I want to set up my own business

[rozia]

I don't really mind what i do, as long as its a good earner and legitimate. Just wondering now, if there is a gap for something in the market for me to pursue.....and , if anyone can give me some business advice through personal experience. very much appreciated with all you help me with. thanks.

[MarkRae]

Do you have any particular skill or talent?

[rozia]

I haven't really, i had a lot of family violence issues and never finished school, and came away with no qualifications. I work in admin for the NHS now, and have done most of my life, its all i know....I just want to sell stuff/have a shop or ebay business etc, but it has to be cheap/reasonable to set up....or anything with sound advice

[Mosaic]

It doesn't cost much to start selling on ebay, so why not have a good sort out of all the old clothes and junk that you and maybe family members have accumulated, set yourself up a paypal account, and start selling on ebay.
That way you have a low-risk way of accumuting some funds and discovering what's involved in working for yourself - how quickly you work, how well you cope when you get knock-backs, and so on.
Successful business comes when you are passionate, knowledgeable and hardworking as well as prepared to take risks - only you can discover what you can do.

[boxtops]

Go to night school and gain a qualification or certificate in something you want to do - if you have a flair for beauty for instance, there's a lot of demand for mobile hairdressers and mobile nail bars round here. I have a friend who does Ann Summers, and another who has a big Avon round - both seem to bring in quite a bit of cash.

Don't give up an NHS job just at the moment, not on a whim - unless your job's at risk, of course - NHS work still brings a decent pension in the long run, and the terms and conditions of employment are good.

[bednobs]

to run your own business you either have to have a skill or talent, be good at something (that someone else wants to pay for), have some capital or at least have some enthusiasm!!!

[bednobs]

if there were businesses that were legitimate and good earners that took absolutely no talent or drive to run, everyone would be doing them.

[Zacs-Master]

Contact your local chamber of commerce. They will be able to give you advice on setting up, local competition and courses.

[cathfromsaron]

if there were, we would all be doing it!

why not get experience in a sphere that does interest you?

[Bambiagain]

Remember, you have to be 100% committed, to be willing to work all the hours there are in the day and risk your own money. If you're self-employed you don't get sick pay - and if you work on your own you generally have to work however ill you are anyway or take the risk of the business going down the pan. Until you are very well established, Boxtops is right - don't give up the day job.

[eastern]

There seems to be this "romantic" myth surrounding being self employed, believe me there are very few people who make a serious living out of being self employed. I did it for 20 years and whilst I had some great highs I had some sickening lows. If your in a secure job in this economic climate then I think you are very lucky so if you want to do something start it as a hobby and see how it goes, oh and if you do well at it don't let Tesco find out cause they will start doing it for half the price and put you out of business!

[old-wos-is-name]

In my work I visit lots of people, and what some do for a living amazes me. One young lady was buying magazines, advertising them on ebay U.S.A and selling them for a really good profit. another was selling dogs leads, that she embroidered with the dogs name etc. Buying clothes from a secondhand shop and selling on lline is also a good earner, as there are not charity shops everywhere, so people have to look elsewhere. If you live in a highly populated area, then dog walking, external house cleaning, house watching are all possibilies. The main thing is " be brave, make a plan, go for it". go to the library and read " upwardly mobile" by norman tebbit. shows what it takes to get on this world. good luck.

[Adrian56]

Here you can find some business ideas http://3businessideas.blogspot.com/

[BRIGHT SPARK]

..you could become an MP

[rozia]

well i bought a craft kid to make cards, just as a hobby and see where it goes.

[Zacs-Master]

I really don't think your taking it seriously

[rozia]

i just dont want to waste money on big things just yet, so starting this as a hobby, with minimal expense and see how i get on, i am taking it seriously, just not letting it take over