New business idea

[CreaseProof]

Hello all. I wonder if you would mind offering some advice to a newby.

I have been working on three business ideas and have considered rolling them all into one. I was looking for some advice on how I should begin setting up, if my ideas would work together, if my ideas are actually any good(!) or if I should focus on one idea only to begin with.

I'm going with the strategy of 'doing what I know' and having been a Personal Assistant and Office Manager for the last 10 or so years, feel that I have the ability and experience to start my own business as a PA. This wouldn't be a virtual service (although some aspects could be done online) as I would offer to work from a client's business address, carry out admin work, take calls, set up and facilitate workshops or attend meetings with them if required etc. I guess I would technically be a freelance temp.

I also have an interest in graphic design and have created some logos, and newsletters/leaflets for previous employers. I'd therefore like to include this in my list of services. I could also do PA type work for non business clients. Personal shopping, event planning, travel arranging etc.

I'm really trying to get away from the 'Virtual Assistant' thing as there are so many around at the moment. I'm hoping that my USP will be my face to face, in house service.

The second idea was a simple collection and delivery ironing service. Call me weird - but I actually enjoy ironing! I'm not sure how I would feel after doing it for hours a day but there's definitely a gap in the market where I live. I am surrounded by middle class type housing estates and the town centre, where everything is, is about 20 mins away by car.

The third idea was a dog walking, training and small pet sitting service. I know that this wouldn't be a huge money spinner or provide regular income but my partner and I both love animals and would be happy to do this as and when needed as a hobby job really.

So, do you think any of this would work? Should I try and package it all into one Personal Assistant service? Would any of you consider using a temp PA? :| I have asked previous employers to write references for me which I'm sure will help, although I'm not sure how to market myself to potential clients yet.

Any advice or criticism will be appreciated!

 

[Palms]

I like all of these ideas but would think that unless you took staff on, you would find it logistically difficult to fit all those services in.

I use a dog sitting service for when I go on holiday and the family take in dogs to their home, only one family of dogs at a time. They also walk up to 6/7 dogs per day. I pay £225 per week for the two dogs and I have to say i LOVE this service and would not enjoy my holiday without it. I would be willing to pay more.

You could couple this with sitting other animals, cats, hamsters etc. You could also feed fish, honestly pets are the new rock n roll.

If i ever do another business it will have something to do with kids or pets.

I also use a washing/ ironing service for my business and pay up to £5000 on ironing a year. My ironing woman turns business away.

Sorry to talk persona but thought this may give you an insight to your potential market.

Good luck

 

[Remote Resources]

Agree with Palms. You'll be frazzled trying to do alone what is in fact three individual business areas.

Why not choose the one that has the most scope for profit and the future and really focus on that? You will likely make more money that way, your customers will be happier and you won't be spreading yourself thinner than someone who hates marmite spreads marmite on toast.

I think if you try to do all of them in one, the quality of your services and the coherence of your marketing will suffer.

Maybe develop into the others once at least one idea is running soundly.

PS You like ironing?

 

[CreaseProof]

Thanks for the replies.

I think the ironing service will be the easiest to start up and doesn't require much in the way of financial input...(I actually already have a website in place) I still want to to the PA work at some point though.

You're right though - i'd be spreading myself thin and thinking about too much at one time.

 

[internetspaceships]

My take would be to pick one and give it 100%. Otherwise you'll most likely fail at all of them.

Harsh advice but spoken from experience. I had to let one business go 11 years ago to concentrate on the other- and it's the best thing I ever did.

 

[WorldofBooks]

Definitely pick one and commit. I've seen a lot of businesses based around your second idea, the ironing one.

 

[safesys]

You are more than welcome to do our ironing if you are nearby!!

Why don't you go for that idea - I think that would give you the biggest uptake - and then when you have lots of regular people and it's making a lot, you can take on some people to do that, pay them, keep the profit and use it to fuel your second PA business.

Cheers,

Chris

PS love the name if that's what you intend to use for the business!

 

[williamson_liz]

I would definitely say the Ironing based business is your best way forward. go for it! Where abouts are you based?

 

[CreaseProof]

Thanks all!

I'll concentrate on the ironing business for now. Would be great if I could build up to a point where I could employ others. I'm in Edinburgh and would aim to serve the south and west of the city initially.

Yes, Crease Proof will be the company name.

 

[AlexHunt]

Just looked up Dog Grooming Edinburgh and similar keyphrases in Google External Tool - there are about 300 exact matches/month so that could be quite lucrative if you were No1?

 

[Admor]

Do you know which one would make you the most profit, based on realistic figures?

 

[CreaseProof]

The minimum rate I'd make for ironing would be £8 per half hour. That would be for my minimum collection of 10 of the cheapest priced items and giving myself half an hour to iron them.

I would need to allow about 3 hours of my working day for pick ups and deliveries. So, if I managed to get 10 customers a day, that would be 5 hours ironing and a minumum of about £80 per day, before travel costs and insurance.

I have no doubt that I would make more than £8 per half hour as research suggests that I'll mostly get shirts and blouses (which everyone hates ironing) and those are higer priced. It might mean more time ironing but I feel like half an hour is ages. Might have to test myself!

I just need to worry about getting 10 customers a day! It seems like a bit of a stretch at the moment.

If I managed to get a steady stream of the higher level PA work, I could make about £100 a day. However, it would really be a guess as I have no idea what I would be asked to do and therefore wouldn't know how to price it up yet.

I do have a lot of contacts in businesses but I think it would take a while for my name to get 'out there' and for people to take a punt on me rather than going through a temp agency. It is definitely something I want to do though, so I'll start testing the water while I'm setting up Crease Proof.

The Dog walking/Pet sitting service would be more of a hobby and wouldn't generate much profit once I factor in the insurance. You never know though! It's my partners thing at the moment.

 

[jhardy2008]

strange ideas

 

[CreaseProof]

Why strange?