Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

It`s a good idea to use your strengths to start your business. One caveat: you may need to be very careful your current employer doesn`t see your outside work as a conflict of interest. You may have signed an agreement when hired that you wouldn`t work for suppliers, customers, or competitors of your current employer.

f you can apply your report design/creation skills in an industry other than your current employer, you can start your business while fully employed and reduce the risk of `jumping ship` all at once. I believe the most likely reasons new businesses fail is due to lack of cash flow; not enough income to pay expenses.

 

You could start small (again, don`t get your first customers from your current employer) and see what type of reports are needed in your area. The local Chamber of Commerce or government economic eevelopment organization could be a good place to find potential customers and/or advisors.

 

Good luck!

 

 

Definately do not jump ship. build up some clietale first. Get a portfolio together of your work to present to cleints. I am thinking that the company that you work for has accounts with more well known businesses; you can lower your costs and market to small businesses and soleproprietors. This would let you fly under the radar of your current employer. Once you have established smaller accounts, the larger accounts will come in. Once you get a few larger accounts and you find it is difficult to do both your day job and your venture, that is when you need to decide to quit your day job.

I left my job to work in an area that the company I worked for did. I thought it was going to be a negaitve thing, but I made sure to not jump ship and once I had established myself in my field, I left on good terms. I don`t get many, but on occasion they get smaller jobs that they just don`t have time to do, so they farm out those jobs to me. If you play your cards right, you might end up with a deal like that where you current employer will turn over smaller jobs to you so they can concentrate on the bigger jobs.

I maybe able to give you some tips as I am currently doing a similar role. What I did was create my own website for no charge through one of the marketing websites in the net ( i used ekwa.com) and afterwards also found this other web application that helps me promote myself. This helped others to find me and also for me to manage my services easily without affecting my current work. Best part of it for me was that its all free and there is no risk involved, I mean if at any point i feel like i dont have any time for my work or cant take certain job i can manage that without harming my reputation. Hope this helps. Btw, the web application site is www.lead2sale.net.

Hi there,

 

I have an excellent business idea which would be a web based portal funded by advertising.  I just don`t know how to get started.  Any ideas?

You are there. For starters, check out: http://www.startupnation.com/steps/66/create-successful-website.htm

 

Plus, there`re bunches of information on business planning all around the SuN site.

 

Success to You!