Starting up a business

I've never actually done one, but all you really have to do is this.

Outline the business. 
What will you be doing and what will you be producing/service you will be providing? You've answered that here already!
How will people find you?
How will you work out the pricing?

Who are your customers.
Young or old?
What do they do for a living and what are their lifestyles like?
Do they already use this service or are you providing a new service to fill a gap?
Why will they buy from you?

I'd find a free template online and just write all that down. It's not easy and I've never done a real one. But it's not something that is set in stone once you do it, you just have to show you have an idea of what you're doing and you're not just shouting into the wind.

That makes so much more sense now Janine, thank you so much 🙂 I'm definitely a lot more suited to the creative side of things rather than the business side but I think I can manage something like that!

Yeah, I am too! I only know about it because it was part of a few courses I've done over the years, including my fashion design HND (I never did a degree as I could never work out what I actually wanted to do... Fashion was far from the right thing really). It was drummed into me. I'd still poop my pants if I actually had to do one.

I've never really been able to work out who my customer is supposed to be because the reality is, I know my customers are a wide range of ages, backgrounds and tastes! For the purposes of the plan though, you just need to come up the one that makes most sense. As I say, it's not something set in stone, you just need to show that you have an idea of what you're doing.

I'm sort of glad to hear you didn't do a degree as well to be honest, I did the first year of a degree in 3D Design. I was granted a place on 'direct progression' from my Foundation in Art and Design and my tutors felt this course would give me access to more facilities (glass, ceramic etc) than Fine Art, but I realised pretty quickly that it was very much a product design course and they wouldn't let me transfer without paying the fees for the full first year then starting the first year again on Fine Art which would have led to me owing nearly 40 grand in tuition fees alone! I don't feel like leaving was a mistake but I do feel like starting there in the first place was. There was nothing in our course about managing your own portfolio as it was all tailored towards getting employment with a big design company - basically when I think of my tutor all I picture him saying is "that's nice, but what about if you made it into a chair?"

I sort of feel the same, as a lot of my work is commissioned my customer can be literally anybody but I think I can come up with something to at least put down. It's not as if I'm applying for a loan from them, just for permission to trade here. I think in the additional information part of the application I'm going to state that in order for my boyfriend to return here to benefit their workforce with the degree the government here paid for I have had to come along - there's no uni here and it seems ridiculous that they expect people to come back after uni but they can't bring someone with them unless they get married! (Obviously I won't put it as stroppily as that ha! )

There was a while when I thought my partner would get a job in the states. In fact, he basically did, but then they changed their mind... not long after, that part of the company was disbanded so it didn't happen. But in that time I was looking into what I would need to do to be able to work. I couldn't! In no way would I be able to work and I could only run my business if it was from the UK and earned over $250,000 a year! Nope. I'd have to go there and do nothing. It's so bizarre. And that's even if we were married. Sucks.

I think almost anywhere else in the world, that I looked into anyway, I'd be able to work or even take along my business. Ah well! Luckily it didn't happen 🙂

I really hate that they pretty much all want you to be married. I've been with Lee for 9 years now and I can prove it in several ways. It still wouldn't matter. Even though it's longer than a lot of friends marriages!

Crazy isn't it? I didn't realise it would be that strict in america though - that really would have been harsh for you! I'm only in the Isle of Man but because it's self-governing I have to have a work permit for anything at all that I do. I actually got offered a part time job within days of arriving on the Island but after 2 months of deliberating the government decided I couldn't have a permit for it and the employer had to take on someone local who had applied but had far less experience! So this is basically my second shot at it, if I can't get a self employed permit I'm not sure what I'll do - I don't want to get forced into getting married when I don't feel like it's time - like you say, being with someone for that length of time should count for something! We've been together over 5 years, but getting married just isn't our priority at the moment.

Ah! I didn't know that about the Isle of Man, though I knew it was self-governing so I should have realised. My mum is Manx originally, but I've still not had chance to visit.

Really? You should come over, it's really beautiful in the summer! If you do ever plan a trip give me a shout and I'll be your tour guide  ;D

I'd love to have your courage to start my own business. Congrats! I'm the kinda person that works 'behind' the scenes....does computer related work. If you are ever looking for someone to help in that field give me a hollar hahaha.
No, seriously, just research, research and more research!

Thanks Jaffacake! 🙂 it's a bit scary but I'm getting there slowly!

Sorry for the double post, just wanted to say thanks for your help with the Business Plan Janine, it must have been ok coz they granted me the work permit!  😀

Congrats!! That's awesome!! I have a very small massage business and I remember all the stuff I had to do to prove I had a license and renting a commercial space and the business plan, I feel like I worked on it till my eyes bled. But all turned out well, good luck on your business and fingers crossed there are no more bumps in the road for you!!

Thank you Emmer 🙂 it really is much more hard work than you originally imagine isn't it? Satisfying to be doing something you love though!

Agh, another comment I made that disappeared.  -r-

I had said, I'm so glad it worked out! 😀

I also commented on your post from the moan thread. Custom work not being right was the reason I stopped doing fully custom work for brides. I'd end up doing the items over and over tweaking little things that I ended up losing money! It wasn't worth the agro. Just say no to portraits now if you don't want to do them. Trust me, the stress saved makes up for any lost revenue in the end!