Starting up a business

jm2926

Lou,

I have a start-up guide which I can email to you if you pm me an email address. It's a good guide to planning and starting your own business, I'm just not sure where I got if from or I'd just post the link.

Another useful tool is Sage planning for business software which is free from Sage here:

http://www.sage.co.uk/LLOYDSTSB/default.aspx?page=1

A lot of start ups do fail, so ask yourself carefully what the worst possible scenario could be. Both the startup guide and the software take you through those steps.

I've sent you a PM as well.

motorguy

Debt_Robot wrote: »

Why is the OP being discouraged from giving it a go?

If it fails, keep trying. Failure is a sign you are getting closer.

Oh jesus - "Failure is a sign you are getting closer". Are you for real??

motorguy

Debt_Robot wrote: »

I just think if the OP wants to be entrepreneurial and start their own business, especially if they want to sell to other business, you have to make cold calls. It is just how it is. It is a 'kill or be killed' mentality and I truly believe that.

I wish the OP the best of luck. Many small business do not have good websites or even websites so the OP could make some good income provided the execution is first class.

Cold calling is something like 1% effective in generating a lead, which *might* lead to £50 of business in this case.

I too wish the O/P the best of luck, however there is a massive business naievity coming through that does not bode well.

Half the world is doing web design now. I just dont see what the O/Ps USP is in an already overcrowded market.

paulwf

The OP is obviously experienced in this area so starting from a better starting point than most web designers I don't think the OP stands to lose much money from this project, mostly just time, so there is a point of view that says go for it.

HOWEVER...I still think that just setting up a website and hoping business will come in is a waste of time, certainly since about 1999. There are now tens of thousands of designers so you're going to have to be a marketing person first and web designer second.

The post about finding niche markets is very important, I know of designers that just focus on one type of business and specialise in that and do very well. Do you have a niche you could exploit OP?

Debt_Robot

pgilc1 wrote: »

Oh jesus - "Failure is a sign you are getting closer". Are you for real??

Well why not? We all have different perspectives on business. If I gave up on the first rejection I had for my business, I would not have landed my other clients.

I think the OP should make a business plan and go from there.

motorguy

Debt_Robot wrote: »

Well why not? We all have different perspectives on business. If I gave up on the first rejection I had for my business, I would not have landed my other clients.

I think the OP should make a business plan and go from there.

Rejection is very different than failure.

Your original statement implies if your business is failing means your really close to succeeding.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

the cold calls i get at work i totally blank.... will not give them the time of day...

from my point of view they are wasting my time, time i should be using to run my business..

The other option for the op is to work freelance, and work with printers and promotion companies, as i honestly think the op will just be sitting there twiddling her thumbs if they are waiting for any work to come through a website..

Also you got to think, is the op just looking at loads of ideas that they think they can make money from by turning it into a business, as mentioned in a previous post, they have looked and inquired about opening a wedding dress shop, even when she must have been busy with children...

again i will say if they are just looking to make ends meet, why dont they look at saving money first..

motorguy

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

the cold calls i get at work i totally blank.... will not give them the time of day...

from my point of view they are wasting my time, time i should be using to run my business..

The other option for the op is to work freelance, and work with printers and promotion companies, as i honestly think the op will just be sitting there twiddling her thumbs if they are waiting for any work to come through a website..

Also you got to think, is the op just looking at loads of ideas that they think they can make money from by turning it into a business, as mentioned in a previous post, they have looked and inquired about opening a wedding dress shop, even when she must have been busy with children...

again i will say if they are just looking to make ends meet, why dont they look at saving money first..

+1

With any new business you need to commit to it 24x7. The O/P seems to be looking for something to help ends meet. To make this one fly the O/P is going to have to make an enormous amount of cold calls, visit a lot of businesses and be at the beck and call of prospect clients / clients 24x7. All that and raise a young family too?

I guarantee cutting outgoings / selling off unwanted items on ebay / maybe a part time job, will be a better return on time invested than this.

Debt_Robot

from my point of view they are wasting my time, time i should be using to run my business..

Have you ever made a cold call?

Debt_Robot

The way I see it is simple. The OP wants to start a business, and no one should be discouraged from starting a
business, as long as they are making a calculated risk which I think the OP is doing.

I am no expert by any means but starting a business, whether it is a lifestyle entity or corporate is a great step
in the right direction.