That's a critical question I've been thinking about for a while now. I asked this question to you guys as I love DP people, truly. People here are practical and smart most of the times. As some of you might want to know before giving any advice...Yes, I am computer literate. I've designed, coded, programmed and marketed several websites. But I simply cannot do everything and therefore I feel I need a team. Its natural to forget programming languages as we don't practice it. Same is happening with me and I've always wanted to do my own business. It's alright, I don't want to dive in every field or say every language. I'd rather be more interested in getting work, communication, working over my reputation and such stuff. I believe its high time that I hire even one person and get my business started. What do you think? Is it feasible? Which one-three services I should think about? Considering I'll not be working myself on coding designs or writing content. I'd like to work on getting new work to feed the business and keep it running. Its a really hard decision because just thinking to start one... you need office rent (around 20k PKR - say $250 per month), electricity, internet, pc's, furniture, employees and many more things. I CAN invest and handle the expenses somehow. It'd be difficult but I'll do it. I need your advice, your guide and ideas on how should i take this a step ahead? Please help. Thanks.
Ultimately it is up to you, your risk tolerance, your passion, your abilities. Put a business plan together first. It will help you think through all that is needed.
Building a team is always better than working alone. So, if you can keep up bringing the work then you should do what you are planning for. It is highly recommended. Another plus point that you have is that you are from the same field. You have the knowledge of programming, designing and other things related website so that will help you in the work even if you work do those things yourself. Your employees will not be able to cheat or lie you since you know how it work. If the employer do not have such knowledge then the worker may overestimate the time, overestimate the budget or take too long for simple task. You will be able to identify that. But remember, starting a business or a company is not a difficult thing. Keeping it running and alive can be a hard work. Be sure that you can keep bring the flow of work. That is the main thing. Don't start your business just because you have few projects in hand. And best wishes for you plan and future.
Actually it is you who can decide with that venture, if the passion and expertise for the matter plus a capital then go on!
I'd like to thank each one of you, namely, daddy03, QZAX and janinjackson. It feels so good to hear back from you. As if you guys are cheering up for me and are there to support, truly. @daddy03 - You are very right about that. But when I plan to make business plans, I seem to not do very good at it. Watching others over the period of some years, like minded people have reached high and far from me. Having said that, am happy because I am glad about my talents and capabilities. It's just about utilizing them fully. @QZAX - You bring a new perspective to the table. Now I strongly feel like team does make a difference. To make one thing crystal clear, I am now more interested in getting the work and not doing the work myself. Otherwise, I cannot see any way to keep the business running and alive. The reason I've been working hard on learning many technologies and digging horizontally instead of vertically in any one specific field language. Its because I wanted to be in control, as you said no body can try to fool me, at least not easily For the time being, it all seems to good to be true at times. I have the capital but I'll have to invest a good chunk of it to just get started. Not to speak the recurring monthly expenses which would be different from this. About the flow of work, I tried to run a test and make it more practically feasible. Because if I am starting a new venture, then I'll need new clients. I'll have to start from scratch, really. So I published a thread here http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=2054523 and offered my best coding services. People really loved it and the response was amazing. So amazing that I couldn't handle it. I remember there was a time when I had around 15 PSD's orders and 9 of them didn't order because they needed it to get done fast. By the way, I was offering rock bottom and really cheap prices though. This makes me think that maybe I can .... lots of mixed feelings. I wish I had a partner with me to support each other but I guess it ain't gonna happen. @janinjackson, go on! - thank you very much janin. Those words maybe few but the strong intention behind that boosts my moral support 10x! It's just that the expenses are indeed huge and the recurring monthly expenses are quite a lot as well. I'll only be able to hire one or two guys to start with. Where will I be getting work from? DP has always been my favorite. The people are smart here, most of the times and I love the good vibes. At the same time, prices has to be super cheap. Otherwise, you don't actually get orders. And I feel, its not okay to rely on freelancing networks alone. Because it gets hard to get work from freelancing networks without a strong profile or highly trained employee. Overall, I feel I can do it. I've been thinking about PSD to HTML service to start with... but that alone won't help me RUN the business. Do you have any ideas? What should I do? How to take it a step forward? Which services are really good to offer and are profitable as well? Maybe something clicks me soon. Thank you good people, I hope I'll settle down because its high time I'll have to do something with a business mindset. Because once I am married, maybe in 2-4 years time, it would get difficult to handle everything at a startup level. Otherwise, I feel like lost.... looking forward to a health discussion. Hopefully it will help others in my situation too.
@rani123 - I so wish that it becomes true ASAP. I feel am ready to work hard but in an office environment. Sitting at home and doing the work alone - it just doesn't work for me. I seem to spend too much time on other things and rarely on work these days. It used to be different. Because now am looking to guide people and do the work that way and not just myself. But thanks for the kind words. I don't wanna immediately do it and flow with my emotions without any plan. Though I don't wanna keep planning and do nothing. For the time being, am focusing on LogoReviews.org - so that its something until I get my office setup done. Maybe the other idea would be to start a home office. I'll probably have to do some construction then. But the free portion of our home is in a real mess, like a store room. So not sure, doesn't sound that good. Looking for ideas, really!
you Welcome! 2nd idea is best for sure keep involve your friends they must be use full for free time to clean the mess and hope fully from this or other links you will find experienced helpful peoples well i have no idea about software house other wise i feel good to share with needy peoples.
