Sh*te, we're all at it!
Good luck you two!
I thought I was the only crazy enough jack me job in with nowhere to go!
J/K
It was one of the best things I've ever done, and despite being a bit short of £££ at the moment, I know that in the long run it will be worth it, and I'll be able to pay myself more than my employer would EVER have paid me.
I'm not into computer work doolz, I do a specialist electrical job, but I only started doing that for my employer in October 2000. I worked for him for 16 months before I'd had enough, and decided to start out on my owm (well, with my business partner, Kev, who's been my best mate since we were about 14).
Before I started for my employer in October 2000, I'd never done ANY electrical work before (I'm not an electrician), so there's, no limit to what you can do matey, if you set your sights on it.
If you like working with computers, and you know your stuff, I reckon that a 'PC doctor' is a good start mate.
Maybe some other peeps have some good ideas as well? I know some other peeps on here are self employed (aren't you Myk?).
What I will suggest mate is that you set your stall out as soon as, it will cost you a couple of quid, but I recommend you sort the following out as soon as possible
(1)
**Business name** - important for obvious reasons, if you can't think of anything, how about throwing some ideas around the forum - we'll help you come up with something that you like.
(2)
Business cards - you can get about 500 for £50, and it'll be money well spent I priomise ya.
(3)
Mobile phone - you'll need one if you're going to be working for yourself. I hate em, but I need mine.
(4)
Landline and answering machine - not 100% important, but very useful if you will be doing some of your work from home. Answering machine can be picked up for less than a tenner nowadays, and people don't like having to ring mobiles all the time.
(5)
Domain name, website and email. Once you've decided on a business name, you need to register a domain name - this is cheap as FEKK nowadays. From that you can have a professional looking email address (doolz@doolzpc.co.uk) and it's pretty easy and cheap to have webspace nowadays. Have you got an internet account (like BTopenworld, Freeserve whatever)? If so, you usually get 10-20meg of free webspace - this is MORE than enough to host a website. You can fit a decent basic website on 1meg with no problems. If you're not experienced at this, I'll help ya, and I know there's peeps on here with TONNES of web and gfx experience.
You'll need to tell the I.R. that you're going self employed mate, and you'll need to take out public liability insurance - it's pretty cheap, so don't worry about that.
Get talking to people **NOW** about what you're thinking of doing, I can't stress this enough matey.
If you talk to people, THEY talk to people, and word will soon get around.
Let us lot on the forum know what you're doing, and for sh*te's sake, get yer business name and business cards sorted out!
Once yer up and running, swap a few business cards with people like me, who are in a slightly different field, but who will probably have some of the same customer base.
I might get asked by a customer "Do you repair computers?", I'd say "No, but I know a fella who does, and his prices are very reasonable". And vice versa, you might get asked by a customer if you do electrical testing.
It sounds a bit corny mate, I know, but 'networking' with other businesses is a fekkin great way to get more business for yourself.
I must admit that it's something we've not really got into yet, but as time goes on, I can see how important it is to have 'friends' in business.
Hope I've not gone on too much?
If you're serious about working for yourself, I know how daunting it can be, but I promise ya that after only 6 months of working for myself, I will NEVER work for anyone again. No way.
Want a day off? No problem. Want to work late or finish early? No problem. Want to work weekends or bank holidays? You get the picture - you're in complete control.
Good luck fella, if you need any further advice, just ask, I'll do whatever I can to help, and I know the other peeps on here don't wanna see ya out on ya ear either.
*retires with 'typist's wrist*
good luck
Nice one! Good luck!
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