Self Employed Ideas - Need to escape the rat race!

SailorSam

BucksLady wrote: »

How about looking at Franchise Sites for ideas? There might be a few ideas there which will inspire you

Here's a link to one of them : http://www.franchisedirect.co.uk/

Go to the franchise site to get an idea, but it's going to cost you a lot of money up front and they'll want a percentage of all your takings. So ask youtself couldn't you do the same work on your own.
What hobbies or interests have you got, couldn't you develop them.

andygb

SailorSam wrote: »

Go to the franchise site to get an idea, but it's going to cost you a lot of money up front and they'll want a percentage of all your takings. So ask youtself couldn't you do the same work on your own.
What hobbies or interests have you got, couldn't you develop them.

That is by far the best idea to start a business IMO.
People do hobbies because they like them, and some people are very skilled at their hobbies. The OP has a distinct advantage over most people who try to start their own business (myself included) because they are already well versed in selling, something that is outside the comfort zone of most folks.

ricardinho88

andygb wrote: »

That is by far the best idea to start a business IMO.
People do hobbies because they like them, and some people are very skilled at their hobbies. The OP has a distinct advantage over most people who try to start their own business (myself included) because they are already well versed in selling, something that is outside the comfort zone of most folks.

I've always been very good at selling, but I've always been selling another companies' products or services. How would selling translate to a self employed business? Unless I invent my own product or service to sell.

SailorSam

ricardinho88 wrote: »

I've always been very good at selling, but I've always been selling another companies' products or services. How would selling translate to a self employed business? Unless I invent my own product or service to sell.

Selling is the most important part of buisness.
The first time i was made redundant i started work as an insurance man, i had to go around peoples houses collecting their premiums each week ....... The Man from the Pru. I was ok untill after a couple of months they started to put pressure on me to sell, i was hopeless.
The 2nd time i was made redundant i started selling double glazing, again i was rubbish.
I started self employed selling paper bags. I tried to build up a round were i went around every other week to all the small shops that used bags & wrapping paper. But it meant i first of all had to walk into the shops and ask them to buy from me. I found it so hard.
If you can sell, you're half way there to building some sort of business. All you need is the idea, what to do.

lincroft1710

ElefantEd wrote: »

Perhaps you could set up a service proofreading grocers' signs?

I don't think that would be very successful for a person who spells the plural of "idea" with an apostrophe.

Or were you being ironic?

ricardinho88

lincroft1710 wrote: »

I don't think that would be very successful for a person who spells the plural of "idea" with an apostrophe.

Or were you being ironic?

No-one likes a grammar nazi.

lincroft1710

ricardinho88 wrote: »

No-one likes a grammar nazi.

Doing something correctly is hardly commensurate with being a Nazi!

ElefantEd

lincroft1710 wrote: »

I don't think that would be very successful for a person who spells the plural of "idea" with an apostrophe.

Or were you being ironic?

It was, I confess, the irony thing.

Towser

After watching "can't pay we'll take it away" I would seriously reconsider starting your own business. Something like 6 out of 10 usually fold.

I am like you always looking to get out of my situation.

Having watched people loose everything I bet they wish they are back in employment.

You have to be a risk taker to go from employment to starting your own thing. It's not that easy otherwise loads of people would be doing it including me. I have always wanted my own shop but rent is prohibitively high. I'm afraid it's security for me at the moment unless someone comes up with a good suggestion and they rarely do on here because they don't want to give up their secrets.

I will be watching this thread with interest

ricardinho88

I've been looking at Utility Warehouse. For £100 you become one of their 'distributors' and it can apparently be a decent earner on the side.

That's the thing with going self employed - it's so so risky. You can end up ruining your life or making a really good living. I'm the bread winner at home, and we've got one kid and another on the way, so I'd need to make sure the positives of going SE would outweigh the risks.