Business Dilema

.Kencs · 13 May 2008 at 10:01

Right, I currently work for a computer company, and I wanted to start my own business doing web/graphic design and computer repairs, but apparently i cant do this as it is a conflict of interests. I wont closely near the Web design team, so they say I could get ideas of them and use them for myself, and because we repair computers, i cant do the same business. Our company has an issue with us working for 2 computer companies, and technically, i'd be trying to take their business.

I dont want to go full time self employed, because if it hits the fan, im stuffed, but i dont want to work for an employeer much more. I should be at the company much longer, but when i get a new IT job, will it be the same issue and conflict of interest?

tres · 13 May 2008 at 10:04

it's a conflict of interest
man up, self employ it and ride the freedom wave

.Kencs · 13 May 2008 at 10:19

trescodrucey said:
it's a conflict of interest
man up, self employ it and ride the freedom wave

But then I'm technically playing russian roulette with my income. If it dont take off, im screwed for cash and have bills/debts/etc to pay and cant take the risk, but i REALLY wanna start my own business

schnipps · 13 May 2008 at 10:20

What did u tell them for? just set up and they wont know, ok so its a conflict but just make sure they dont know at all. The proper safe way to self employed is to do it side by side witha job until you build up enough work, you cant just jump ship with a mortgage etc.

.Kencs · 13 May 2008 at 10:23

I didn't tell them. Somehow one of the lads found out and asked me if worked knew, and i said know, so he told me to keep quite too...

Sagalout · 13 May 2008 at 10:37

.Kencs said:
But then I'm technically playing russian roulette with my income. If it dont take off, im screwed for cash and have bills/debts/etc to pay and cant take the risk, but i REALLY wanna start my own business

Thats the risk of self employment. Doing it half hearted never works anyway. Either give it 100% or stay with the safe(r) option of being an employee.

I did it 18 months ago and its the best move I ever made.

.Kencs · 13 May 2008 at 10:58

QUESTION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SELF-EMPLOYED
If i'm going to go self employeed and repair computers aswell as doing web/graphic design, how much roughly do i need to start up and what things do i need???

neil3k · 13 May 2008 at 11:00

I thought the PC repair market was saturated these days.

A2Z · 13 May 2008 at 11:05

.Kencs said:
QUESTION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SELF-EMPLOYED
If i'm going to go self employeed and repair computers aswell as doing web/graphic design, how much roughly do i need to start up and what things do i need???

lol

you are actually contemplating starting your own business, and havent even done the proper research?

you joker

.Kencs · 13 May 2008 at 11:20

I've looked into it, and got most things, it's just when it comes to my insurance etc im un sure of....

Ex-RoNiN · 13 May 2008 at 11:26

.Kencs said:
I didn't tell them. Somehow one of the lads found out and asked me if worked knew, and i said know, so he told me to keep quite too...

Before starting up a business, I would highly recommend to work on your spelling and overall command of the English language, otherwise you will be taken to the cleaners (=ripped off), provided you manage to get off the ground in the first place.

Ex-RoNiN · 13 May 2008 at 11:28

.Kencs said:
QUESTION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SELF-EMPLOYED
If i'm going to go self employeed and repair computers aswell as doing web/graphic design, how much roughly do i need to start up and what things do i need???

I just saw this - lol

If you can't answer this yourself, you should definitely not go ahead...stay put and get some experience..

wannabedamned · 13 May 2008 at 11:32

Ex-RoNiN said:
I just saw this - lol

If you can't answer this yourself, you should definitely not go ahead...stay put and get some experience..

Indeed, Do something small to begin with, while keeping your current job.

Advert in the newspaper, and Business cards. Hand the cards out to friends and family, and ask them to hand them out to their friends. Also put them up in shops. create a portfolio of your graphics work and put it on a website, and provide a web address to the portfolio on your business card.

Once you have got yourself a small amount of custom, Look at how to expand. And see what it's costing you, To be honest, If you can do graphics design and web sites, It should cost you very little, as you can design your own advertising. And as for repairs, I never repair at a loss, so that should cost you nothing

.Kencs · 13 May 2008 at 11:58

OK, With a few words of advice from some of you, I'm going to keep my full time job, but work as a Sole Trader. I'd like a name for my 'small sole trading business'.
I will be doing Computer Repairs aswell as Web/Graphic design but can not think of a good catchy name. Anyone able to help me pick a name?

aproctor · 13 May 2008 at 12:13

one of my mates set up his pc repair business about 18 months ago and he is now starting to make a tidy profit, the way forward he was saying is business contracts, dont bother with the chav scum plebs or retail just aim for the cushy contracts.

LordSplodge · 13 May 2008 at 12:51

aproctor said:
one of my mates set up his pc repair business about 18 months ago and he is now starting to make a tidy profit, the way forward he was saying is business contracts, dont bother with the chav scum plebs or retail just aim for the cushy contracts.

Correct (on both counts) as it takes years to make decent profit (or at the least stop the loss) and business customers are better than home users.

.Kencs unless you are 100% sure you know what you are doing I wouldn't bother. Certainly don't do it for the money...

[TW]Fox · 13 May 2008 at 12:57

.Kencs said:
QUESTION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SELF-EMPLOYED
If i'm going to go self employeed and repair computers aswell as doing web/graphic design, how much roughly do i need to start up and what things do i need???

This is why most new startups fail.

Everyone thinks they can run a business. Few people actually can.

MikeHunt79 · 13 May 2008 at 13:25

aproctor said:
one of my mates set up his pc repair business about 18 months ago and he is now starting to make a tidy profit, the way forward he was saying is business contracts, dont bother with the chav scum plebs or retail just aim for the cushy contracts.

With these contract does he charged a fixed rate (say £50 a month) to a business, and then be on call in case anything goes wrong?

jas72 · 13 May 2008 at 13:30

Don't be so negative guys.

There are government schemes to get you set up. Do some nightschool courses on running your own business. Most colleges do them.

Contact your local employment office see if they can offer advice.

Mickey · 13 May 2008 at 13:33

MikeHunt79 said:
With these contract does he charged a fixed rate (say £50 a month) to a business, and then be on call in case anything goes wrong?

That's generally how most IT maintenance contracts work, companies like to have fixed costs which they can budget for. £50 a month would be a stupidly small amount unless it was a 2-3 PC office though, even then I'd question whether it would be worth it.