anyone own their own business?

Post Reply New Topic

I've always had problems with working for other people. I don't like having to rely on a manager's whims, and I don't like being forced to work with people I can't stand. I'm tired of dealing with idiots and irrational people.

I have a background in english lit and foodservice and I'm seriously considering starting my own store (a tea shop and bakery, with books). I really like the idea of total control over my work environment doing something I enjoy, as opposed to taking the only job in my comfort zone that pays more than minimum wage.

Has anyone else ever started their own business? I know getting things off the ground will be terrible for me, but I think I'll be okay once I get things going.

Yes. I used to have a construction company. Did not really like it and did not do too well financially.
Now I have a small, organic farm. I like this a lot. But, still can't figure out how to make it really support me, even though I know it is possible and know other who make it work for a real living. Think that I have some "executive function" problems. But I like the independence, the practicality (food) and it gives me a very structured social world for part of the year selling at farmers markets. That way I feel like I have a meaningful place in the community that other appreciate and do something real in the world.

I really like working for myself and want to consolidate and build on the start I have made on this. I looked into various ideas and made a start on one or two before going forward with my current business which is in the area of online retail.

I'm concerned that your project sounds a little too ambitious to start up all at once, unless you have the finance and the research done to show that it works on paper. If not, why not start with something smaller that is less risky and more achievable in the short term so that you can get a feel for what it's really like and what particular features you enjoy and seem profitable. For example, you could try and sell books or make food to sell. Probably not very good examples but the point is that you could be doing this in a matter of weeks with little risk.

Working for myself has shown me how easy it is to get paid to do a job. Profit can be hard to squeeze out of my business and sometimes the thought of turning up to a minimum wage job for a few days/weeks/months and coming away with a hundred/thousand or something seems like really easy money.

You've got to have your profitability worked out even if you love what you do because that is the only way you can sustain it. So, my advice, from the modest success I have had so far, is to try a few ideas out, the easier the better, and only commit further when you have good evidence to show it will work.

I own a publishing company. It's all I have going for me right now, but hopefully I'll be able to get and keep a "real job" very soon.

I have had a mowing business on and off since 9th grade. It got more complicated after the state I live in started a sales tax for lawn mowing and landscaping. I got a liscence for it, got behind in paying and they let me catch up. I haven't filed my taxes since 1994 and got behind again with the sales tax thing so I ended the lawn business.

I sort of do. For about five years, I've done significant freelance web design (I used to host websites on a virtual server, as well, but I lost the ability to fund it last year). I also do freelance graphic art (mainly logo design). Since moving north a few years ago, I don't have anywhere near as big a customer base as I used to, and since I suck at advertising, that's not likely to change any time soon. I always relied on word-of-mouth and repeat business. I've also always had a partner who did most of the customer service stuff for me. I don't have that anymore, which is frustrating.

As far as dealing with frustrating people / bosses / idiots / etc..., you can't escape that no matter what you do. Going into business for yourself will likely increase the amount of annoying people you have to deal with. Some days, I wanted to tear my hair out - back when I was really busy. Now, I want to tear my hair out because I'm not busy enough.

Kind of, I'm a freelance English teacher.

Thanks for the stories and advice.

I'm already a financial mess, so if I fail it wont be a big deal. I have considered starting out as a mail-order company while I try to get the cash together for the store. I know working from home would be very bad for me mentally--I tend to crawl inside myself and get depressed--so I know I want an irl store.

I know I can do it if I can find the money.

i started a business of reading tarot cards

then realised that i lack confidence to read to counsel people
to make eye contact

i shifted base to online readings which was much better.

so i prefer reading online

I am an accountant- it is tough to get clients but it brings in something.

I own my own Sign Language Interpreting Company and do freelance ASL Interpreting.

The hardest thing for me was to learn billing and how to do taxes (both are just a matter of finding good software). After that it was okay.

But remember, a freelance business is just one person with no employees.

I used to discount that sort of thing offhand, but then a few years ago a friend of mine did a reading for me and I was like "whoa! That was awesome!! !" I took it all with a grain of salt but the experience was actually pretty neat.

How hard is it to do?

The readings are always good but the main problems are handling the client
Many people get addicted and they keep calling back.
Many dont want to pay
And endless amount of dangerous issues like someone attempting suicide, someone taken excessive loans, someone
living all alone and feels that ghost is hunting their house....etc
Its hard for me to handle all those things since I lack confidence, self esteem, people psychology

My experiences with wage earning jobs has been absolutely dismal. I know a lot of autistic folks who can manage as long as the expectations are well defined and they are allowed to work independently, and with some flexibility, but the arbitrary constraints of most workplaces and the mechanisms designed to manipulate and exploit the average worker will affect the asp personality very differently, and always adversely. Ive seen the confusion and anxiety of workplace social structures and politics become downright traumatic. In fact, Ive never held a wage job for over nine months at a time before some miscommunication, misinterpretation, or interpersonal snafu did me in. Its never had a lick to do with my skills or performance. Its always been my inability or unwillingness to accept something I considered inequitable or irrelevant, or simple politics, a concept that is incomprehensible to me. The inevitable result is that I can only have an economic existence through subsidy or self employment. Ive been lucky to have useful skills and aptitudes, but the big hang up is Marketing and advertising, two other fields that are incomprehensible to me. If you do a valuable service, referrals and repeat customers will result, but creating initial contacts can be terrifying. Selling onesself is a major obstacle. For many autism folk, cold calling is out of the question. Even engaging the services of a salesman or promoter can be complicated. The only viable solution Ive found has been to cultivate a trusted partner who posesses the skills which I lack. For instance, Im a competent craftperson, but Ive been able to rely on my trusted others to handle sales calls and delicate client interactions.
Another perilous area is dealing with confusing mazes of kafka-esque bureaucracies. I resent the vexing arbitrary contrivances that give advantage to the most litigious and conniving of business people. They create systemic inequities, and unlevel playing fields, and I prefer to limit my work to a scale that is able to exist under the radar. For example, when I ran a design/build remodeling business, I saved overhead by only getting a subcontractors licence and making the homeowner take the role of the General contractor, signing off on the permits and inspections, as well as taking the liability for the job site on their homeowners insurance. It saved a lot of overhead, and because I designed and drafted everything myself, no expensive architects and their ridiculous egos and piss poor aesthetic taste. It really streamlined the process. Some have more versatility than others, but I havent made enough to even have to file taxes in many years. If you do have such good fortune, hand off the headaches to a professional. Lawyers and financial planners are universally scheisters, its inherent to a job whose origins are by nature, dishonest. If you're personal ethics allow you to make enough money for it to matter, employ someone who can help you keep it. The business world is not far from being the lawless wild west, and you need to protect yourself accordingly.
Generally speaking, the simpler I can keep things, the happier I can be. The fewer volatile personalities and emotions I have to navigate, the fewer headaches. I hope never to have another exploiter.....oh, employer.......