Out of desperation I'm contemplating stating as business without funding

JimmyTheWig

I agree with the earlier suggestion of a paper round.

Anything else you can do?
Wash cars?
Gardening?
Do odd jobs?

It sounds, to me, that time isn't an issue for you. So even if it takes you 20 hours to earn this £20 a week that makes your whole plan possible.

lessonlearned

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I agree with the earlier suggestion of a paper round.

Anything else you can do?
Wash cars?
Gardening?
Do odd jobs?

It sounds, to me, that time isn't an issue for you. So even if it takes you 20 hours to earn this £20 a week that makes your whole plan possible.

^^^^^

£20 a week shortfall might sound like a lot but if you are able bodied and reasonably fit then there is all sorts of casual work out there.

You could go cleaning and charge £10 per hour - 2 hours work, job done. My friend does this she charges £12.50 - she uses it as her "investment" on Bingo. Last year she won £23,000 on bingo in 3 weeks. :D

I'm not suggesting you invest in Bingo :rotfl: but just to show you how even the most menial work can be used as a spring board to better things.

It's all in the mindset - so don't think ugh cleaning, gardening, car washing etc - think to yourself

"This is my seed money for my business".

Do you have any possessions/clutter you can flog to raise a bit of cash for a cushion/safety net. If you can manage a couple of car boot sales you can easily raise £100.

Break your goal down into mini targets. As you achieve each mini target your confidence will grow and you will then be able to take bigger steps.

Look at it this way - there are loads of very successful business people who started out with nothing, worse than nothing, some started out with huge debts.

You write well and express yourself clearly. I've know some very successful business people who were so severely dyslexic that they could barely write their name.

So please don't let your depression hold you back, work at it, positive thinking, exercise every day to release endorphins (the feel good hormones). With each little success your confidence will grow and you can go on to bigger and better things.

The only way is up. :rotfl:

Don't be afraid. If you fail then you fail.

Then what???

You pick yourself up and then you try again.

However many times it takes.;)

Sir_Pac

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I agree with the earlier suggestion of a paper round.

Anything else you can do?
Wash cars?
Gardening?
Do odd jobs?

It sounds, to me, that time isn't an issue for you. So even if it takes you 20 hours to earn this £20 a week that makes your whole plan possible.

ah no It doesn't. I seriously don't know how to respond to that last paragraph :eek:

The Paper Round idea verges on the ridiculas in its simplicity but it isn't too far from what I have in mind

Sir_Pac

lessonlearned wrote: »

^^^^^

£20 a week shortfall might sound like a lot but if you are able bodied and reasonably fit then there is all sorts of casual work out there.

You could go cleaning and charge £10 per hour - 2 hours work, job done. My friend does this she charges £12.50 - she uses it as her "investment" on Bingo. Last year she won £23,000 on bingo in 3 weeks. :D

I'm not suggesting you invest in Bingo :rotfl: but just to show you how even the most menial work can be used as a spring board to better things.

It's all in the mindset - so don't think ugh cleaning, gardening, car washing etc - think to yourself

"This is my seed money for my business".

Do you have any possessions/clutter you can flog to raise a bit of cash for a cushion/safety net. If you can manage a couple of car boot sales you can easily raise £100.

Break your goal down into mini targets. As you achieve each mini target your confidence will grow and you will then be able to take bigger steps.

Look at it this way - there are loads of very successful business people who started out with nothing, worse than nothing, some started out with huge debts.

You write well and express yourself clearly. I've know some very successful business people who were so severely dyslexic that they could barely write their name.

So please don't let your depression hold you back, work at it, positive thinking, exercise every day to release endorphins (the feel good hormones). With each little success your confidence will grow and you can go on to bigger and better things.

The only way is up. :rotfl:

Don't be afraid. If you fail then you fail.

Then what???

You pick yourself up and then you try again.

However many times it takes.;)

Thank you for your sensible post

My idea is quite complex for a one person business, but I've done most of the ground work. Rather than swop TIME for MONEY, maybe I'll simply offer my services at a discounted price to drum up some business.

At least this way, I'll be earning doing work that is relevent to my business and not doing a paper round.

JimmyTheWig

Are you saying that I've got the wrong end of the stick? If so, sorry about that.

Are you saying that time is an issue?
Are you saying that it isn't just £20 a week you need to make your plan work?
Are you saying that your plan isn't worth spending 20 hours a week to earn that £20?
Or something else?

Sir_Pac

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Are you saying that time is an issue?

Time is my most precious resource, it's what I've got most of.

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Are you saying that it isn't just £20 a week you need to make your plan work?

I am living hand to mouth, barely surviving on JSA (I have ZERO heating in the flat, money goes on food and the internet). My business ideas has great potential, but will not make ANY money in the short term.

