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Do you make a living with your own business?
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Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice

Is your self-employed business profitable?
Yes - our business(es) are financially viable
56%
 56%  [ 14 ]
Yes - but only just.
32%
 32%  [ 8 ]
No - it's a lot of work for little or no money
12%
 12%  [ 3 ]
Total Votes : 25

Author 
 Message
Tittch



Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 1768
Location: Chichester
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 1:45 pm    Post subject: Do you make a living with your own business? Reply with quote
    

I was wondering yesterday at the picnic, how many of us actually make an actual living in our self-employment?

We have several businesses, but only one of them is a proper business - the soft tops.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Depends how you define 'proper business', I can't yet give up the day job, but my own business does operate at a profit, its miniscule to be true, but still a profit.

Jb



Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91� N
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nowhere near profitable yet. It could be but at present turnover is so low that it's not paying for the capital cost to have the business. If I could increase turnover to the point where it was full time rather than part time the capital outlay would be a small enough proportion that it would be profitable.

Blue Sky



Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 1:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I had a profitable signwriting/graphics business for 9 years in the UK. It didn't make us a fortune but it allowed us both to leave full time employment and work the hours we wanted to.

The first couple of years were a struggle but I would say we managed to live comfortably enough after that.

woodsprite



Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes and yes. Hubby's business is installing and advising on green energy, he's done it for 12 years now. My drama practitioner work is finally earning me a decent living after a couple of lean years (although I've never made a loss).

Rob R



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 2:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Quote:
Do you make a living with your own business?


And

Quote:
Is your self-employed business profitable?


are two completely different questions, but I voted for the first option in the poll.

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28144
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 3:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Has been paying well for over 5 years, long term viability is still in question though. But I am certainly not complaining

boisdevie1



Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 3897
Location: Lancaster
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 4:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Viable and profitable. And very grateful for that.

lettucewoman



Joined: 26 Sep 2006
Posts: 7834
Location: Tiptoe in the Forest!!
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 5:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

main business actually making almost a living wage atm...my jewellery isn't at the moment, but hopefully as I get more skilled I will be able to sell through shops...got a contact today in Lymington!!

Fee



Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

lettucewoman wrote:
...got a contact today in Lymington!!


Oooh, sounds promising! Paul still hasn't pressied me Will have to coax him a bit more...

Tiddles



Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 32

PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes - I'm a piano teacher, so almost all the money I earn is profit, apart from the costs of heating, lighting, phone and piano tuning/repairs.

2steps



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey
PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 9:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I do make a small amount, though nothing like enough to live on.

gil
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18410

PostPosted: Mon Aug 20, 07 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I expect to make a profit and a living, though by other people's standards it wouldn't be much in £ terms. It does mean living very frugally, though.

Stacey



Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 8380
Location: Kernow
PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 07 8:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Not yet but things are picking up. Only been doing it since April this year really so fully expect to have to give it a bit more time. I did wonder if I would ever be able to make enough money doing what I'm doing but there's been a really important development which has shown me that there is indeed a window of opportunity to enable me to make a decent* living.


*by decent I mean enough to pay the bills - don't want a Porsche or nuffin

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45477
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 07 10:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Stacey wrote:
don't want a Porsche or nuffin


snot what you told me....

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