@taipres, thanks, that sound motivating! - By the way, I can't start my office in a section of my house. Finally, discussed and decided. The reasons is we are already short of rooms for our family. By the way, its about $5000 to start-up and a big recurring cost as well. I truly feel so to just go and do it! But I realize that most of the start-ups do so and just doesn't work without a plan. Somehow, I feel confident but when I look at what plan do I have? then I feel down at times. Any ideas about the services that I should offer? Seriously thinking about this 24/7 - maybe I can get some really good advice here... maybe I'll get to meet with you and it will advance my views or your network might help me to get the work as well. For everyone, Thanks for helping me out here.
You should start small, perhaps a one-man team, you should hold a regular job and do this one the side until it gains strong footings. And you should do this at home or in your regular job's office. do not start a business for business sake, start a business when you have a good idea that you think might work and try it out until the reality says that it works, then you can expand.
@crownjewel, I totally agree with your advice. Mmmm I think a good idea needs investment too. Even if you can invest, i feel like you'll have to be confident to believe in it. In fact, let alone that, you just need to make some money and earn something decent to be able to think big. Once you feel like its real & you can make money... then I guess, you can do it. But I totally agree with you. By the way, your mindset is pretty awesome and good to see you're so helpful and expressive. See, I am 24 now, about to be 25. I am not settled yet. Sometimes, it really makes me think long and hard about what will I do, how will I manage and stuff....Not being emotional but if you're trying hard, if you're thinking of ways 24/7 and trying to solve the puzzles all day long. You will know the feelings, trust me on that. I've been working on and off since many years. I started with designing then writing, programming, coding and have worked on many other IT related things too. But I just can't seem to cope up with everything. Why did I chose to be jack of all or digg in horizontally? Because I wanted to learn and be aware of everything. I feel like doing business is my passion and I need a way to earn my living too. I've been doing job lately but the prospects weren't so good. No longer doing a job now. Besides, I'd like to start my own... very own business. I like the freedom and the idea about doing business. In the mean time, while I was unavailable here, I went to many areas to find a good office. Finally, I've found one really good furnished office. Two reasonably big rooms, one small store room type area, reception and that's it. With that, I've studied almost all the kind of expenses I'll be facing. It is indeed huge, for me at least. So, what am I thinking? Glad, you asked. I was upset, totally upset. I spoke about this with my brother, he is in finance niche. He is already doing a full time night job and is busy. However, he's also interested in working on his own business. Just like me, he has no idea on how will he be managing this and getting the work. Finally, from how it seems now, we are seriously thinking about this. We both are going to divide the costs in 50% so that we can both carry the burden and try our best. Apart from the employee salary, even if I hire no one, the minimum/least amount needed to breakeven on monthly basis is $20 per day. So its $10 for me, just to breakeven, no profit. $10 because my brother will be paying 50% expenses too. I am now looking for ideas on how to focus and cover $20 per day easily. So that I can breakeven even if I hire no one to start with and still able to make profit on my own. Obviously, I'll hire people but the ideas will help me to know where to invest and which services to offer. In case, if you guys have suggestions. Thank you guys, if all of this works out for me. I'll definitely be very thankful to you and have no idea how can I put it all in words Looking for ideas...to practically implement them. Thanks!
@askpaisa, thanks mate. @neil_buzzerchat_staff, I agree. It all takes time to discuss the deals with the office owner, literally lots of stuff. That's happening in the mean time. At earliest, we can book the office from 1st March. Also, we'll have to setup everything else from scratch, some furniture too. Neil, I don't know to express this. I don't know if it is lack of confidence or what? But certainly, I have NO IDEA how will I manage to keep up with the costs. Can I earn $20 per day at least? Yes? How exactly? That I'll have to figure out? Hmm, right..... I understand though it all seems to good to be true. One thing for sure, I'd really like to thank all of you. THIS is the place I come to relax, this thread is the only place where am putting my heart out and feel like home with you guys. Hope something clicks soon. Right now, it seems like the earliest we could start is April 1, because my partner/brother is clearly way too busy. He's ready but he just cannot manage it. I'll have to take care of that as well. Any suggestions guys? Should I go for in-house projects? how to find the flow of work? I understand you might not be willing to share your secret away. I get that. No problem but.... if you think hard about your success, someone would have helped you to get started and get going too! Thank you, deep from my heart!
@jackflaming - super serious about my life, to state this in easy words. I know a couple of programming languages, from C#, .NET to PHP. I've done quite some work within each of them. Concepts are pretty good, won SQL genius award.... so on. Bottom line? lack of practice, I guess when you're not in the ground 24/7 you do forget things. As you said, you can't do everything on your own. Agreed. That's why am thinking of ways. My partner can't start before April in any case. Just to update. Looking for motivation and suggestions here.
Thanks edvvardbrian So far, it seems to be too good to be true. So, I am thinking to start a few small projects, make it worthwhile enough so that it can pay for my expenses. And maybe then start a business?