Is it worth going it alone?
Discussion
Been doing IT now for 16 years and I always seem to be making other people money not to mention I'm getting pretty sick of it.
I feel I need more free time so I was wondering is it worth going it alone and offering IT services to local business or should I just go and be a van driver
Anyone done it, is it more trouble than it's worth?
I feel I need more free time so I was wondering is it worth going it alone and offering IT services to local business or should I just go and be a van driver
Anyone done it, is it more trouble than it's worth?
Started up last December doing just that. What I would say is think about your stream revenue. We operate a monthly subscription service whereby the customer pays us a fixed amount and gets preventative maintenance visits plus all the phone/email/RDP type support they need. I seem to be getting new contract at about the rate of one a month so you can get a feel for how long it will take you to reach break even point.
With the right technology you don't even need to be tied to the office if it's a nice day
Thanks to doing a bit of proactive maintenance the phone barely rings. I'd say it's going very well at the moment and I'm loving the new lifestyle to bits 
With the right technology you don't even need to be tied to the office if it's a nice day
Thanks to doing a bit of proactive maintenance the phone barely rings. I'd say it's going very well at the moment and I'm loving the new lifestyle to bits 
BliarOut said:
Started up last December doing just that. What I would say is think about your stream revenue. We operate a monthly subscription service whereby the customer pays us a fixed amount and gets preventative maintenance visits plus all the phone/email/RDP type support they need. I seem to be getting new contract at about the rate of one a month so you can get a feel for how long it will take you to reach break even point.
With the right technology you don't even need to be tied to the office if it's a nice day Thanks to doing a bit of proactive maintenance the phone barely rings. I'd say it's going very well at the moment and I'm loving the new lifestyle to bits
With the right technology you don't even need to be tied to the office if it's a nice day
Thanks to doing a bit of proactive maintenance the phone barely rings. I'd say it's going very well at the moment and I'm loving the new lifestyle to bits 
I have much respect for you doing this. Absolutely the right concept.
I'll still be taking the piss out of your car though
Plotloss said:
You need an angle.
Well I thought a company run by an engineer not a salesmn might be a good angle, i'll never be chasing sales.
I only need a handful of clients and I'd finish work every day at 3
I'm not into money anymore, chased that for years and it I've learnt from it.
magic torch said:
Plotloss said:
Billing yourself out on an hourly rate to home and business, flooded market and 90% of your skillz [sic] will be wasted.
I'm really happy I got out of IT, there's easier ways to make a living.
IT seems to have peaked around the introduction of the Nintendo DS, I'm not sure there's much fun left in there any more, sure the odd contract can be useful but not a thing one needs as a daily grind. If you have to get involved - being your own boss is I think an essential ingredient.
Although I've heard Rob is sometimes a bit strict.
'Yell' girls tells all in The Sunday Sport'
To be honest I have no plan it's just an idea kicking around at the moment, I could do what I do from home, it's all RDP stuff so I thought as I personally make 15k a month for the company with what I do I might be able to do it for myself, I'm not after big money 1.5k-2k a month would do me
greenlandy said:
BliarOut said:
Don said:
superlightr said:
van driver/gardener get my vote next time im reborn
Have you seen just how stripey my lawn is these days
And feel free to take the mickey Globs, that's what she's there for.
Still has a feline problem tho
Electronic cat repellents are your friend... Well my friend actually but you know what I mean
Yum yum 
As Rich says, hobbyists are a bit of a pain, or are they? Do you really want to be earning £30 an hour fixing every Tom Dick and Harry's home PC?
Look at the local competition, see what they are doing and put together something that is going to be more attractive to their business. I would say be prepared to independently finance yourself for up to a year till your business is up and running or have your contract base in place before you launch.
As Rich says, hobbyists are a bit of a pain, or are they? Do you really want to be earning £30 an hour fixing every Tom Dick and Harry's home PC?
Look at the local competition, see what they are doing and put together something that is going to be more attractive to their business. I would say be prepared to independently finance yourself for up to a year till your business is up and running or have your contract base in place before you launch.
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