Is self-employment right for you?

Shirley HermistonBy Shirley Hermiston

At this time of year it’s likely that you’re still working towards a New Year’s resolution. For some people, changing jobs is high on the agenda, but what I’d like to ask is, have you ever thought about going self-employed and is it for you?

Here at the BIC, January seems to bring an influx of new business ideas and start-ups. We understand that self-employment isn’t for everyone as it demands focus and dedication. But for those who are brave enough, they can find it to be a fulfilling and rewarding experience.

A lot of the time, people who have toyed with the idea of becoming their own boss just need the confidence and knowledge to make it happen, and that’s where we come in. We’ve worked with an array of aspiring start-ups from architects to pet-sitters and we’ve helped them and others turn a passion into a fully-fledged business.

But first of all, you need to know whether going self-employed is right for you and luckily there’s various ways to evaluate whether it’s right or not.

Choose your idea. A start-up is usually born out of a passion. Never forget that! Don’t just choose a venture which you think could make you lot of money. Of course, that’s what most of us want to do, but your passion will enable you to drive the idea forward and your customers will pick up on that; it’ll make running your business even more satisfying. And with time and dedication, who knows what you can achieve?

It’s important not to get too carried away with your idea, though – as good as it may seem – you need to ask yourself whether going self-employed fits in with your lifestyle and if you have the required finances in place.

Calculating personal finances will give an indication of how much money you will need to make. If you quit your job, can you cope with an irregular income for a while? A lot of the clients we support capitalise on being made redundant – it’s often a useful time to take advantage of your new-found free time.

So when you’ve got your idea – however big or small – and your finances are in check, it’s time to find out whether people will be interested in your product or service. Research who your competitors are and find out if there’s a demand for whatever it is you plan on doing.

It sounds simple enough, right? So pop in and see us and get your idea off the ground; our experienced advisers will help you write a business plan and understand legal matters. They’ll also provide you with the dates of handy workshops and seminars you can attend – all of these have an emphasis on providing you with the knowledge required to start-up.

So get 2018 off to a flyer with our free support. Arrange an appointment or call 0191 516 6149.

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