Small Business Owners.

[RastaPope]

I'm currently thinking about starting up my own shop-based business. I've decided that I'm tired or working for other people,a nd even if it means less money, I'd be doing something in a field I love. Which is cool, cause there's only 3 or 4 things in the world I love, people included.

Few questions.

1. What sort of business do you operate?

2. What books/materials did you find most useful in researching your business?

3. Privately funded, or did you get all this supposed free money from the government?

4. Any useful bits of advice or pointers?

5. Are you happier working for yourself?

Thanks.

 

[Xander]

Few questions.

1. What sort of business do you operate?
Web Design - Web Hosting - Domain Registration

2. What books/materials did you find most useful in researching your business?
Having worked in related fields for close to a decade, plus doing exactly this on the side for a while. It was pretty much learned the hard way, through experience.

3. Privately funded, or did you get all this supposed free money from the government?
I funded it myself.

4. Any useful bits of advice or pointers?
Dont give up if you hit a rought spot??

5. Are you happier working for yourself?
Very.

 

[Angel]

Re: Re: Small Business Owners.




Bastard.

 

[Guest]

 

[Xander]

Re: Re: Re: Small Business Owners.

Bastard.

Whua???

You're way down there, I'm way up here. No competition

 

[Angel]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Small Business Owners.

Whua???

You're way down there, I'm way up here. No competition

LOL no, just that you beat me to the same answer.

 

[RosevilleCAguy]

I'm currently thinking about starting up my own shop-based business. I've decided that I'm tired or working for other people,a nd even if it means less money, I'd be doing something in a field I love. Which is cool, cause there's only 3 or 4 things in the world I love, people included.

Few questions.

1. What sort of business do you operate?

Legal Eagle

2. What books/materials did you find most useful in researching your business?

Any book that is specifically related to the field you are in is good. The SBA also has some good stuff.

3. Privately funded, or did you get all this supposed free money from the government?

All through me. It wasn't that expesive though. I'm a service industry.

4. Any useful bits of advice or pointers?

Figure on being time rich and money poor for a bit. This means lots of hands on stuff for you to do.

5. Are you happier working for yourself?

Yes. I could not go back to being a wage slave.

Thanks.

 

[Xander]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Small Business Owners.

LOL no, just that you beat me to the same answer.

LOL well SHAME on ME

 

[T.J. Jackson]

1. What sort of business do you operate? Small retail store

2. What books/materials did you find most useful in researching your business? life experience, books are ok but nothing beats experiencing things yourself

3. Privately funded, or did you get all this supposed free money from the government? privately funded

4. Any useful bits of advice or pointers? get a good lawyer and or accountant, the government forms and all the paperwork you have to do can be time consuming and confusing, time better spent generating revenue.

5. Are you happier working for yourself? hell ya!!

Thanks.

 

[Lady_Kit]

Thought I'd add my one cent (penny pinching is a requirement for self-employment) and I'll need a receipt, please.

1. What sort of business do you operate?
We design & manufacture laboratory equipment.

2. What books/materials did you find most useful in researching your business?
I got good information from INC. Magazine, Entrepreneur, & Dale Carnegies' "How to Win Friends & Influence People" none of which gave me all the answers, but they did help me figure out what questions to ask.

3. Privately funded, or did you get all this supposed free money from the government?
Self-funded all the way. There is no free money out there; its a myth. The Small Business Administration is in the business of protecting the bankers; the popular opinion of the SBA is that its a joke. Venture capital is hard to come by. Angels have unrealistic expectations. Private investors want to steal your soul.

4. Any useful bits of advice or pointers?
Protect yourself. Have a good accountant & business attorney. Write a business plan, it will help to clarify your goals and keep you straight. Whatever you do will probably take twice as long and cost for times as much as you expect.

5. Are you happier working for yourself?
I'd do it all again in a heartbeat!

Good luck!

 

[Draco]

Few questions.

1. What sort of business do you operate?
Computer Consultancy.
New Systems, New Hardware, Ex-Lease Systems & Hardware, Computer Servicing & Repairs, Database Developments.

