Starting up a business

[SarahP]

Hello all,
Right well I work with horses as my day to day job but I dont really earn enough and its only part time. I also work at a kennels as I need the extra money but I want to quit so I'm looking for a business I can create that is mostly homebased and can be done around my job-with the possibility for it to turn into a full time business! I work a couple hours each morning mon-fri but I always have my phone and can use it so should be able to run an online business.

My thought so far are..
Creating some sort of craft product and selling it online and from home? e.g. making jewellery and selling it. However, I dont have an idea of something I could make really and I wonder whether people are still buying this sort of stuff as noone has money to spare at the mo.

Recently I thought about other things and I actually like to write things out and read and stuff so I wondered whether I could set up some sort of business (like a virtual assisstant) where I offer services such as proofreading,general admin,sending out emails,desktop publishing, data entry etc as most of this can be done online and can be done at flexible times.
I am looking into doing some courses to help me be confident about offering these services and to broaden my range but there's no point if I wont be able to get work doing it...

Is there work out there for me? Would people use me as they probably have admin staff? Any ideas on what I could charge? Any helpful advice appreciated

 

[Maxwell83]

Hi

My advice would be without knowing you and what you are good at, its impossible to say whether something will be a success for you - those businesses you mention have been done successfully by few and terribly by many. There are alot of people wishing to work from home and trying to succeed at things that they are no good at, or things they are great at but cannot market/advertise successfully on the web.

If you can are no good at online promotion, you can pay someone who is, but where will that money come from? Remember any service can make you money but you need to be good at it, and people have to know you are offering the service.

If you want to be a virtual assistance, I don't think you would be much use while you are at the stables - even if you do have your phone with you.

 

[Christine Hough]

You seem to be into working with animals. Have you noticed or wished for anything that would make life better in being with horses or dogs?

If you share an interest with your clients it helps win loyalty.

Designing dog collars. jackets, kennels, baskets?
Supplying treats

Or service things like
dog training
dog walking

I don't know much about what horses need or can be embellished with but am sure that there is passion out there by horse owners which you can link into. And then there is the rider's clothing and adornment and horsey cards.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Hello all,
Right well I work with horses as my day to day job but I dont really earn enough and its only part time. I also work at a kennels as I need the extra money but I want to quit so I'm looking for a business I can create that is mostly homebased and can be done around my job-with the possibility for it to turn into a full time business! I work a couple hours each morning mon-fri but I always have my phone and can use it so should be able to run an online business.

My thought so far are..
Creating some sort of craft product and selling it online and from home? e.g. making jewellery and selling it. However, I dont have an idea of something I could make really and I wonder whether people are still buying this sort of stuff as noone has money to spare at the mo.

Recently I thought about other things and I actually like to write things out and read and stuff so I wondered whether I could set up some sort of business (like a virtual assisstant) where I offer services such as proofreading,general admin,sending out emails,desktop publishing, data entry etc as most of this can be done online and can be done at flexible times.
I am looking into doing some courses to help me be confident about offering these services and to broaden my range but there's no point if I wont be able to get work doing it...

Is there work out there for me? Would people use me as they probably have admin staff? Any ideas on what I could charge? Any helpful advice appreciated

It's very difficult to answer your questions for you.

Being very honest I think you'll struggle to make decent money doing either but I may be wrong.

Why not test the market yourself?

Do make sure you register with HMRC when you start this should help.

 

[Liybpg]

Coming up with something totaly new would be difficult and will probably require quite a bit of expense (which you might not be able to afford). Good extra earners can be ebay business. I is not easy, but can be good for working at any time you like (as long as you post stuff on time) - the key would be to pick products which will give you sufficient profit margin.

Other options, which touch on what you have mentioned, are websites like people per hour, elance and others similar. Where you can get paid to do certain jobs. Although this is also not easy money as any generic things like excel attract dozens of potential suppliers which drives the cost down (and your earnings) quite a bit.

So, no easy money out there, but these are some of the options which don't require huge investment. Alternatively, you can look into applying your skills in a self-employed work.

 

[Team Leith Training]

Hello all,
Right well I work with horses as my day to day job but I dont really earn enough and its only part time. I also work at a kennels as I need the extra money but I want to quit so I'm looking for a business I can create that is mostly homebased and can be done around my job-with the possibility for it to turn into a full time business! I work a couple hours each morning mon-fri but I always have my phone and can use it so should be able to run an online business.

My thought so far are..
Creating some sort of craft product and selling it online and from home? e.g. making jewellery and selling it. However, I dont have an idea of something I could make really and I wonder whether people are still buying this sort of stuff as noone has money to spare at the mo.

Recently I thought about other things and I actually like to write things out and read and stuff so I wondered whether I could set up some sort of business (like a virtual assisstant) where I offer services such as proofreading,general admin,sending out emails,desktop publishing, data entry etc as most of this can be done online and can be done at flexible times.
I am looking into doing some courses to help me be confident about offering these services and to broaden my range but there's no point if I wont be able to get work doing it...

Is there work out there for me? Would people use me as they probably have admin staff? Any ideas on what I could charge? Any helpful advice appreciated

One thing i have learned Sarah, is that selling things online, unless its digital property is quiet hard. For example i could frame all my astro prints and sell them online (even have a business for it), however no takers. Yet a few months ago i was at a roadshow where i am sure i could have sold them (at the right price).
In your case this is how i would approach it.

If you want to work from home, maybe arrange a party at the beginning of the month (when people have been paid!) and have a jewelery sale. One excellent marketing tool is alchohol, thought i would not recommend getting your clients drunk to the point they ask for refunds the following morning.
another thing to consider is a car boot sale, selling your product there.

Just some ideas, and good luck

 

[Jet Virtual]

We have clients who offer dog walking services and other dog care services. Seems to be quite popular these days

Best of luck,

Daniel

 

[Mohamed IBrahim]

You need to plan carefully anything you want to start up but definitely see what you feel most comfortable doing or at least have the knowledge to do to avoid any setbacks

 

[Alan]

Imagine you are standing next to a rock pool, you don't know what is under the water, rocks - sharks? Would you dive in head first or dip your toes in?

 

[Mr D]

You need to plan carefully anything you want to start up but definitely see what you feel most comfortable doing or at least have the knowledge to do to avoid any setbacks

Hopefully the OP figured it out over 5 years ago.

 

[Dimo]

Only 5 years ago