Starting a business whilst still working full time

i started web design because my plumbing business wasnt that great, and i thought i might be able to get some business on the net.
i did, but the recession just balanced it off.
then i decided to build a small shop or 2, and made a few hundred over the first year, and now a few thousand, and next year i hope to be livig off it properly.
you GOTTA be able to survive without relying on your eshop for 1 second, because you may get 1000 hits 1 week, then 100 the next. Its just the way it works.
And if you have ot pay advertising, your profits will drop.
Actually, i am also looking for 2 ro 3 people who wnat to work from hime, so i can build them an deshop, and they run their business.
Shops woudl be good, or peoplewho can hold a bit of staock and have enough money for the stock, i can help. I will even buy the domain, and make the shop succesful before charging.
(this is NOT an open offer, though).

I think my future is building eshops that get hit a lot, so people dont have to pay for advertising. because im willing ot put my money where my mouth is, and thier start up costs will eb VERY low and I dont charge until it makes money, they cant lose.

theyve just gotta send me their images etc., and i will build the site.

I can do it fo ryou, if you like !

Hi Rowena,

1. What is your full time job and what is the business you are starting up?
I started my business whilst working full-time and actually continue to help a lot of other new start businesses start up too by providing them with virtual offices and virtual assistants to be their "day time" team. I was an advertising account executive and my business was a virtual assistant business.

2. What made you decide to stay employed and launch your business in your spare time?
I crunched lots of numbers, but realised that getting clients in my industry took time whilst you built your profile and created personal relationships through networking. There was a money-gap, and I was earning enough to justify hiring someone to do the virtual assistant work whilst I continued to work to subsidise the business.

3. Do you plan to one day give up your job and concentrate solely on your business?
4 months into the business I arranged to work part time and I then 2.5 years later worked in my business full-time. Whilst the business has always been full-time, I've only worked full-time in it for about 2.5 years.

4. What are the benefits of working full time as well as having your own business? e.g. any tax benefits?
One of the unexpected benefits was the mental break from "being the boss" and having to do everything. It was quite nice to turn up and get told what to do, and get paid for it. You do end up paying two lots of tax though - self-employed and PAYE. Having said that, anything you over-pay will be refunded.

5. Any other comments.
With increased technology there is no reason why you can't start up a business which runs full-time whilst you also work. Things like VOIP, autoresponders, virtual assistants and online systems can help to replace your physical presence.

I actually work between London and Glasgow and it's pretty much seamless as to where I am - bet you can't guess!

The only issue you may run into with your employers is confidentiality and conflict of interest. Having said that, I know quite a few virtual assistants who left employment but continued to work for their bosses as VAs!

I'm happy to offer any other advice - tel: 0141 423 8255 or email caroline@virtuallysorted.com

Caroline
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Caroline Wylie

www.virtuallysorted.com

www.SocietyOfVirtualAssistants.co.uk