Self employment - time to admit defeat??

jules217

Being self employed is very hard, and I have just made the difficult decision to give up my self employed business and focus on my employed job.

On the face of things I earn good money, but by the time I take off my overheads it has taken me 4 years to turn a small profit. As a single mum I need a steady income. So you have my every sympathy. Whatever decision you make won't be an easy one, but you have to think with your head.

Dollardog

The people who bath my dog, also do boarding at their home, they charge £15 per day and always seem to have dogs staying with them, if you could do that you would have potential customers already.

coupleuk

It is extra expense - but have you considered a mobile grooming business?

Get a decent transit van and kit it out with all you need. Get a graphics company to design/install some fancy artwork (which will peel off easily if needed).

The costs of your business will increase but your per dog charge might also increase as customers dont have the hassle of getting to you.

You could set yourself geographic areas for each day of the week to cut down on fuel costs etc. If you get one customer in an area, take along leaflets and spend 30 minutes posting them into nearby properties. Hopefully, you can build up that area to a set day.

You'll soon find which regulars have a water tap handy where you can get a topup for an onboard tank. Either get a small generator to heat water or ask if you can plug into the home supply - you'd be amazed at how many will let you do so (even for a free 99p doggie treat that cost you 30p). Just think of mobile hairdressers who plug in for hairdryers etc - nobody would even question that.

You could then perhaps get rid of your family car (if no kids) and benefit from free advertising wherever you go.

Also, don't forget (as others have suggested) to promote add-on sales of collars, treats etc. You could even sell bulky 25kg bags of pet food etc which would benefit many pet owners. The pet food supply might even take over from the grooming - and you have a van ready!

IF it still doesnt work, you can look to sell the branded business to someone who thinks they can make it work (there's always someone who does) or you can change graphics for your potential cleaning biz.

Savvy_Sue

coupleuk wrote: »

You'll soon find which regulars have a water tap handy where you can get a topup for an onboard tank.

I don't know, but you MIGHT have to have a 'disposal' tank as well, with arrangements to discharge the dirty water other than into the domestic drains: I believe that window cleaners need to do so, and also those who offer bin cleaning services.

Other than that, there were some good ideas in that post IF the OP can put some investment in at this stage.

nickj_2

my wife has her own cleaning business
once you have yourweekly regulars you're laughing
you don't have to worry about chasing new customers
if she loses any ,which she did recently when she put her prices up she soon got new ones to take their place

toddle2u

All this advice and the OP has come back once!!