The Sludge

How many people on here are self employed ie own a business. NOT say a builder sub contracted out by Barratt homes for example, but genuinely own a business.

How did you start? What do you do?

Damo V

yup...


saved money got loan

mobile SMART repairs

The Sludge

i seen that a while back, franchise aint it. Worth doing Damo?

Richie Russ

Moi, right place at the right time, i run a logistics and courier company and i love it

Damo V

Not been a Franchise For a year or so........ What do you want to know?

The Sludge

just sick and tired of working for others pal. Have been looking at franchises for a while but not sure on what to do etc

I wanted me own retail unit, costs of rent are mad. I walked out me job saturday lol, so want the time to do the right thing this time

Richie Russ

Damo, what is it that you do ?

You have to enjoy what you do, know what you do inside out, trust me, once you have worked for yourself, you will never want to go back to working for someone else.

Oh and make sure you have a very very good accountant should you set anything up.

Damo V

Hmmmnn, IMO if you want to run a business, it has to be something you are good at or v passionate about... cars were natural for me...

It isnt alwats as good as its cracked up to be....

two things I really miss are working with a group of lads who constantly jibe each other and have a laugh, the second is not knowing what I am going to get paid and when I am going to get it.....

If you were based more locally you could buy my business :lol

The Sludge

LOL

not that bad surely. For me i have been in retail since i left school. Its natural for me to be with the general public and dont want to loose that. I was looking at this

http://www.franchisedirect.co.uk/dir...consulting.htm

or this

http://www.franchisedirect.co.uk/dir...autoaircon.htm

Damo V

LOL, Richie beat me to it...

Richie Russ
I'm a mobile SMART repairer.. Small to medium interior or exterior cosmetic repairs.

lawnsy

iTrader: (1)

Ive got my own valeting company been doing it for 2 years now i to got sick of taking shit off people, i used to work at nissan on the prodution line, nothing better than been your own boss, but you have to work for your money the more you work themore you make but when its your money at the end it you do not mind doing the work...

The Sludge

good argument pal. I was doing like 60 hours a week plus travelling, i walked out on staurday. I had enough.

Damo V

Leasing and aircon...

Hmmmnnn I imagine you will need a fair amnt of capital for the leasing one and you dont need to be part of a franchise to do aircon...

good money in aircon, but LOADS of people doing it now, I really mean loads....


Funnily enough I used to work in sales..

Unfortunatly same with my business, 6 years ago there were hardly any SMART repairers out there, now there are literally 000's, the markewt share isnt big enough ... I can name at least three of my previous customers (trade) who now do their own SMART repairs..... so thats three customers I have lost and three extra people I am now competing with for example!!!!...

Richie Russ

Sounds like your services maybe of interest to me ! do you have a website ?

Sorry to wander off topic sludge, i do lots of work to the retail industry and i really enjoy it (i.e i supply mannequins, gondolas, banner stands Christmas decs, jewellery etc).

So, start up your own company supplying all your retail contacts with display items purchased from me, everyones a winner

lawnsy

iTrader: (1)

the best thing is i don't work anymore night shifts....

Damo V

Richie Russ

Sorry no, actually thats a lie I do .... its www.mobilesmartrepairs.com, but isnt live LOL...


pm me with a brief description ie car damage etc I'll let you know what I think

Richie Russ

I'll pm you some pictures within the next day or so

The Sludge

richie, tell me more

banner stands ? i cant find them anywhere cos i want em fr me own car stands

Richie Russ

My work is very seasonal, from January until May, its dead as people are recovering from their Xmas spending spree. From May onwards, it goes mad which can involve 20 hour days 7 days per week, but for the rewards, im prepared to do it and with little overheads here, it makes good money, its just trying to find something that other people havent yet thought of and there are things out there for sure, but its not nice as Damo says wondering if you can pay the staff wages etc, so you have to be 100% confident in what you do.

Which retail store did you work for ?

The Sludge

i worked for Poundland and Home Bargains

Richie Russ

Do A LOT of textiles to Poundland but can only assume that you have now left with a bad mark above your head ?

