Starting a new business from home - But what??

StressedSteph

Hi all

I am a mum of two with no immediate family nearby to help with children during holidays and sickness. So I stay home, grow veg, rear pigs and sheep for meat and try to think of my next venture that I can make my millions on.

I am quite creative and enjoy making things. I dabbled last year with fabric crafts at home, making bunting, draught excluders, stuffed toys etc etc etc but quickly learnt that the amount of inputted hours cannot reflect in the price you can charge for the items.

I think people in a sweat shop earnt more per hour than I did last year.

So I then refreshed my ability to practice Reflexology and also went away and trained in Indian Head Massages and I do these treatments at a nearby retreat. But with an average of 3-4 treatments per week it just isn't enough.

So....I am still thinking thinking of something else....what next??

I really want to think of something that nobody else locally is doing that I can build up to being a healthy little business at home.

The question is....Am i kidding myself...I guess I am amongst a million other people trying to think of the big money earner that you can do from home.

I just feel annoyed as i feel surrounded by people who are doing just that.....I guess i have no clue if they are ACTUALLY making any worthwhile amount of money from it, but I can't help feeling like I just need to get thinking.

Am i the only one that feels they are constantly searching for the golden idea?

Please be kind, I haven't posted on this forum before. I am usually hiding in the Debt Free Wannabe boards

maryhilllad

I did a bookkeeping course at college, and got myself registered, I do the books for a few local businesses, as well as friends and family, if you have a good head for figures, it's a great way to earn extra cash.

puppey

What other hobbies do you have? Often something you are passionate about could be a good start.

LittleMissGiggles123

Have you got space at home to set up a room to do the reflexology & massages at home? This time of year you could offer gift vouchers for the treatments. My cousin is doing the same thing & she's always posting new offers on Facebook and she is earning enough to have given up her regular job. She does work hard to drum up business, like I said she's always posting on her Facebook page, has started attending wedding fayres etc as she also offers bride to be/bridesmaid packages, she does hen parties, birthdays, girls night in packages. With these packages she does tend to go to the persons home so maybe not all possible for you with no childcare but it's a few ideas that you could work on.

Good luck!

g.j.p.nixon

Hi Steph, apologies if I'm saying something that you've already heard, my advice would be to figure out all your possible costs for the first month (just as an example) of the new venture and stick them in a spreadsheet.
Then stick in what you want to charge per hour (or whatever is relevant) and find what you would/should make in that first month. Then subtract the costs and you should be able to see how much you stand to make and whether it's worth setting up. (The upshot is that if it's not going to make you money, at least you've only spent 15minutes working out the numbers, rather than weeks setting up a failing business)

Good luck to you

Mental_Block

Hi, I was in exactly the same situation as you in 2012 so I took to buying things from charity shops and car boot sales and selling them on facebook and ebay. I soon realised I loved anything old and quirky and found myself buying more and more vintage items. The more I bought, the more I love. Some sold, some were difficult to sell and some I kept. I did alright out of it but you can't make a full time wage out of it really. I set up two vintage selling groups on facebook - one has 2400 members the other has nearly a 1000. I still sell vintage occasionally but I tried something else this summer.


a friend of mine started selling bedding and set up an interior design group on facebook, she asked me if I wanted to sell with her so I set up my own group and sold lots of bedding via facebook groups. I think expanded and found more wholesalers selling other things. Giftware and homewares. I never bought huge amounts of stock in, I worked on a pre order basis and ensured the wholesalers I used had no minimum order level and hd reasonable P&P charges. It was successful to the point that I was working 16-18 hours days, I made good money but the business took over my life. my house was a mess, my kids were starved of real attention and then I got ill - so I have put the business on pause until perhaps april when I am well enough to work again. If you would like any details of the wholesalers I used or the perks and pitfalls of selling in this manner just inbox me I'm happy to share my experiences x

JamesJLee

hey. One thing that helped me and it might help you as well. I offered cooking classes at home. I love to cook actually. It has always been the most enjoyable thing to do so i decided to offer classes. Printed some brochures and distributed in the locality. got a very good feedback. Trained half a dozen and earned $300 in 4 weeks

nikinakinoonoo

Mental_Block thank you for your post, I have PM'd you to ask for more info. Hubby looking to do something which is why i am browsing here tonight.

N x

Finefoot

JamesJLee wrote: »

hey. One thing that helped me and it might help you as well. I offered cooking classes at home. I love to cook actually. It has always been the most enjoyable thing to do so i decided to offer classes. Printed some brochures and distributed in the locality. got a very good feedback. Trained half a dozen and earned $300 in 4 weeks

Hi, Im interested in this. Did you have to get special insurance? Or Environmental health check?