Working from home...help me!!!...

PassedAtFailing

I don't have Fibro, but do have a different pain condition. I rebelled against mine though (and still am) - not something I could reccomend to anyone though!

I'm self-employed and do a number of different things. My advice to you with no capital is to try and aim for an informational site about something you know. So, in this case, I would assume hollistic therapy? You can take it slow and get a few ads on there. The important thing would be to keep costs low (to do it for nothing is actually viable) and build a useful website that has some good recognition. By no means will this be quick and easy, I always tell people to expect a wait of over one year before any real results are apparent.

Then when you have an established information website you might like to sell products on it or continue with more high-end advertising. It comes with no guarantees of being successful though, but does combat the 'lack of capital' problem.

If you have any idea you want to discuss, feel free to ask. Business loans can come about if you want something more substantial. Poor credit rating will make it more difficult but not impossible. The banks at the moment like to fund tangible businesses rather than the online sort - you'd need a business plan. If you needed funding you could expect to put half of the capital into the business if it was online. A friend of mine opened a shop recently and had a much smaller ratio of capital:loan.

NEH

robf08afc wrote: »

Thats very sweet of you thanks...I appreciate the advice...funnily enough you're not the first to warn me about taking it easy...i do tend to try and push things and am struggling...i think it's stupid male pride!! i'd just be happy enough to do some data entry work or something from home but it's so hard finding something genuine, worthwhile and also flexible. !!!

Well i have been ill for the last 16 years and all i can say the best advice is that when you start with this illness if you can slow down at the initial onset then i feel it does give you a better chance later on...

You're lucky you have a diagnosis very quickly as least that is a positive.....If you push yourself too much at this stage then it can have a knock on effect down the line...

As for tablets and medications, don't try everything and anything going, as I said see how you are with this illness if the pain becomes unmanagable then go and see about it....A lot of people get stuck on bucketloads of tablets when sometimes the side effects are worse than the original condition....

I've just been to see a specialist again and if you want any info on his research or his clinic and what he thinks about fibro, then feel free to PM me....

paulwf

robf08afc wrote: »

Well my partner wants to start up a Hollistic therapy business which is definitely going ahead over the next couple of years. My ideas vary but include moving into the retail sale of Hollistic therapy based products such as Aromatherapy oils (homemade) - Crystals - crystal display units - Reiki and Hollistic paintings (which i paint myself) and many other relevant products. Ideally we'd have a store with a treatment room attached - i would run the store and my partner would perform her treatments. it's just getting the capital to set up the business in the first place. With no assets, poor credit history and debts, how do we get there?!!!

Firstly retail is very physically demanding...if you can do that then you can definitely do any number of office jobs. You have to open when you say you are open so you won't be able to take time off sick (plus you won't get sick pay or holiday as you would if you were an employee). Generally you'll be on your feet for a reasonable amount of time and if there are customers about you have to keep going and keep smiling, there won't be set break times and lunch times.

If you read on the Employment board there are dozens and dozens of threads about people starting up as holistic therapists. The market seems to be saturated as it is, and the general consensus is that it is VERY difficult to make a full time living from it, it is more something to do to make a bit of extra cash. Most holistic therapists do it from home or rent a room at a health centre or something similar. Having your own dedicated premises could be very costly and so very risky.

I'm sorry that isn't what you want to hear...do a search on these boards and others to get a range of opinions and make up your own mind. I don't like to be negative but I hate to see people giving up their jobs and then losing lots of money even more.

JennyJewell

Hi Rob
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis - I was wondering, I know this doesn't help financially but would it interest you to start a blog to give this illness more awareness? Personally I have heard of Fibromyalgia but no nothing about it - I'm sorry if this sounds ignorant. I am going to google it now to read about it myself. Following on from what PassedAtFailing recommended I think you could tie the two in together - information about Fibromyalgia and how hollistic therapy is beneficial which could lead onto you selling your own products.
I hope that helps and I wish you well.
Jenny

robf08afc

dearme wrote: »

Just a quickie....whilst you are pondering on what/where/when etc get your artwork noticed! Have you tried Folksy or Etsy? They are selling platforms with great communities and forums for starting selling. Just a thought??

