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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
 Posted - 23 February 2004 : 01:34:02
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Hi All,
Does anyone here own their own business or work for themselves?
Whenever the bureaucracy, inertia, and office politics at work starts to get to me, I often find myself wondering if life is better in my own business working for myself.
Is there anyone out there willing to share some of their own personal experiences?
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Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20595 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 03:23:15
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I own my own business, and have worked for myself for about 5 years now, I would not advise it unless you are commited to working very long hours with little or no holidays  |
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NorwegianViking
Junior Member
Denmark
119 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 05:58:43
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Yes, that was my experience to.
The "freedom" of self-employment, is a false freedom.
Your customers expect you to be available all year.
You don't know how much money you gonna earn next month.
In addition to your skills (which you will use to make money), you will also need to be an accountant, a secretary, a marketing person, a sales person and so on.
But, a lot of people actually do this, with great success.
And if you like to try, go for it. |
Edited by - NorwegianViking on 23 February 2004 05:59:14 |
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dayve
Forum Moderator
USA
5820 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 10:39:10
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| I have a regular job and a private business. |
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Doug G
Support Moderator
USA
6493 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 12:42:37
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I have been a one-person business since 1999, and depending on your definition of self-employed probably since 1983 with a couple years back working for corporate America in the early 1990's.
I make enough to stay fed, and to maintain a great sense of balance while walking the edge of the cliff :)
I would probably rather live in a tent than work for someone else again.
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Doug G
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Computer history and help at www.dougscode.com |
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Jezmeister
Senior Member
United Kingdom
1141 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 14:19:31
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| does self-employed count for those of us (well i expect only me lol) who make no money except for about 2p from advertising (lol), run the sites for fun and are still in full-time education? lol |
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PeeWee.Inc
Senior Member
United Kingdom
1893 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 15:22:40
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| I'm self-employed, but i make roofs, not websites |
De Priofundus Calmo Ad Te Damine |
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Faizan
Average Member
United Kingdom
592 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 17:29:43
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I make no money myself, it's just some google adwords which get me about $120 a month but all that money gets used for the site maintenance, it is currently using more than 10GB of bandwidth every fortnight and most of the money goes to it anyway. We have a music downloads site, that's why it uses a lot of bandwidth. Plus, I don't own the site all on my own, so the money goes to the co-admin too. I don't even earn a penny from it really. Well anyway, I am only 15. 
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»Snitz Graphics
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 20:36:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Jezmeister
does self-employed count for those of us (well i expect only me lol) who make no money except for about 2p from advertising (lol), run the sites for fun and are still in full-time education? lol
No. |
Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 20:37:05
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quote:
Originally posted by dayve
I have a regular job and a private business.
I think I'm thinking along those lines. What was your start up like Dayve?
Are you incorporated, Dayve? I understand that there are quite a few tax benefits depending on how you do it. |
Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
Edited by - seahorse on 24 February 2004 04:09:55 |
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 20:41:11
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quote:
Originally posted by PeeWee.Inc
I'm self-employed, but i make roofs, not websites
Sounds like steady work Peewee. |
Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 23 February 2004 : 20:51:43
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quote:
Originally posted by HuwR
I own my own business, and have worked for myself for about 5 years now, I would not advise it unless you are commited to working very long hours with little or no holidays
I think I kind of understand what you're talking about Huw. My Dad ran a liquor store for 35 years and I used to have to help out on weekends.
But I still think that there maybe something to working for yourself. What you make, and maybe it may not be a lot, is yours. If you do make a lot of money that's even better.
I work in a company with nearly 60,000 people globally. Kind of hard to get a sense of ownership with something that big. |
Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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HuwR
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
20595 Posts |
Posted - 24 February 2004 : 02:31:13
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| I certainly wouldn't want to change, I love working for myself. But it is not as easy and romantic as everyone would think, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and a very understanding wife |
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brujo
Average Member
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - 24 February 2004 : 04:59:24
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Ken,
I agree with HuwR and Doug.
It has benefited me in ways untold, but yet for the last 9 months I have been working constantly - and forsee this to continue for at least another year.
My wife and I both had well paying jobs - (my wife moreso than me ) - but I made the switch over a two year period. Now I am self-employed in a different location from where I started.
I am very glad I made the switch, and even more glad that I came to such a great country as the US. I now have business managers running sales from different locations while I manage day to day running of the overall business. My wife is able to stay home and look after our baby daughter - which she would never have been able to do in our previous scenario.
In the state I am in, I deal with all sales etc too. We are an LLC., which my attorney told me was the best way to go.
I also still have a totally separate Inc. company for which most of you know me as being from my site and forum. That company is actually registered in St. Vincent and requires very little management.
Norweigan King is correct too in as much as you have to wear many different hats. Last week I was doing a lot of sales and marketing. The last three nights have been getting all the accounts in order ready to go to the accountant.
I used to work too for a global company with 90,000 employees. I was flying out away from my family quite a lot and it was set to increase.
So, now I manage my own company - while seeing my daughter get new teeth and watching her hair grow while she throws food at me !!
(Don't tell my clients that though ha ha !)
I wouldn't have it any other way too. It is a sense of achievement too. Seeing our name in the yellow pages for the first time this may will bring it home to me on how far we have come.... I know it is a small thing but it makes it clear to see what you have done.
That warm feeling kind of offsets the $1125 it costs to be in the **** book EACH MONTH too !
 ....and there we have it, Swings and Roundabouts - as the phrase goes......
brujo |
Edited by - brujo on 24 February 2004 05:02:22 |
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seahorse
Senior Member
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - 24 February 2004 : 05:12:48
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Thanks Huw, Brujo,
I think that in my heart, I'm set to go independent eventually. I just need to build up towards it.
I think you're right about the LLC, Brujo. It sounds great. If and when I can get my business going, I'm thinking about eventually incorporating an LLC in Nevada.
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Ken
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Worldwide Partner Group
Microsoft |
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Jezmeister
Senior Member
United Kingdom
1141 Posts |
Posted - 24 February 2004 : 14:36:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Faizan
I am only 15.
14 - i think i might be the youngest here lol |
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