Self Employeed
What's up Guys and Girls,
I graduated college 3 years ago and have been with the same company since I graduated. It's a sales position and at first I loved working for the place, but as time went on it became more and more political and everything started shifting from "lets all make money" to " lets pay all our sales guys shit and put all the money into managements pocket". Just to show an example, In the past i could have make 10-30k off 1 sale, now it's a flat $1000. They are trying to shift to a volume model but are failing miserable.
... well I had enough, I'm at the point I have enough saved to live a good amount of time without an income, I'm ready to jump ship. The question is what's next?
The sales position I hold requires lots of licenses and certification, finding a new employer wouldn't be an issue, but I have come to realize I can't stand working for someone else. I hate busting my ass to make someone else wealthy, I'm young, don't have a family of my own and it's time to work for myself.
I have a couple Ideas to play around with but honestly don't have any sure product/service to offer this world. I figure quitting my job will make starting a my own company a must not a want and I'll make something happen from all the ideas I have been compiling over the past year.
For all you self employed fellow Eroiders, what advice would you give a fellow bro going self employed? Were there any times in your business history you look back and would have done something differently?
What were the biggest hurdles when your company first started?
Many Thanks!
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AnonYou want to make a small fortune in the auto repair business ???
Start off with a large one !
Do not neglect to show appreciation to people that are feeding your new business work. In other words, you make a sale you kick back some coin to whoever gave you the lead or made it happen. I cannot stress this enough.
Do something that involves the least amount of overhead as possible, you dont need a location, you can run your business from your briefcase. Consultation, insurance, sell a service, not a product. Products take too much damn everything.
Write out a mission statement and stick to it.
Believe in your product and it will sell itself -if the product is you, than all the better.
Know who your target client is. (eg. Are you going for the top end quality market or low end mass market?)
be legit, be licensed, certified, bonded etc. Do NOT do work under the table. (reflects poorly on you, not worth the quick buck)
Hire someone to do your taxes. Do not do them yourself.
Have enough money to run your business at a loss for 2 years.
Do not be afraid of the big money. Go for those 100k contracts.
Do not underbid yourself. (I've lost jobs because my price was too low).
That's the short list... biggest challenge is growth. getting to the next level.
Touchdown!
waltrwell why don't you cut out your boss and take your clients with you?
contact your companies supplier (unless they have a contract where this is impossible) and sell the same whatever widget it is you sell now without the boss getting his grubby hands on your hard earned cash?
Worked for me - that was twenty some years ago but I had a fairly solid business background at the time though. I always pay the sales folks very well so they don't get any funny ideas, however, bottom line; You can only earn so much working for the man.
Because that is a good way to make serious enemies and will really drag down your character. Not to mention completely burning the bridge with your former employer.
The only advice I have is to do it now before you get trapped under the paycheck with all of life's responsibilities