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Start-up business for £15k?

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peacemaker

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Jun 22, 2009
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Brighton
If you had £15,000 to start-up a new business, what would you do?

I've got about 4 weeks until the end of my current job and I want to start a new business next. I've got a few ideas, but I thought it'd be interesting to see what sort of things people would do if they had £15k to get started?

So come on, share your ideas and lets see what we can come up with! :)
 
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The first thing to do is to look at what you enjoy doing, have a interest in or have some experience of. Then look into these areas and see if there is anything you could do.

But the main thing is to take your time and don't rush into anything.
 
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Agreed. The amount of hours you will need to put in means you must enjoy what you are doing. I think that means the only person that can answer your question is you!
 
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There's quite a lot you could do with £15k. How about making two lists - one with your skills and one with potential businesses you'd enjoy working in. From that you can draw up a shortlist of realistic choices.

Regards

George Montgomery
 
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What is your current profession? What are you good at? What do you want to do?

There are franchises that you can buy into, I guess thats one way to start up in business having some kind of support group and infrastructure?

To answer your question, I am into software and technology and would do something along those lines, but thats probably irrelevant.
 
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A franchise would be the best option if you only have £15K. Something simple but where they get you the work would be good to start with. A locksmith or Dynorod, something national and well known.

Good luck.
 
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MrPWN said:
I guess we know what YOU spend your time doing Steve :p
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In all honesty our business started accidentally (long story) so I didn't actually follow my own advice. However with new ventures I have followed my own advice.
 
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Become a self employed sales agent or the like, find a great product through a collaboration and save your start up money !
 
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franchises might be a good idea.

it depends...£15,000 for an internet based venture is a substantial pocket to dip in to..websites can be purchased from less than £100 (depending on what you want ofcourse) and a seriously good ecommerce site will cost under £5,000 still leaving you with a chunk of advertising budget and reserve funds incase it goes belly up.
 
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No offense but I hate quaestions like this!

It implies that business comes down to costs, numbers, statistics. A business idea could and should be based on many things other than start up cost.

Reducing start up costs to a specific budget would be important later on, but the idea should be led by your own skills, abilites and passion.

I would worry more about the time frame. Most businesses can be started for less than 15k but if you need to be making money within 4 weeks its probably best to use the 15k in part to pay your own first 6 months wages!
 
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You probably need a low start-up business, cushioning you whilst it's growing. I have something genuine that could interest you. I have just started and it's promising. PM me.
 
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yankee candleman said:
Always dubious when someone says PM me, usually turns out to be some kind of network marketing scam.
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Hi,

Yes thats always the case, but look at it objectively, i have received dozens of these pms from these mlm people and i try to "convert" them to somehow market precious stones on my behalf for cut of commissions from me. So far i have converted 5 of them, one actually brings in good sales for me each month. My motto make use of their networks for your benefit :D

Op - You can go into the mining business, as that is my expertise, the franchise option is also a good one, i am also looking for a franchicee, do let me know if you are interested, i include your entire first inventory for free.

Ricky
 
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with a private chat. Sometimes it's best to give specific details to the interested party. Mine is not a scam and has been proven for close to 20yrs now.
 
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No offence but that is what all network marketing companies say and the only winners are the people who start them.
 
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Not to worry. Marketing a good product isn't difficult, just describing it sells it, the only problem is overpromising to entice customers.
 
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jules_m said:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a private chat. Sometimes it's best to give specific details to the interested party. Mine is not a scam and has been proven for close to 20yrs now.
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Hi,

Don't take any offence, even i share the same sceptism as yankee candleman. Nothing is easy in life, there are no shortcuts to the pot of gold especially mlm.

If you want something productive where you can make really genuine profits, come work for me as a gemstone broker, i cut you a 10% commission on all sales that meet the moq(minimum order quantity). At least in the mining business, you know you will get paid.

Ricky
 
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The problem with network marketing of any kind is that there are so many slices of the pie that the end user gets the crumbs but pays for the others to eat the filling.

Secrecy just makes people think the worst and after a brief experience with the worlds finest network marketing specialists (Dare I say Pyramid?) Amway I admire the way they managed to entice so many weak willed people to part with a lot of money and then stole their customers. Anyone who truly believes they can get rich from Bettaware, Amway, Forever Living, Telephone installation etc has either thought of the idea themselves or was one of the original founders, otherwise everyone else is just kidding themselves into believing that there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Good luck but watch out for the leprechauns.
 
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I have friends who tried to make small second incomes from Bettabuy and Avon - certain candle companies etc etc etc.

Avon charges its reps 50p for every catalogue. The catalogue is only usable for 1 promotion - its then defunct.

So before you make any profits you have got to cover the cost of the catalgue.

If you have a wide spread selling area - thats an awful lot of 50p's
Most people buy a few items total £2.00 less 50p less delivery, hard work for little return.

Bettabuy reps in this area are treated less favourably than a certain well known door knocking religous sect (need I say more).

The friend who went into selling candles had to buy some of the items she would be selling (and they are not cheap). It took her 8 home parties before she even covered that cost. Then, of course the company keep on introducing new items - which the customers want to be able to view before they buy...and on it goes - not to mention the petrol costs.

You have to have a massive network of friends, family (and they soon dwindle away when they find out you are going to asking them to buy from you)!

Poppy
 
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I mentioned that I have just started this. I am willing to share my experiences as I go. People can always believe what they want but the truth is the only people I have seen dismissing good opportunities is because of little knowledge about the business.
 
