If so, what is it and what do you do? How did you get into it? How many people work for you?

Just making idle conversation at the moment.

I suppose as a DJ im self employed, wouldnt exactly call it a business but its good money

I started my own business when I retired at 60.

Without doubt the best way to 'learn the rules' ie what not to do as much as what you should do is to seek advice from www.wirralbiz.biz - or do as I did and just call into their place in Egerton House on Tower Road.

That is the new name for what i knew as Mersyside Enterprise

If you go on one of their courses (couple of days a week over 4 weeks - GREAT fun they are) you will learn about creating a Business Plan, book keeping/ accounts, how to handle tax / NI, Advertising dos and donts, raising capital and lots of other stuff. If they think your Business Plan has merit there is a grant to help you get started. When I did their course the grant was around £1800 paid in chunks over 2 years. They keep tabs on you over those 2 years ie inspect the books etc before the next chunk of money is paid. Things may have changed a lot since I started with them 8 years ago - but I suspect not a lot

One important point - you must NOT have started the business before you start with them. I think that is for legal/ tax reasons

Snod

I run my own business www.glamglassgifts.com

I make glass Jewellery and custom items

I was a driving instructor and I was making more money selling on ebay, so moved to that and then decided I wanted to create and not just buy to sell!
I love handmade goods, they are so unique!!

Oh boy - I'll be on that site later! Just had a glimpse

I posted this earlier, but I think I quit before it posted.
People under 30 should contact the Prince's Trust - they were very helpful to get my missus' business off the ground, and she also had help through TNG, which is an organisation solely for woman. You get an experienced, veteran mentor and advice with the PE.
Making money is easy once you get the start.

i run me own valeting business, well when am there that is

www.wirralvaleting.web.officelive.com/

I'm not looking to start my own, I was just interested to be honest.

I own and run my own Mobile Hydraulic Repair business, offering a complete onsite service. I started 15yrs ago working for someone else and bought a company that folded 5yrs ago and not looked back.
I now have major contracts inc. Shell, Cammell Lairds, MOD and Vauxhalls. Be surprised some of the sites i get into!
www.rapidhydraulics.co.uk

For now...

Meaning what Matt? You know something i dont matey?

Don't worry, I was answering the title question fella.

Ahhhh, thurt you knew something i didnt about the way the economic market was going!!! Scared the poo out of me then!!

Lmao, the only way for the market's now, is up, surely

Even Brown and Darling put together couldnt do any further damage I rekon!!

The only time i want to see Brown and Darling together is 6 feet under, the same as they have put this country!!!
Fooking politicians, bring back the guillotine!!
POLY - means many
TICS - blood suckers.

In August, me and a colleague are sacking off the immature, fickle nature of the industry we work in and starting to outsource contract work overseas (ie. China). I think you can start off pretty much any small venture with little capital, you don't need to make any commitments to banks and end up being owned by them, if you can spare 1 year of hard work building up to it.

Biggest problem in a lot of business is the need for heavy advertising and promotion which doesn't come cheap. Many good businesses have died purely through the lack of effective advertising.

Other high costs are capital equipment expenditure - if you need expensive kit, you need to buy/lease it - most specialist kit it only pays to lease if you have extremely small usage.

Well done thought station, good luck in your venture.

Fortunately, we've built up a load of contacts and this could possibly help as they all seem to be at their wit's end with their current outsourcing - from experience, it's a massive pain in the arse for someone to ask for something and then have it seen through to the end without intervening about 20 times because they keep messing it up.

The best saying in business, is "speculate to accumulate" lol. In some industries, I must admit, advertising does not always have the best or most cost-effective results. Sometimes, its a case of who you know, not what you know. That is somewhat true for myself. I have found word of mouth, but moreso important contacts within certain growth industries, to be far more profitable and lucrative than any form of advertising - and it gets faster results!!

If you already have the contacts and can get statements of intent/contracts etc out of them, then I say go for it mate! It could be the best thing you ever do.

Its a risk, of course it is, but if people never took risks, the world would be still living in the stone-age. My family were all against me going alone years ago, my father especially, I was too young and unwise they said (I was 16), but I invested my own money, and made it work, and am stll proving them wrong to this day!!

hi we have our own shop sells fresh stuff, cards, diy, fancy goods, houseware, toiletries etc. its in great location due to my wife being ill we are giving it up. you can sell or provide a service for more or less anything in it. dont want much for it just want to get rid as i work away now and its to much for her due to being ill and got 2 kids as well. anyone interested let me know.

Did you know that upwards of 90% of Saudi's public spending, comes directly from oil profits!! Growth industry for sure!

Hi
I have my own cake / catering business which is hard to get going at the momnet.
And my husband is trying a transport business which is hard to find customers.

Jackie

last year

Wirral Biz do still help people but don't pay out that much now it's £500 grant if you go through them now, but with them checking all you do etc. and you needing a business bank account it can be a bit of a hassel to get things to apply with them then find you don't get there help !!!!

Better to do your own paperwork and get an independant finance person to help you.