Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
So... I've got a new job, paid properly for my skills and experience, with benefits including a pension, and a permanent position providing I don't do anything silly by April 1st 2025.
It's also a 4 day week, and I'm getting paid the same as I am here for a 5 day week, which means one option is to try and start a business of my own. I'm currently working out how I might do this.
I don't have a lot of capital, but I have a number of skills, primarily in training people; I'm a state registered Occupational Therapist, which basically means I can train people with various problems.
It also means I have a trainer's certificate recognised by the Chamber of Commerce which is much more important in Germany than you might think; basically it means I can teach in colleges.
Before someone asks, opening a bike shop isn't an option, at least not yet. In order to get insurance I need to either have a "Master's Qualification" or have six years experience working in a bike shop, of which I think at least three need to be in a supervisory position. I'm about 3 1/2 years short of that right now. There are other ways around it but they're all a bit more involved that I'd like as yet.
The same applies to cabinet making which is my other qualification; ironically I have more experience fixing bikes anyway.
I'm also qualified to run an "integration company" where people with disabilities work in a "normal" job, but most of their salary is paid by the local government. A lot of people with disabilities want this, but there's a shortage of companies offering a place.
So... any thoughts on options? Teaching English may be one, which can be lucrative if I can persuade companies to take me on on a Monday.
Another thought is something Beautiful Wife and I have long considered, namely a cafe. The hurdles for starting a cafe is oddly lower than for a bike shop. It could also be combined with the "Inclusion" idea, so we could offer places for people with disabilities. Beautiful Wife is trained in Social Work, so she's also qualified. We both have some experience in management and ion catering although admittedly not combined.
Of course finance would then be a problem because we basically haven't got any. This would require a business plan. Where do you even start on this?
Of course the other dream would be that if we can make a good enough business plan, we may possibly be able to buy a house/cafe; I don't know if this is the case in the UK, but it seems that in lieu of a deposit, for a mortgage, a lender may consider a proposal which includes "Eigenleistung". If a less well maintained house is available, a skilled person like a carpenter could do say 50 000 € worth of rennovations. If we can combine this with a business plan, and (finally) a secure income, we may be taken seriously.
Any thoughts, suggestions on starting a business?
It's also a 4 day week, and I'm getting paid the same as I am here for a 5 day week, which means one option is to try and start a business of my own. I'm currently working out how I might do this.
I don't have a lot of capital, but I have a number of skills, primarily in training people; I'm a state registered Occupational Therapist, which basically means I can train people with various problems.
It also means I have a trainer's certificate recognised by the Chamber of Commerce which is much more important in Germany than you might think; basically it means I can teach in colleges.
Before someone asks, opening a bike shop isn't an option, at least not yet. In order to get insurance I need to either have a "Master's Qualification" or have six years experience working in a bike shop, of which I think at least three need to be in a supervisory position. I'm about 3 1/2 years short of that right now. There are other ways around it but they're all a bit more involved that I'd like as yet.
The same applies to cabinet making which is my other qualification; ironically I have more experience fixing bikes anyway.
I'm also qualified to run an "integration company" where people with disabilities work in a "normal" job, but most of their salary is paid by the local government. A lot of people with disabilities want this, but there's a shortage of companies offering a place.
So... any thoughts on options? Teaching English may be one, which can be lucrative if I can persuade companies to take me on on a Monday.
Another thought is something Beautiful Wife and I have long considered, namely a cafe. The hurdles for starting a cafe is oddly lower than for a bike shop. It could also be combined with the "Inclusion" idea, so we could offer places for people with disabilities. Beautiful Wife is trained in Social Work, so she's also qualified. We both have some experience in management and ion catering although admittedly not combined.
Of course finance would then be a problem because we basically haven't got any. This would require a business plan. Where do you even start on this?
Of course the other dream would be that if we can make a good enough business plan, we may possibly be able to buy a house/cafe; I don't know if this is the case in the UK, but it seems that in lieu of a deposit, for a mortgage, a lender may consider a proposal which includes "Eigenleistung". If a less well maintained house is available, a skilled person like a carpenter could do say 50 000 € worth of rennovations. If we can combine this with a business plan, and (finally) a secure income, we may be taken seriously.
Any thoughts, suggestions on starting a business?
