How long have you been in business?

[JustOneUK]

Just wondering what kind of a spread we have here at UKBF.

I've worked for myself for the past 20 years

...how about you? When did you go into business for yourself?

 

[DuaneJackson]

20+ years? How old are you? I had you down as not being much older than 20!

 

[i234i]

Jeez! im on 2+
just a kid

 

[JustOneUK]

20+ years? How old are you? I had you down as not being much older than 20!

Ha! Laughing out loud!
Yeh, I'm a bit older than 20 (but wish I wasn't)

 

[Gillie]

Heck, I made a mistake ... just put down how long this time around instead of the various things I have done! Ah well, tis Sunday and brain aint in gear yet.

 

[dp0848]

20+ years? How old are you? I had you down as not being much older than 20!

Is that an insult or a complement?

 

[Hattey]

Gosh, I have a lot to learn from you all! I became freelance a week ago!! I have been in full time employment for 17 years if that makes it sound any better at all!??

 

[DuaneJackson]

Is that an insult or a complement?

I was wondering that as I typed it! Either way, we now know he's old enough to take it.

 

[Matt1959]

my 30 yr anniversary this year - started at 19 but had approx 5 years paye scattered over the whole period - which just went to confirm why I didnt want to work for anyone and the main reason for prefering self employment FREEDOM!!

 

[HSLS]

I started in 2005, so still a newbie. I don't have huge amounts of experience of being employed - well, 5 years as a school teacher. Enough to make anyone want to work for themselves!

 

[sm1]

Around 2 years for me. Not achieved anything huge in that time. But have learnt a lot and got (I hope) a good idea up my sleeve

 

Er more than 1 year and less than 50 years.:|:redface:

Earl

 

[dp0848]

Er more than 1 year and less than 50 years.:|:redface:

Earl

So that will be about 49 years then Earl. Bloody OAPs.

 

So that will be about 49 years then Earl. Bloody OAPs.

1960 to be precise flogging the first Japanese mini cassette players in Chapel street market Islington.for £3,00 a go.:|

Seems like yesterday.

Earl

 

[sm1]

Seems like yesterday.

Clearly senile too

 

Clearly senile too

Appearing Senile has some great advantages in Tesco.

Like never having to carry heavy bags to the car e.t.c.

and what you can do with the numpty's on here is beyong belief.

Earl

 

[RoyaleGraphics]

I personally started with the company 7 years ago. Royale Graphics was started 20 years ago by my current MD

 

[Tej]

1960 to be precise flogging the first Japanese mini cassette players in Chapel street market Islington.for £3,00 a go.:|

Seems like yesterday.

Earl

You sure about that Earl?.. £3 was a lot of money in those days
and as I understand it ( correct me if I am wrong).. cassette players did not come into existence till much later.

Senility?...lol.. you were probably flogging transistor radios.. profit... a mere tosheroon

 

[VLAHAKISA]

About 7 years self employed for me

 

[MSM Ltd]

The Old man set us up in 1981, hopefully i can take us on for another 28 years!!

 

You sure about that Earl?.. £3 was a lot of money in those days
and as I understand it ( correct me if I am wrong).. cassette players did not come into existence till much later.

Senility?...lol.. you were probably flogging transistor radios.. profit... a mere tosheroon

Earliest I can find ,sure we where flogging Japanese brand and not compact players.in 1960.:|

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassettes#History

Might have been £1,50 though.

Earl

 

[othellahughes]

Hi,
Don't laugh. I have just 1+.

 

[JustOneUK]

Hi,
Don't laugh. I have just 1+.

I don't think anyone would laugh just because you've been in business for 1 year. On the contrary... congratulations

 

[Tej]

Hi,
Don't laugh. I have just 1+.

Yes.. congratulations indeed. The first 2 years are the most critical in any business.. look after it.. you are halfway there
Good luck.. prosper!

 

[Fuzzy]

For Fuzzy - 19 yearsbut still only 21 of course

 

[SillyJokes]

We celebrate 10yrs this Autumn. I like saying Established in 1999 as it makes us sound like we invented steam engines or something.

 

[Tej]

Earliest I can find ,sure we where flogging Japanese brand and not compact players.in 1960.:|

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassettes#History

Might have been £1,50 though.

Earl

30 bob Earl.. 30 bob ( we weren't decimal then).. sounds about right.


gotta be senility..

 

30 bob Earl.. 30 bob ( we weren't decimal then).. sounds about right.


gotta be senility..

One pound ten shillings.

It was a posh market.

Earl

 

[Tej]

One pound ten shillings.

It was a posh market.

Earl

lolol.. posh?.. remember it well...maybe I even bought some of your dodgy gear

 

[dp0848]

Earl, there's never been anything remotely posh about Margate!

 

[Tej]

Earl, there's never been anything remotely posh about Margate!

nah.. this is not about Margate.. Chapel Market!..Islington.. now the posh sought after area

 

[dp0848]

now the posh sought after area

Unlike Margate

 

[David Griffiths]

Just wondering what kind of a spread we have here at UKBF.

I've worked for myself for the past 20 years

...how about you? When did you go into business for yourself?

So that's why the longest option is 20+!

It would have been longer if I'd set it up!

 

[David Griffiths]

1960 to be precise flogging the first Japanese mini cassette players in Chapel street market Islington.for £3,00 a go.:|

Seems like yesterday.

Earl

£3.00? or £3/00s/00d ?

 

[Onehourpa]

I'll have been in business 5 years this summer. It's been a great experience with its ups and downs.

I read a stat somewhere a short while ago that said the average lifespan of an owner run small business is approximately 8 years. Anyone heard that? Haven't been able to find anything else citing that though, so it just could be some spurious claim.

 

[JustOneUK]

So that's why the longest option is 20+!

It would have been longer if I'd set it up!

I didn't want to embarrass anyone by putting 50+

 

[weebly_one]

10 + years here - I know - I don't look old enough!

 

[Ozzy]

10+ for me too, although literally just 10 years for "properly established businesses" whereas a little bit here and a little bit there started a few years before that

 

[Robert Blake]

A few months ago I would have been ticking the "work for someone else" box but then I wouldn't have been on here a few months ago.

It will be interesting to see how may people tick that box.

Very few is my guess.

Kind regards

Robert Blake

 

[reggiemental]

19 years for me. 2 years solo, then went into partnership and 17 years later still here and going strong.