Starting a part time business

[AaronR]

Hi guys been lurking on here for a little while now! Thought it was about time for my first post!

I currently work in the transport industry, I am a fleet manager at a haulage company and I've always been involved in the industry since I left school, including a period of running my own courier/light haulage/man and van business between 2004-2008, which I closed down due to lack of ambition.

I'm now in a position where I want to start a small business, initially around my current job, and weekends, but maybe something I can eventually develope into full time, but the thing is I have absolutely no idea what to do! My mind tells me to do something I have interest in i.e transport but I don't know what I can do with it. I've looked at eBay selling as well, but have no idea what to actually sell what isn't already being sold. I guess I do not have that natural flair to spot opportunities like many of you have!

Any help it advice would be greatly received!

Aaron

 

[faradaykeynes]

I guess best to bank on your experience and skills you have instead of trying new avenue which would require new learning curve, that might fascinate you for a while but after sometime you would get frustrated due to lack of optimist result.

 

[Hunnie]

Hello,
You say you have already tried running a business related to your work experience but that you lacked ambition. Maybe it just didn't hold your interest.
Have you any hobbies or activities/subjects that really interest you?
If you could find something that you feel passionate about then you have a better chance of sustaining your interest and finding ways to make it work as a business.

Regards
Hunnie

 

[mariacntg]

You should do something you love if not you will lose interest pretty fast, if you can make a business out of your passion that would be ideal. eBay is a good place to begin with since it 's basically free, you will get a good idea if you're going the right way.

 

[seeingISbelieving]

Have you any hobbies or activities/subjects that really interest you?
If you could find something that you feel passionate about then you have a better chance of sustaining your interest and finding ways to make it work as a business.

You should do something you love if not you will lose interest pretty fast, if you can make a business out of your passion that would be ideal.

Why do so many people have the misguided belief that following a passion, hobby, or interest is the key to success in business. It's a complete fallacy. Following a passion is meaningless if there's no market for it. Given a straightforward choice of persisting with a passion that makes me no money, or I barely eke a living out of, and operating a business that I know nothing about, but can hire or outsource everything and it makes good money, then I know which option I'd choose every time.

Of course if you're quite happy doing something you love whilst being broke then go ahead. It's your life.

You can also have all the belief in the world in your passion but it will get you absolutely nowhere unless you have complete knowledge of the service/product, business, and market you aim to be successful in.

Belief is worth nothing without action. Action is worth nothing without purpose. Purpose is worth nothing without knowledge.

 

[AaronR]

Hi! Thanks for your replies.

As mad as it sounds, I don't really have any major hobbies, my interests generally are transport and the history of.

I closed my other business because at the time my personal finances were not in order and I didn't really have the drive to take it forward, back then Facebook and twitter were not as big as they are now in terms of how they can assist a business. Thinking about it, I should have taken it more Into the "man and van" area instead of general courier and parcels. I would still love to do something along them lines. Get a van, properly signwritten with a snappy name, a website, use Facebook and twitter to sell my services and offer the man and van service, light removals etc but I can't see how I could do that at present on a part time basis, with the cost of having a van, insurances etc!

Again, your views are most welcome!

 

[silvermusic]

Why do so many people have the misguided belief that following a passion, hobby, or interest is the key to success in business. It's a complete fallacy. Following a passion is meaningless if there's no market for it. Given a straightforward choice of persisting with a passion that makes me no money, or I barely eke a living out of, and operating a business that I know nothing about, but can hire or outsource everything and it makes good money, then I know which option I'd choose every time.

Passion in business is fine, the problem comes when it's clouds sound business decisions and judgement. Something I was guilty of doing not so long ago, it cost me big time and those silly choices will haunt me for a long time. I look back from today and say to myself, what the hell was I thinking of, never again.

 

[horsehead101]

There are lots of way to do part time business. we can do online business like seo. It is best for making money online.

 

[AaronR]

There are lots of way to do part time business. we can do online business like seo. It is best for making money online.

Ok thanks, excuse me for sounding stupid but what is seo?!

Aaron

 

[Digbeth Court]

Ok thanks, excuse me for sounding stupid but what is seo?!

Aaron

Search Engine Optimisation - strategies to improve the ranking of your website with various online search engines.

 

[VSpy1]

There is a guy not far from me - his site is www.furnitureferry.co.uk - he is very very busy - in fact, I couldn't book him this week I had to use a Hertz van (£14 from B&Q)......mght be another string to your marketing bow?

 

[AaronR]

This is the sort of thing I would like to do but I am doubtful I could do it around my current full time job. What do you think?

 

[Lisa A. Pinto]

You are lucky to be in UK, a country full of opportunities and dreams. As seeingISbelieving said you can hire or outsource everything and it makes good money. PM me if you need any information on this.
Best of luck

 

[ewise]

I agree with you that business work well when you do what you love. You can also look to be a reseller and earn commissions when you make makes.

All the best in your search to start a business.

 

[VSpy1]

This is the sort of thing I would like to do but I am doubtful I could do it around my current full time job. What do you think?

You have nothing to lose by trying it around your full time job - if you get bookings when you are working you can always say you are booked up but can pick up after 5 or on sat or sun etc... most outlets are open late these days........

 

[ewise]

Agree. you need to start from somewhere and then grow from there. The secret to business is to ACT.

 

[AaronR]

Agree. you need to start from somewhere and then grow from there. The secret to business is to ACT.

Excuse me from sounding dumb but what's ACT? My problem is I am intelligent and entrepreneurial but when it comes to computers and things like seo, web design etc i am hopeless!

 

[Piano]

Aaron,

act /akt/
Verb
Take action

 

[AaronR]

Aaron,

act /akt/
Verb
Take action

Oops my bad! And there was me thinking it was some acronym for some techie business term!!!!

 

[ewise]

TRUE that is what i meant. take action, make a move and don't procrastinate.

 

[Jet Virtual]

Hi guys been lurking on here for a little while now! Thought it was about time for my first post!

I currently work in the transport industry, I am a fleet manager at a haulage company and I've always been involved in the industry since I left school, including a period of running my own courier/light haulage/man and van business between 2004-2008, which I closed down due to lack of ambition.

I'm now in a position where I want to start a small business, initially around my current job, and weekends, but maybe something I can eventually develope into full time, but the thing is I have absolutely no idea what to do! My mind tells me to do something I have interest in i.e transport but I don't know what I can do with it. I've looked at eBay selling as well, but have no idea what to actually sell what isn't already being sold. I guess I do not have that natural flair to spot opportunities like many of you have!

Any help it advice would be greatly received!

Aaron

HI Aaron if you want you can PM me as I can provide a business you can start right away with no upfront cost.

 

[solenlil]

I want to start a small business, initially around my current job, and weekends, but maybe something I can eventually develope into full time, but the thing is I have absolutely good.