If you haven't look into supplying them with their products, you will be the ideal person to know what does and doesn't sell....?

Damo V

why dont you try for a decent retail job first (if there is such a thing lol)


That way you mayt enjoy it more ANDyou can save some dough to start summat on your own

I bumped into a guy, the other day who I used to work beside at my old job, he is still there and earnt Ł63k last year

4x4

Richie Russ

what is it you exactly do then. cant make it out even if it is very obvious mate

Richie Russ

Import visual merchandise from all over Europe to various large retail companies. sorry, could have been clearer

timrud

Me and my mate are about to start a garage in Sheffield.

Luckily he has most of the equipment (certainly enough to get us started), so we don't need to lay out any huge bits of capital. I'm keeping my job and working part time there (for free at first) and he will just take home minimal living expenses.

Just in the final stage of sorting the unit out (was hard to find and even harder to get sorted!)

Important things for us to have are:
- Knowledge
- Contacts
- Some assets
- Willing to work for next to nothing to get us going
- Willing to work all hours god sends!

Fingers crossed it takes off! We are in a strong position as we have not borrowed to startup.

Good luck at whatever you choose mate!

The Sludge

Richie, no not really as i left there before i went to Home Bargains, it was them i walked out on.

I know all the buyers in Poundland as you will be aware of them, like Barry and Bill etc

4x4

Richie Russ

Richie i have never understood how importing can make so much, one of my uncles has been importing i duno what but has also got himself made by doing so.

i mean cant the person, people after the item get on the phone to abroad and make an order themselfs.

would like to know more about the business, im a very curious young man.

Richie Russ

I don't really get involved with the buyers too much, i have someone that does that, i just make sure that whatever is ordered, gets there when it should.

If you know the buyers, can you not have a word with them to see if you can supply them with some of their equipment ? Maybe a bit premature........?

Good luck Timrud, wish you all the best with your venture, it takes balls

4x4

Richie Russ

my bad, dindnt read one of your posts to the sludge. Now i sort of get it, its bulk you buy and sell in right?

Richie Russ

Lol, no worries.

So, someone in the UK gets on the phone to their suppliers in Italy or Germany and makes an order, the supplier gets on the phone to me as our service is so good and asks me for quotations, they include the shipping cost with the product cost, hey presto, everyone is happy

timrud

Richie - cheers mate!

I've planned it all out so its at a minimal risk, but there is only so much you can plan!

The Sludge

richie yes i guess i could do so, but it depends on what i make doesnt it dude

Damo V

timrud


Good luck mate, overheads take balls...

Richie Russ

And that's where the risk lies matey, but you MUST know what you are doing and be totally confident in it too, otherwise, don't bother.

Should you ever go down this route, i'll be more than happy to help you if i can

timrud

Damo were really going to start out small. The unit is about 1000sq/ft, so can't get more than 5 or 6 cars in.

If things do take off (hopefully they will!) then I'll investigate expansion, which is when the risks will crop up

PeterD

Sludge i do finance for small and new businesses, if you need any advice on it i'd be happy to give some.

that said though in start driving tuition at the end of april, franchise for a year then hopefully go independant. self employment is the forward i think you just need the want and motivation to do it.

Cheers

Damo V

..... CHeck the contract carefully, may not be allowed... I know my old franchisor took a few people to court for that very reason.........

The Sludge

thanks Pal

The Sludge

Cool- cos i be damned if can get any joy out of anyone my end

PeterD

Thats a bit of a bastard that Damo, i need to do the course first and thats all paid for now (with the cash id saved to take my slapper ex mrs on holiday with).

The course is from BSM, i figured their training would be rock solid and lead to franchising afterwards because i was a bit worried about going independant right from the off. initially you get six months then yearly renewals. im just hoping that the market aint to saturated by the time im ready.

BTW, i was keeping tabs on your escort thread, nice work mate.

Sludge - stick with it mate, a bit of graft and youl be a proud guy at the end of it!