Yes i've applied at "ETSY" and "not mass produced'', but it tends to be very selective!! thanks for the tips!! :j

robf08afc

JennyJewell wrote: »

Hi Rob
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis - I was wondering, I know this doesn't help financially but would it interest you to start a blog to give this illness more awareness? Personally I have heard of Fibromyalgia but no nothing about it - I'm sorry if this sounds ignorant. I am going to google it now to read about it myself. Following on from what PassedAtFailing recommended I think you could tie the two in together - information about Fibromyalgia and how hollistic therapy is beneficial which could lead onto you selling your own products.
I hope that helps and I wish you well.
Jenny

Yes there have been so many great responses to my thread already, i'm overwhelmed with how many other people understand and already don;t feel so isolated. i really appreciate all of the advice and tips everyone has taken the time to post. it's amazing how much we forget how much strangers can really be genuinely caring. i am taking note of all of the tips and will definitely look into things regarding FM and integration into a possible business venture. I'm going to join 'Healthy pages' too as apparently the forums on there will help even more specifically!! :T

robf08afc

paulwf wrote: »

Firstly retail is very physically demanding...if you can do that then you can definitely do any number of office jobs. You have to open when you say you are open so you won't be able to take time off sick (plus you won't get sick pay or holiday as you would if you were an employee). Generally you'll be on your feet for a reasonable amount of time and if there are customers about you have to keep going and keep smiling, there won't be set break times and lunch times.

If you read on the Employment board there are dozens and dozens of threads about people starting up as holistic therapists. The market seems to be saturated as it is, and the general consensus is that it is VERY difficult to make a full time living from it, it is more something to do to make a bit of extra cash. Most holistic therapists do it from home or rent a room at a health centre or something similar. Having your own dedicated premises could be very costly and so very risky.

I'm sorry that isn't what you want to hear...do a search on these boards and others to get a range of opinions and make up your own mind. I don't like to be negative but I hate to see people giving up their jobs and then losing lots of money even more.

Yes you have confirmed our general fears regarding the business. I've not given up a job luckily, i was kinda forced out by my previous employers rather harshly, but not illegally and apparently would have been made redundant anyway due to the crash in the economy. So now i am looking at many avenues. I've even joined "working mums" !! there are a few 'from home' jobs on there though many of them require financial outlay. i'll keep plugging away. but my main goal is to use my creative mind to think of a niche in the Hollistic market with my partner as she is the Reiki master and will be running the business. wish me luck!! and thanks for the feedback, i'm overwhelmed with how much complete strangers can be so helpful and caring!! :beer:

NEH

robf08afc wrote: »

Yes there have been so many great responses to my thread already, i'm overwhelmed with how many other people understand and already don;t feel so isolated. i really appreciate all of the advice and tips everyone has taken the time to post. it's amazing how much we forget how much strangers can really be genuinely caring. i am taking note of all of the tips and will definitely look into things regarding FM and integration into a possible business venture. I'm going to join 'Healthy pages' too as apparently the forums on there will help even more specifically!! :T

http://www.ukfibromyalgia.com/forums/

http://www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org/community/


Those are the forums i mentioned and they may have people that work from home.

If you want info about Fibromyalgia their sites are very good as well and should be able to help out if you want to find a local support group.

http://www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org/index.php

http://www.ukfibromyalgia.com/

robf08afc

Thank you so much! i'm looking into them straight away!! :T

clairibel

Hiya,

There's a couple of customer service jobs on here Arise thread and the teletech thread who are now recruiting, there's also contract x change looking for staff for tesco.

Can't vouch for them but they are at home and your sat down so nothing too physical and they are not scams.