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jules_m said:
I mentioned that I have just started this. I am willing to share my experiences as I go. People can always believe what they want but the truth is the only people I have seen dismissing good opportunities is because of little knowledge about the business.
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Hi,

All right jules, i will give you the benefit of doubt, let me ask you some questions.

What is the product you are selling (soap, vitamins, etc)?
What is the base price of this product?
Benefits of this product?
Why should i buy this product fom you?
What is the minimum order quantity of this product?
How is it shipped?

My customers ask me these questions everyday, if you can answer them we have misjudged you, if not :D

Seroiusly think about my offer, atleast i will make sure you live comfortably in your old age.

Ricky
 
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I seriously doubt it having seen your website!

Kingdom_Mines said:
Hi,

All right jules, i will give you the benefit of doubt, let me ask you some questions.

What is the product you are selling (soap, vitamins, etc)?
What is the base price of this product?
Benefits of this product?
Why should i buy this product fom you?
What is the minimum order quantity of this product?
How is it shipped?

My customers ask me these questions everyday, if you can answer them we have misjudged you, if not :D

Seroiusly think about my offer, atleast i will make sure you live comfortably in your old age.

Ricky
Click to expand...
 
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dynamic08 said:
I seriously doubt it having seen your website!
Click to expand...

Hi,

As you can see we have been around since 1965, since before the internet. Thats 44 years of experience.

We do get enquiries from the site, but it always from the sorting tables that most enquiries come from. Some of the most heavy buyers of gemstones actually contact us through our website, so i would say as simple as it is its done its job.

Its just a website, nothing else. Just to give people info and a way to contact us. :D

Ricky

ps. (Atleast you know what i am selling):D:D
 
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Made4Print said:
You guys must remember when the internet was in black and white!
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Hi,

haha, that was funny.

Do you know when in the 70s when we wanted to advertise our products in the usa what did we do, we drove our employee from cambodia to bangkok airport put him on a plane to the usa.

Once he was there he would go to flyer shops and print flyers and then distribute them in the usa. That was actually how we got one of major clients in the usa.

We actually flew someone half way across the world to distribute flyers.

Now when i think of it i actually laugh about it, those days it made sense, today people will think you are nuts :D

Ricky
 
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My business is about marketing telecoms services, fixed telephony, digital video phone, mobile deal contracts, mobile broadband. For mobiles the customer does not change service provider, if one is on orange, you just facilitate the phone upgrade or a new contract, just as carphone warehouse. It's basically the same services people are always using. Fixed telephony and video phones are of course provided by the company and prices are comparable to BT options 1,2 and 3 and are cheaper. The video phone costs £9.99 a month, and can call any UK landline number, mobiles for 6p a minute, call other video phones for the same company abroad free of charge, they use internet. If a person just wants to be a customer they can get any service(s), if one wants to be a sales rep any combination of services that gives you 5 points, plus a joining fee of £195.50
 
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papverpoppies said:
I have friends who tried to make small second incomes from Bettabuy and Avon - certain candle companies etc etc etc.
.............
.............
You have to have a massive network of friends, family (and they soon dwindle away when they find out you are going to asking them to buy from you)!

Poppy
Click to expand...

So is this a guaranteed way to lose your friends quickly :D
 
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jules_m said:
My business is about marketing telecoms services, fixed telephony, digital video phone, mobile deal contracts, mobile broadband. For mobiles the customer does not change service provider, if one is on orange, you just facilitate the phone upgrade or a new contract, just as carphone warehouse. It's basically the same services people are always using. Fixed telephony and video phones are of course provided by the company and prices are comparable to BT options 1,2 and 3 and are cheaper. The video phone costs £9.99 a month, and can call any UK landline number, mobiles for 6p a minute, call other video phones for the same company abroad free of charge, they use internet. If a person just wants to be a customer they can get any service(s), if one wants to be a sales rep any combination of services that gives you 5 points, plus a joining fee of £195.50
Click to expand...

The video phone costs £9.99 a month but skype is free. You still have to pay your regular provider a rental for the line so this is £9.99 on top of that and I can go on. Nothing personal to you but I have had this argument when someone tried to defend their ethics with the same product and there are so many reasons why not to sign up to this.
 
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Hi,

Just wondering if anybody on here took and the plunge and set up a hand car wash business when the boom started?

I think it is 1 business that i which i had looked at when it started, as my local car wash seems to rake it in. I know the saying the "grass is always greener" but i always has cars in there.

Thanks,

Ben
 
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Put it on Black! :)

Only joking, as others have said concentrate on what you enjoy and your good at as you will need to put a hell of alot of work in to get started and this helps if you enjoy it. Working weekends and evening on something you hate isn't the way to go.
 
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Thanks for all the replies! Even though the thread sort of turned into advert/discussion on MLM type business there was some good suggestions in there and I feel I'm a bit futher along in the process of making a decision.

:)
 
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Write your brain thoughts down.

Try not to spend money, make do, use that old computer and desk, even though you have £15K burning a hole in your pocket.

Concentrate on ideas that you can do most of the work.

And remember it takes time, when you create you plan and estimate how long it will take to get to X, remember it will almost certainly take twice as long.
 
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i've jsut started a fruit and veg box business - for a lot less than 15k - now into my second week of trading and it's going well. I'd recommend it :-)
 
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