Serious: £20.000 to start a business today; what?
Serious: £20.000 to start a business today; what?
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Discussion

drivingaddict

Original Poster:

1,092 posts

175 months

Sunday 12th June 2016
quotequote all
Dear car friends...

If you had 20.000 today to start a business, what would you do? I'm 31 y.o., I have a mortgage free house (inherited) and car, and I also have a hobby webshop (for carguys) which I started just few months ago.

But I'm going to lose my main job soon and the job market is really tough these days. My mind is set on making my webshop work but that will of course take a lot of time and money. I was contemplating Uber but after searching a lot you don't get much left after using your own car.


I have no problems to add a approx £20.000 loan to my house at a 2,15% interest and it's manageable for me for 1-2 years with no problem at all because of its small size.

I have a bachelor degree in Marketing Communications and I'm passionate about marketing.

What would you do if you had this money? I'm thinking about creating an income to get by, nothing big or wonderful. I have some startup experience from my webshop and I'm very interested in business also (I buy a lot of books and magazines on the subject because it interests me). The problem is of course finding something I can dive into with little risk (as mentioned above I can live with little return as long as it's a safe bet).

I feel stupid creating this thread because I SHOULD be able to come up with something with my knowledge and creativity which often gets praise. I'm just a little bit in the dark now and would really, really appreciate some input...


PS. I live in Norway and if there is anything I could export (middle man) that's interesting for me. I can import also.

DoubleSix

12,569 posts

207 months

Sunday 12th June 2016
quotequote all
Do you want to make a lot of money or enjoy a certain lifestyle?


tumble dryer

2,392 posts

158 months

Sunday 12th June 2016
quotequote all
Slow down.

ringram

14,702 posts

279 months

Sunday 12th June 2016
quotequote all
tumble dryer said:
Slow down.
+1

drivingaddict

Original Poster:

1,092 posts

175 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
DoubleSix said:
Do you want to make a lot of money or enjoy a certain lifestyle?
I don't need to make a lot of money, and I enjoy my lifestyle (cars) anyway. I just want to make a living.

ringram said:
tumble dryer said:
Slow down.
+1
I wish...

Glasgowrob

3,349 posts

152 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
Taxi company. Or more specifically supply vehicles to the trade

Uber does not own a single vehicle they need vehicles to be rented to their partners.

Buy 4/5 ex police focus/Astras rent to new uber drivers for £160 a week each

Just stick my 10% in the post each week smile

Serious suggestion though depending on whereabouts in the country you are

DSLiverpool

16,533 posts

233 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
If Norway is like the UK get a Viano and a S class and go VIP chauffeuring - could be enjoyable

NordicCrankShaft

1,957 posts

146 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
Invest it in scaffolding (stillas) and rent it out. Theres huge money to be made in renting that stuff outo here right now.

Although, 20k isn't going to really get you that far in Norway smile

drivingaddict

Original Poster:

1,092 posts

175 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
Thank you for the suggestions! I like the last suggestion a lot, I remember reading about great profits for the Scaffolding rental business. Will definitely look into that.

Matt UK

18,084 posts

231 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
Easiest route maybe to set up a consultancy in the field you work in.

Take in projects / interim half the time, play with cars the other half.

Matt UK

18,084 posts

231 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
Easiest route maybe to set up a consultancy in the field you work in.

Take in projects / interim half the time, play with cars the other half.

p1stonhead

30,491 posts

198 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
Something niche to do with electric cars / charging / infrastructure considering this;

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-c...

Frimley111R

19,356 posts

265 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
I think you may be looking at this the wrong way around. Think about if you really want to run a business, its not always the glamorous idea it often seems to be portrayed as. What do you know how to do and how can you start as low risk/low cost as possible?

akirk

5,778 posts

145 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
with respect - being passionate about marketing and business and having set up a web shop hasn't given you the experience of setting up / running a business needed to advise others - you need to have set up a number of types of businesses / seen businesses fail /seen them succeed / seen them grow / dealt with staff / etc. to be able to do that successfully...

however you could advise on some elements e.g. marketing - so perhaps find something that interests you - that is niche and others are not offering - then become the expert for that

dfen5

2,398 posts

243 months

Monday 13th June 2016
quotequote all
You've a mortgage free house, do really want to risk losing that privilege?

I started with nothing 10 months ago and it's been great to see the money building up rather than reducing a debt.

If you love marketing do it self employed. Market yourself and see if you really can do it.

See an accountant, get your terms and conditions sorted, buy some business cards, think of a company name, basic website, email. You'll still have change from £1000..

drivingaddict

Original Poster:

1,092 posts

175 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
quotequote all
Great info, I'm appreciating your honesty. Thank you. I will keep you posted when I have decided what to do.

Hoping to get more input, lots of clever people here.

IATM

3,948 posts

178 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
quotequote all
If you think the job market is tough then the business market is 10 times worse.
With the greatest of respect 20k wont get you very far at all.

Frimley111R

19,356 posts

265 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
quotequote all
IATM said:
With the greatest of respect 20k wont get you very far at all.
You are joking obviously?! Two of us started a business with £3k and got to £100k (T/O) in 2 years. Starting with £20k....

Vaud

59,798 posts

186 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
quotequote all
IATM said:
If you think the job market is tough then the business market is 10 times worse.
With the greatest of respect 20k wont get you very far at all.
Your blanket statement, with respect, does not cover every market...

TheRainMaker

7,886 posts

273 months

Tuesday 14th June 2016
quotequote all
IATM said:
If you think the job market is tough then the business market is 10 times worse.
With the greatest of respect 20k wont get you very far at all.
It depends on the industry I guess, we started with a lot less than 20K.

Some cheap PC's with office + email, a few phones and off you go, anything you don't have beg, borrow, rent.