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

Horace

Hi nzmegs

Welcome to our abode where we self employed exchange ideas and give each other kicks up the butts to get moving.

I was made redundant in 2007 and remained on the dole despite applying for 1000s of jobs, I always got the same answer "you're over qualified" I guess I am over-qualified in the dumbed down market that we have today:rolleyes: The the jobcentre got me onto a work trial where I was encouraged by them to quite the dole and go and work for this company which I then discovered was a complete fraud and I didnt get paid so I was back on the dole. I made a decisiion at that point that no-one would ever put me in that position again so I decided to work for myself. I have been taking a course to become a professional wedding planner (I really must do those last 2 assignments:rolleyes:) and I set up my business on 27 October 2008 and I am due to fly solo so to speak on 26 April 2009 - well, I have to now as I have just invested in chamber membership and I have a tax return to complete. Its scary and thrilling all at the same time.

I was told today by someone at Business Link that I had a brilliant business brain - I just hope it stands me in good stead for the future:D

Good luck with your business.

Just to update everybody, I have done quite a few things today and have an appointment booked for tomorrow morning at a printers so that I can get some luxury business cards printed (Vistaprint are alright to give away at wedding fairs but thats it). I couldnt have picked a better time either because its buy one get one free month so I will get 500 sexy sassy business cards for £69 plus VAT:D and if I am really sneaky I might try and get a Chamber discount:D

Purpleroses

Purpleroses wrote: »

[STRIKE]Finish samples[/STRIKE] done thankfully.
[STRIKE]finish order[/STRIKE] done, took longer than planned
sent off new order ready for posting tomorrow
[STRIKE]update accounts[/STRIKE] done
send off invoices - 1 pink sent all but 2

Don't feel like I did anything productive today, a meeting took way longer than planned and felt so drained after it.

The tax return looked scary when I got it which is probably why I ignored it and left it til 2 days before it was due! but as mm says the online version is really easy you fly through it in a few hours.

Lots to do again tomorrow and then i'm on holiday until Tuesday yay! :T

Wordsmith

Hello, everyone. Welcome all new people - lovely to see you here. I've just stopped by to catch up on what you are all doing - and, my, you do all seem to be productive. I've wanted to reply individually to lots of posts, but have to give that a miss for now as I have to get on with working on a web site for someone.

Horace, it is obvious to me that you have a business head and, more important, the will and energy to succeed. Go girl!

Nzmegs - sorry to be nosey, but what topics do you write on?

Bordera - I'm sure there is a need for your expertise - I would certainly use someone like you if I was in the UK. Good luck, and keep us posted on how your plans progress.

It is pouring with rain here in Ireland, so everyone is back to being miserable - or maybe that's because it is also budget day here. (There's a new income levy of 9% on people earning more than €300,000 a year ; 2% on those earning €17,500. That's in addition to income tax. And VAT of 21.5%.)

I'm going to get on with the web site now. No, really, I am ...

skintjenny

hey guys,
hope everyone is doing well and has had a productive day, im feeling very motivated and getting on with lots of things, although i suspect i havent really got a huge amount done.
just off to visit the nhs vampires, am looking forwards to the free tea and biscuits afterwards.
my vista print business cards arrived today and am v dissapointed. the photo i put on them looked ace on the screen, and as a printed photo, but has come out really dark and murky on the cards:mad: this is the second time this has happened with vista print, the first time i thought maybe it was just a dodgy photo but now i know better:rolleyes: fool me once....
have just discovered that you can scroll down all the previous posts on the reply screen! this is ace, i always forget what i want to say to people

purple roses- i thought self employed people didnt get time off?;)
Horace- youre going great guns, im always inspired by your posts, you have so much drive and are always looking for inventive new ways to get your business moving, im sure you will be a sucess:cool:
starx- bad news about the firemen but im sure a little flirting is allowed;) great about the new translating work though, things sound like they are moving on well
Bordera- i too am going with the portfolio career approach, atleast at first, we'll have to compare notes on how things work out

hi to all the newbies and sorry for anyone ive forgotten, have a great rest of your tuesday everyone, wish me look with the vampires:eek:

ha ha ive gone a bit smiley mad in this post havent i?

jennyx

Purpleroses

lol skintjenny it's more like going on strike really. Haven't had proper time off since xmas hols so i'm feeling pretty exhausted as i feel like i do nothing but work. need to recharge the batteries

Horace

skintjenny - you could always look at https://www.ooprint.co.uk (not used them but think they may be similar to Vistaprint). I am going to a different printers tomorrow for some posher business cards (the Vistaprint ones will be handed out at wedding fairs) and I am getting them from https://www.Printing.com - who happen to have an offer on at the moment on their business cards 500 for £69 plus VAT. Mind you their cards are just fab and I am looking at luxury cut outs as they have a slinky feel about them that oozes quality and they are a different shape with rounded corners again that makes them stand out a bit.

They will send you samples too so you can have a feel and decide which card type best suits you.

HTH

Purple - try and have some me time over Easter.

skintjenny

they look good horace, i think ive realised now that spending a bit more on business cards is deffo worth it! are they based down south or can anyone access them? - my internet is being very selective about what pages it will load tonight!
jenny x

Purpleroses

we use them (printing.com) for our cards and they're really good quality would recommend them.

I'm looking forward to a few days off. It's one of my best friends hen do on Friday. It's our first close friend to get married so we're all a bit over emotional lol!

FloggingADeadHorse

We had some business cards done by printing.com recently and they did turn out very well. However they are more expensive than other printers so we only used them because they had a special offer on.

Printing.com is nationwide I think? We had a matt laminate coating put on them which is worth it because they look and feel really lovely and silky. We also had a spot UV on our logo to make it stand out and it came out really well!

I think your business cards do need to stand out so that people remember you.

Purpleroses

yeah have to agree with fadh, if your card looks cheap and you're trying to sell high quality goods people aren't going to take you seriously so it's worth spending just that wee bit more on them