Taking the leap into self-employment - advice needed

EagerLearner

Plus I used to register trademarks in one of my previous jobs, so can do it myself...

clutton_2

:rolleyes: if you lived locally i would love you to work with me - filing, sorting out receipts, entering accounts, etc etc - hey ho

Raksha

Do you have any contact with 'proffesional groups' - Round Table, Lions those sorts of folk? Maybe you could get in there?

prudryden

They say in business "that you become what your clients are". So, if your customers are wealthy, you shall become wealthy also. Just a suggestion for your target market. I like the Round Table, Lions idea by Raksha.

EagerLearner

clutton wrote:

:rolleyes: if you lived locally i would love you to work with me - filing, sorting out receipts, entering accounts, etc etc - hey ho

Clutton, remember my target market is people who need a 'virtual' assistant - not necessarily local... :whistle: - plus e-mail & 1st class post would be my main tools as well as phone... :T

prudryden

I think Clutton is very, very wealthy. Good start on your target market.

EagerLearner

Raksha wrote:

Do you have any contact with 'proffesional groups' - Round Table, Lions those sorts of folk? Maybe you could get in there?

Thanks - great ideas - will look into those - lots to look into, still stuck on names but down to 3-ish now that seem possible :T

Today my boss was leaning towards the 'have you contacted agencies' side so I don't know what is going on - one minute he has 4 months work for me with AN Other business, and now he seems to be indicating I need to research some alternatives. The accounts lady definately wants me 1 day a week so I need to get at least 1 or 2 more clients to start, then a 'normal' part time job for 2-3 days a week. I know I would be so much happier and more productive - so many people must feel the same but I'm one of the few that would do it for sure.

I'm aware it's the worst time of year but trying to think positive... Am going to contact agencies next week for a part time something or other for January and maybe the break in Thailand will invigorate us with ideas. Not to mention starting 2007 with a 'certain' landlady sorted out!

clutton_2

"I think Clutton is very very wealthy" - i WISH !!!!! lol !!

Chubacheroo

Hmm, what about business partnerships, EL? By that, I mean a sort of network, which I imagine would be fairly easy from all the SEs on this board. For example, as of Monday, I'll be SE offering publishing and business services and if, say, I had people asking about secretarial services, I could pass them on to you and vice versa? I would say a lot of us could all help one another even more with the ol' networking system (unless I've not read enough threads and have missed existing systems?).

motorguy

are you proposing potentially being available for a person / business for say, one hour per week to sort out admin? personally, i'd have thought you don't get much done in an hour, by the time you sort through their paperwork etc, and how much are you going to charge them? particularly if you have to get there and get back...

I'd have thought 1/2 day or a day per week was a more reasonable time unit, and if so, then you are offering your services as an office temp, and as you have said the best way to link potential employers to you is via a temping agency.