2. What books/materials did you find most useful in researching your business?
Spherion A+/Net+ Course, Small Business Admin Course.

3. Privately funded, or did you get all this supposed free money from the government?
Privately funded in conjunction with business partner and Franchise Holder.

4. Any useful bits of advice or pointers?
Study all you can, do as many applicable course as you can, ask as many other small business owners for advice and pro's/con's
Talk to your Small Business banker

5. Are you happier working for yourself?
Naturally, we have flexible hours, the profits we make are ours to keep (after taxes-of course ), I work with some great supportive people and meet lots of new people all the time.

6: Would I go back to a 9-5 job working for someone else?
NEVER!!

 

[Rex1960]

I'm currently thinking about starting up my own shop-based business. I've decided that I'm tired or working for other people,a nd even if it means less money, I'd be doing something in a field I love. Which is cool, cause there's only 3 or 4 things in the world I love, people included.

Few questions.

1. What sort of business do you operate?
Business Consultant
2. What books/materials did you find most useful in researching your business?
depends on clients projects
3. Privately funded, or did you get all this supposed free money from the government?
White collar shirts and some ties, a phone, a PC - it didn't take much to get my business started...
4. Any useful bits of advice or pointers?
You have to figure it out all on your own anyway asap.. Major part of "self-employed" is SELF
5. Are you happier working for yourself?
Amongst other things I'm happy that I don't have to care if my boss was doing a great job
Thanks.
Welcome to the world where people work harder for less - at least at the beginning

 

[Draco]

My biggest issue with working for someone else always was:

They charge my labour/skills/knowledge/experience out @ $80:00 per hour. I got paid $18:00 per hour....and they had the GALL to complain about my wage rates when I asked for pay rises, or holiday time.

Just who was it that was crawling thru roof spaces and under floors laying network and data cables, getting calls at 3am "Help, our server has crashed, get here STAT" , having deal with idiots
"I think I have a virus again"? It sure wasn't the suits......

 

[Purple Haze]

1. What sort of business do you operate?

I can't tell you, but I know it's mine.

2. What books/materials did you find most useful in researching your business?

I attended seminars by people that made ridiculous amounts of money doing what they love.

3. Privately funded, or did you get all this supposed free money from the government?

There is no free money. There's free advice, though.

4. Any useful bits of advice or pointers?

Be careful what you wish for. If you build it, they may come.

5. Are you happier working for yourself?

Yes, I certainly am. Unfortunately I can't fire myself.

If you like working long hours with little pay, start your own business.

I don't have a boss anymore, I have a whole bunch of them now, they're called customers.

If something needs to be done, you're it. Nobody else is gonna.

If being behind on your bills bothers you, the early months/years might kill you. I'm not kidding.

Be nice to people, they might remember it.

Expect your relatives to ask for freebies. They'll think you got it all for free.

Expect lots of people to come around asking you to join their Racoon Lodge.

I can be a lot more specific in private, PastaRope.

 

[Draco]

Quote de jour from P H

"I don't have a boss anymore, I have a whole bunch of them now, they're called customers. "

Never a truer word spoken in jest.

 

[Lady_Kit]

Rasta, are you getting that this is not for the faint of heart? It can be the most rewarding thing you've ever done, as long as you can live for long stretches on personal satisfaction, sometimes actual cash is hard to come by.

 

[Purple Haze]

Who's jesting?

 

[cactiphile]

Few questions.

1. What sort of business do you operate?
Lab equipment import/resale

2. What books/materials did you find most useful in researching your business?
People- Talking to people in the business

3. Privately funded, or did you get all this supposed free money from the government?
Privately

4. Any useful bits of advice or pointers?
As purple said before, be nice to people, suppliers and customers, People are more likely to be flexible and help
if you speak nicely to them.
Do lots of research on the area you are opening in if in retail.
250 yards difference in placement of a shop will make a big
difference to who will enter, think about the other shops in the area and what type of customers they have.
The best advertising is word of mouth from happy customers.


5. Are you happier working for yourself?
Yes, no doubt.