So the moment I start my business, my benefits will change from JSA to Working Tax Credits, a short fall of £20 week.

That is the £20 a week I need to make up, just to get to the level of income equivalent of what I'm getting now.

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Are you saying that your plan isn't worth spending 20 hours a week to earn that £20?
Or something else?

Stupidest thing's I've heard in a long time (no offense) :eek:

This undervalues my time, and therefore my worth. My time would be better spent elsewhere.

Heard the phrase time is money! It's wrong, time is worth so much more.

I'll find a part-time job to fund my start-ups costs, and just go for it.

Sir_Pac

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Maybe you could turn this thread into a diary to keep you inspired Sir Pac. Would love for things to turn themselves around for you.

Thank you Kayalana, I've decided to just go for it.

I've saved up just enough money to pay for my first round of leaflets (5000) to promote my businesss and services. The hope is that this 5000 leaflet drop will drum up either some business for the services I'll provide, or some sales for the products I create, or at the very least, help promote awareness of my many products/services.

~Chameleon~

Sir_Pac wrote: »

So the moment I start my business, my benefits will change from JSA to Working Tax Credits, a short fall of £20 week.

That is the £20 a week I need to make up, just to get to the level of income equivalent of what I'm getting now.

This is why I suggested just starting it anyway (as a hobby) and if/when you start to make any money you declare that to the JCP when you sign on. Surely you can't be penalised for activity that doesn't incur an income?

~Chameleon~

Sir_Pac wrote: »

Thank you Kayalana, I've decided to just go for it.

I've saved up just enough money to pay for my first round of leaflets (5000) to promote my businesss and services. The hope is that this 5000 leaflet drop will drum up either some business for the services I'll provide, or some sales for the products I create, or at the very least, help promote awareness of my many products/services.

I think I may have an inkling of your business angle from something you posted on another thread. If I'm right, then forget leaflet drops. Have you got a parish magazine? If so, place a regular advert. Are you on FB? If so, create a page to promote yourself. Approach local businesses that offer something tangible to yourself. Forge a partnership with like-minded persons if necessary.

Sir_Pac

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I think I may have an inkling of your business angle from something you posted on another thread. If I'm right, then forget leaflet drops. Have you got a parish magazine? If so, place a regular advert. Are you on FB? If so, create a page to promote yourself. Approach local businesses that offer something tangible to yourself. Forge a partnership with like-minded persons if necessary.

Hello again Chameleon, I think I should explain my business model a little so you can better understand why I've chosen regular leaflet drops over placing an advert within parish magazines, and free-sheets etc

My business model in a nutshell:
I have created a digital magazine, it is community focused, and covers a wide range of subjects, health & fitness, food & drink, home & gardens, pets, hobbies & interests, money matters, business and marketing, to name but a few.

I did try to create a monthly magazine, but it proved too much for one man. Time was an issue, it would take me alone, one month to actually create the magazine, leaving no time for other matters, promoting the magazine, running the day-to-day business etc

So, I altered the business model, I re-created the magazine, so now it resembles the first few pages of what we think of as a magazine. it has a front cover (promoting the latest articles or stories), and multiple 'content' pages, each content page covers a particular subject, and contains links to 'external' articles (mini-pdf's).

By way of an example: Under the subject Health & Fitness, I've created a service called The Weight Loss Challenge (WLC). The readers/users following the WLC would open the content page for Health & Fitness, and see links to PDF's that contain that weeks fitness challenge, along with suggested meals (calorie counted recipes, cooking instruction and the like). The articles, link back to my social media sites, and therefore help create a community of like minded people.

So, I have a magazine (PDF) that promotes multiple subjects, each subject has its own content page, the content links (via URL) to relevant articles (mini-PDF), and the articles feed my social media sites.

Because the magazine itself doesn't need actual content (because the articles are stored elsewhere), I can 'fluff' the magazines pages with 'real' community events and stories. For instance ,local businesses, I'm thinking pubs and clubs, could promote their entertainment, charities could reach out to the community etc, event organisers could promote their events to the community in real time...all without too much time and effort on my part.

I also have products of my own to promote, such as the one I've just created, a Halogen Cook Book, and the one I'm playing with now 'wait for it', drum roll, Joke Bonsia Kit (hopefully ready for April 1st)

If I was to pay for an advert within another publication (A6, £35/mth), I would be limited to a few inches of advertising space, and would therefore be limited in what I could 'promote'.

With a leaflet drop (A5*5000, printed on both sides, £65 plus leg work) I could promote far more, and be more creative. I could promote the multiple subjects, and even sell a portion of the space to other new start-ups.

I don't know If I've missed out any information because I ramble, then I get bored :rotfl: