Setting up a business for a beginner
Discussion
Good evening.
I'm looking for advice I am close to setting up my own business selling candles. I have been making/experimenting with them over the last few months, I feel that I am now ready to step in to the market of selling the problem is I haven't got a clue how to start.
I've been doing a lot of reading regarding pay tax, VAT etc. I'm currently building a website via shopify.
Is there any helpful tips you could share with me?
Many thanks
Ben
I'm looking for advice I am close to setting up my own business selling candles. I have been making/experimenting with them over the last few months, I feel that I am now ready to step in to the market of selling the problem is I haven't got a clue how to start.
I've been doing a lot of reading regarding pay tax, VAT etc. I'm currently building a website via shopify.
Is there any helpful tips you could share with me?
Many thanks
Ben
The first most important thing is to be able to sell them and get paid - ie the front line. How much research have you done on your market and how are you going to get a slice of it?
IMHO the next most important thing is to keep fixed overheads to a minimum. That way, if no sales come in, your losses are minimised.
Good luck!
IMHO the next most important thing is to keep fixed overheads to a minimum. That way, if no sales come in, your losses are minimised.
Good luck!
Record all costs and sales.
Take it slowly. A website is great but be wary of spending money on stuff you don't really need.
Use social media to promote your wares. There are local groups on Facebook, for instance, where you can post up examples but check with admin so you don't annoy anyone.
Take it slowly. A website is great but be wary of spending money on stuff you don't really need.
Use social media to promote your wares. There are local groups on Facebook, for instance, where you can post up examples but check with admin so you don't annoy anyone.
Just register yourself as a sole trader with HMRC before you start trading, you might not have to pay any tax depending on how much you make anyway.
Shopify is great for small start ups, it's super easy to use and you can create a decent website from it. We use it too so feel free to PM me your website if you would like any feedback on it at all.
Good luck.
Shopify is great for small start ups, it's super easy to use and you can create a decent website from it. We use it too so feel free to PM me your website if you would like any feedback on it at all.
Good luck.
jammy_basturd said:
This.
If you can't shift them on eBay or Amazon then you've saved yourself the cost and trouble of trying to market your own website from scratch.
I think it may depend on the sort of product you're making. Not on the high street or Etsy (with lots of 'social media') may be a better route if it is more high end than sell it cheap. If you can't shift them on eBay or Amazon then you've saved yourself the cost and trouble of trying to market your own website from scratch.
chonok said:
Isn't Etsy supposed to be good for this sort of thing?
It's great if you're featured in some way, but the categories listings, there's no magic going on and someone's got to be on page 33. No-one ever really scrolls past three or four pages in the category they're interested in, so being on there can be a bit the same as just throwing your website onto Google and praying. There might be some trickle sales but it'd be more chance than something engineeredI'd check places like notonthehighstreet or team up with a complimentary person/company to sell both together, like whoever makes/sells candle holders and doesnt put candles in them or something. A simple 'max your meal for an extra £x' can bring more revenues in for whoever is selling them, just make sure you can actually supply the candle and the holder if you're the one selling them
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