Any members run their own small business?

[MCS]

Not sure how many of you do, but it's something I have been thinking about of late. I would like to maybe start planning to start one say in the next few years. It will be something computer based, possibly web based, and ideally something I can run from my own home, either on my own or with one other persons help. I am not looking to get rich or anything, just make an honest living and doing something I enjoy and feel fulfilled by. Right now I am a software engineer and sit in the office 9 till 5, some would say I have an excellent job with a good salary/prospects, but I just keep thinking about the possibility of being my own boss It might be that I have to take a year or two doing a colleage course in preparation.

Just wondered if anybody has their own small business, particularly in I.T, and how easy/hard it was to set up and any advice like "Don't do it! It's not all rosey it's hard work!".

This is pure speculation at this time.

Thanks

 

[sciencetoy]

What do you want to hear? The name of the game in business, small or large, is sales. You sell something for more than it cost you to get/make/whatever. Can you do that? Do you think that sounds like fun? Good. But you have to think of it in terms of, I have something to sell, to whom, where's the profit, what's the downside.

Before you go to school for it, why not try selling something on a small scale. ANYTHING. If you can't figure out what to sell, you've failed the first lesson of business. Try selling books - you probably have a house full of them, if you're like me. Too much trouble and not enough profit?

Aha! A Very Important Lesson. How can I profit in this situation? NOW You are thinking like a businessman. If this question intrigues you, good. If it bores you, then go back to your desk, you don't have what it takes.

It's very easy to start a business, my 12-yr-old has a business (he buys toys at garage sales and sells them on e-bay).

 

[MCS]

If I knew what I wanted to hear I wouldn't have asked

I do have a few ideas in mind as far as what to sell, but I am just discussing this on a generic level. You are asking me do I have what it takes? You're right, I don't know. I feel as though I have. I always think the first step in anything is to seek advice from others who have done it before you. You have to start somewhere.

 

[jjones]

i've been running my own small business for years here in Mexico. It's what keeps me in tacos and beer

I definately recommend it if you're the independent type.

 

[jpucci1]

Hard Drive Industries, LLC!!
Great Way to Go, just ask " JOHN"

 

[SALvation]

I've been running a business for awhile and I can maybe give you a look at things to come. I started a company almost 2 years ago with 3 other guys. You can see our site here. Things started very slowly for the first 18 months. Every minute that we were not at our normal job, we were working on our company. We've had 2 meetings a week since we started and have gone through 4 redesigns (our 5th is going to be released in the next day or two). We have each spent thousands of hours working on this all while having full time jobs.

Well, come last Novemeber we started getting some small clients like local restaurants and small time stores. It was nice to get a little side income but not nearly enough to live off of. Things have really changed in the last month or two and all of hard work is paying off. Last week we signed our first national account with a very big name (sorry, I can't disclose who), and we expect our second national account in the next 3 days, and possibly a third next week. Things have started to get crazy and we are almost getting too many clients to keep up. We're starting to get a lot of recognition and in the next few months, I will be able to quit my office job. We are looking for office space now and are looking at pulling in 6 figure profits by the end of the year.

Starting a company is a complete rollercoaster but I have loved every second of it. From getting rejected from investor after investor, to obtaining clients that our established competitors have not been able to get, to looking for a new BMW . It has been an absolute blast and we haven't even started yet. Like I said look for our new site in the next couple of days and our new company name...Mercario.

That's my story, hope it got you excited enough to start your own!

 

[StageLeft]

<< I've been running a business for awhile and I can maybe give you a look at things to come. I started a company almost 2 years ago with 3 other guys. You can see our site here. Things started very slowly for the first 18 months. Every minute that we were not at our normal job, we were working on our company. We've had 2 meetings a week since we started and have gone through 4 redesigns (our 5th is going to be released in the next day or two). We have each spent thousands of hours working on this all while having full time jobs.

Well, come last Novemeber we started getting some small clients like local restaurants and small time stores. It was nice to get a little side income but not nearly enough to live off of. Things have really changed in the last month or two and all of hard work is paying off. Last week we signed our first national account with a very big name (sorry, I can't disclose who), and we expect our second national account in the next 3 days, and possibly a third next week. Things have started to get crazy and we are almost getting too many clients to keep up. We're starting to get a lot of recognition and in the next few months, I will be able to quit my office job. We are looking for office space now and are looking at pulling in 6 figure profits by the end of the year.

Starting a company is a complete rollercoaster but I have loved every second of it. From getting rejected from investor after investor, to obtaining clients that our established competitors have not been able to get, to looking for a new BMW . It has been an absolute blast and we haven't even started yet. Like I said look for our new site in the next couple of days and our new company name...Mercario.

That's my story, hope it got you excited enough to start your own! >>

That's pretty damn cool! Now i know why you wanted that chlorine dioxide

 

[SALvation]

HAHA. Yea I need to start looking and smelling half-way decent