several streams of income (what is VA btw?), I think you should concentrate on getting one business running first and then introduce others so that you are not running around like a headless chicken. Good luck with your interview to..am keeping fingers and toes crossed.

JP the way I do percentages is to put the price into the calculator then press the x key and then say enter the number 10 and press the percentage key - up pops the percentage and then you can either press the + key to add the percentage or press the - key to get the minus and always press the = key so that you know the end figure.

I am hopeless at maths but this seems to work for me - I say that I am hopeless at maths but I have always been able to work out money and for the most part fractions do my nut and if folks shout numbers at me then my mind goes blank (those logrithyms and algebra were a waste of time if you ask me) and who cares if pie equals MC squared Pies are to be eaten anyway:rotfl:

I am having another sloth day today - I can't be bothered and just want to sit in the warm and watch the telly.

rag31

Hello folks.

I just found this thread and liked how supportive it seems :-)

I am self employed and have been for 7 or 8 years. I was teaching antenatal classes self employed for a charity, then for myself, then back for the charity. That kind of died off, I tried starting an online retail business - couldn't raise enough start up funds - and am now looking for other home based opportunities which are so thin on the ground! (if you're fussy and don't want to be part of a scam).

I'm probably about to go bankrupt and need to start earning some money pronto, so any ideas welcome.

I am almost finished an OU degree, mainly in creative writing so hello! to the writers out there :rolleyes:

Becky

Horace

Hi Becky and welcome.

Not sure what to suggest really with regards to self employment for you so will have a think.

GreyhoundAngel

Hi & welcome Becky ! It's difficult to know what to suggest without knowing your skills and things you like doing - these will give you a good starting point for ideas.

Having said that ... Mabs (Moneymabel) gave a linky a few posts ago for the 100 to 10,000 thread (not sure if it was part one or part two) - but follow that and read both threads (141 pages for part one thread :eek:) there are some great ideas on there - either jot down or copy & paste any ideas that you think you could do then refine it from there.

Not sure of your actual circumstances (you mention maybe going into bankrupcy), but you would need to consider things like bank accounts and similar as well as income - as once you file for bankrupcy, the Bank accounts etc you currently have - will probably be lost to you. I don't mean to seem negative, just some points which will have an impact for you to think about.

"H" - I decided towards the end of last year, that Portfolio working with many income streams is the better way forward. I agree about the starting with a small part and introducing others as those become established. Hence why I've got a wee dilema in trying to choose the first two to run with

Oh, and a VA = Virtual Assistant (ie secretarial / admin / bookeeping / yadda yadda type work ) I guess that to start with I could combine the Editorial & VA work on one site - and split it out at a later stage

That would then give me three - which if push came to shove I could manage. I already have the majority of the information for two of the websites in draft form, with just a few area's which need doing or finalising. I'd then just need cards & leaflets doing for those. The other I already have the cards done :rotfl: , but only have got basic info for the website, as I need to look into shopping carts etc :rolleyes:

G:A xx

Edited to say ... "H" got there before me as usual Becky :rotfl: She's our resident mentor & guru

GreyhoundAngel

I'm quite pleased, I've just taken another 9 bookings - so that's something in the diary now for next week. :j

Be delighted with more of that size to book in for each week :rolleyes: Would also be even more delighted if they were for one of the higher paying clients - but wouldnt we all :rotfl: :rotfl:

Not heard yet about the PT job application, but guess it's not been that long since I applied - I'm just impatient

G:A xx

rag31

Thanks for the welcome

I have an adult education diploma (in antenatal education so not *that* useful), I have some admin experience, some travel experience, some customer service experience and some writing experience. I have done very basic books too. Jack of all trades, master of... you get the picture!

I have 4 children, youngest 3 are home educated so work needs to fit in around them - even more tricky. Am looking at some of those homeworking thing like wikaniko or whatever it's called, I can man an information line but for max 3 hours a week - another £30 will help though! - maybe a toy/childrens book thing so I can sell with children in tow. I wouldn't mind doing admin/secretarial at home but don't know how to go about that??

Also have thought of childminding but the lengthy start up and beaurocracy really put me off, and some childminders I know are struggling to get clients so it's a lot of effort to not know how you'll get on if you know what I mean.

Any ideas based on that lot?!

Becky

GreyhoundAngel

Good Morning Gang

Gosh, it's gone awfully quiet on here since Xmas .... where is everyone ?
I've not seen quite a few of our regulars... especially Megs, Mrs T, Mudbath, et al - Hope you guys are all okay ? We miss ya !!

"H" - you still snowed up there ? Have you recovered your beaver hat yet or are you still slothing ? :rotfl:

Mabs - how's the ideas coming on for your extra stuff ? Or are you like me .... with a whirling head due to all those ideas on there ?

JP - Hope your design evening went well

Becky - I'd try and use the diploma if possible ... it gives you a niche.. Could you start your antenatal classes again ? Maybe find other organizations to work with ?
You could also perhaps approach them with with the idea of writing a small pamplet on the subject or a "course summary" thing for participants to take home with them. You could also maybe look at writing articles for websites / magazines etc on the subject if you're good at writing ? Megs (NZMegs) is one of writing maestros on here for advice.
You could also do something like usborne books - there's a thread on the up your income board about them. Don't know if any of those ideas are any good to you

I'm off out working this afternoon at client sites, but got some preparation to do before I go Then I really need to try and sit down and work out which areas I'm going to work on first for the businesses. :rolleyes:

Have a good day all

G:A xx

moneymabel

Hi GA--yep head still hurting! have got 2 jackets to list today plus another load of stock has just turned up and I have no idea where to put it!! Can't list that til OH comes home as it is his area of expertise (cars) and need his input!
Still no idea really what i'm doing just bought stuff that seemed cheap -probably never shift it lol. Still searching for that one great idea........dont hold your breath!

jpwhittle

morning all, angel evening didnt happen at all, went to weaightwatchers, came home and felt ill after tea, so went to bed, probably just cold i think as neck and back is of again and im so tired, never mind nearly saturday then john can have the kids while i sleep, im so tired i need it.
hope everyone else is having a good day, and everyone is getting loads done

GreyhoundAngel

JP - Sorry you're feeling so low atm, sounds like beginning of flu - have one of these :heartsmil and get well soon.

Mabs - *snort* could always try the bath :rotfl: Mind you, I've heard that car items can do quite well, so fingers crossed for you

Well, day is progressing nicely .... four more bookings for later in the month, two m/shops bagged and six applications pending ... fink I may have pinched "H"'s beaver hat :rotfl:

S'pose I'd best think about loading the car for these client visits this afternoon :rolleyes:

Have a good afternoon all

G:A xx