Starting a business and life goals.

[wafter]

Lots of good thoughts there. In the Café scenario, it would give Beautiful Wife a job that she doesn't need to commute for, and I'd be helping 1 day a week. I see the point about services getting hammered, though.

I don't know if I can make this or not; I'm seeing a chance, however small, and decided to see what I can do.

Cool - might be better to get settled into the new job then see how you feel...?

Also, don't believe what *people* tell you - I nearly bought a specialist retail business that I worked for, but my gut kept telling me it was a bad idea - as corroborated in my mind by personal daily experience and declining sales. Let's just say I'd be in a far worse position now had I done so; despite many people advising me to the contrary.

I think you want something that contrasts against the day job - I have a mate who works for the uni three days a week and does wedding photography on the side; seems to work nicely for him as one offers stability / security, the other good money and an amount of autonomy. Together they offer some diversity that should help smooth out issues he might encounter in each / the wider world.

Good luck whichever way you choose to go

 

[screenman]

Agreed.

This, and good financial control, are critical in any enterprise.

One old saying handed down by a good business friend, anyone can make money, it takes a clever person to keep it.

 

[Jameshow]

How about counselling? Do you have counselling qualifications? If you do it's a good earner whilst helping people.

 

[Reynard]

Hmmmm... What about a *mobile* cafe? Like a cargo bike & trailer kind of set-up?

Otherwise, a day a week teaching English is always a good prospect.

 

[Andy in Germany]

So...

Many, many thanks for all your thoughts and for those sharing their experiences, it's much appreciated. I tend to be over-cautious and find decisions difficult when I feel I haven't got enough information, so all this is very helpful.

Model making: How about selling either to retailers or using what we term craft fairs or craft markets direct to an interested market.
A few local businesses here started this way and expanded as the owners wanted to make it a full time job unlike the hobby ones who were just after a bit of pin money without too much commitment.

You make fabulous models, Andy.

Is there an ebay market for them?

It would require low capital investment, give you a day a week of quiet time and be flexible.

I doubt anyone would want to buy the models, sadly, unless the YouTube channel really took off. I have wondered if I could transfer these skills into making something people may actually want, such as jewellery or leather work. As an added advantage, I have most of the tools needed as well. When I get to Tübingen I'll need to network a bit locally, which will be a challenge as it means meeting people, but I need to find out what sort of opportunities there are for selling at things like craft fairs, or availability of things like tools. I'd also have to double-check what trade guilds have authority, if any, and how to deal with that aspect.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Agreed.

This, and good financial control, are critical in any enterprise.

Get a good accountant as they can be invaluable. Not all are good so again some research would be needed.

This is possibly the most daunting aspect, as I have a number of symptoms of Dyscalculia, so I'd need to get some help there.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Cool - might be better to get settled into the new job then see how you feel...?

Also, don't believe what *people* tell you - I nearly bought a specialist retail business that I worked for, but my gut kept telling me it was a bad idea - as corroborated in my mind by personal daily experience and declining sales. Let's just say I'd be in a far worse position now had I done so; despite many people advising me to the contrary.

I think you want something that contrasts against the day job - I have a mate who works for the uni three days a week and does wedding photography on the side; seems to work nicely for him as one offers stability / security, the other good money and an amount of autonomy. Together they offer some diversity that should help smooth out issues he might encounter in each / the wider world.

Good luck whichever way you choose to go

All of this is good advice. I see the point about the contrast; a Monday job I can do from home like a craft based job could be good from that perspective.

Equally, teaching English to adults would be a very different world from my usual work, to the point it may be jarring: I'm so used to wearing work overalls and safety boots I've forgotten what it is to look smart at work. Also, working with 'normal' professional people would be a bit of a culture shock...

 

[Andy in Germany]

If I work in crafts, or hospitality I'd probably plan from the start to make an 'Inclusion company'. This is a German system because it was decided that although we have protected workshops for people with disabilities, the option should be available for people with disabilities to work in a "normal" company. I'd like to offer workplaces where people can work according to ability, so someone who can be more creative quickly could have a lot of creative freedom, but someone else would be able to do something more repetitive in a quiet environment.

That's a very rough idea at the moment, but I'm working on it.

There is also the possibility that I could work in partnership with a larger organisation like my employer; there are several such partnerships in Tübingen; a café will be a partnership of a large charity and another more specialised charity or private company, for example. How this would work is another matter, and it would have to be a long term plan, but it would offer more financial security.

 

[All uphill]

I think you're wise to take your time to consider your next move; in my experience things often resolve themselves if we allow our subconscious to do the work.

It's also possible that something good will pop up now you are actively looking and thinking about opportunities.

 

[oldwheels]

So...

Many, many thanks for all your thoughts and for those sharing their experiences, it's much appreciated. I tend to be over-cautious and find decisions difficult when I feel I haven't got enough information, so all this is very helpful.




I doubt anyone would want to buy the models, sadly, unless the YouTube channel really took off. I have wondered if I could transfer these skills into making something people may actually want, such as jewellery or leather work. As an added advantage, I have most of the tools needed as well. When I get to Tübingen I'll need to network a bit locally, which will be a challenge as it means meeting people, but I need to find out what sort of opportunities there are for selling at things like craft fairs, or availability of things like tools. I'd also have to double-check what trade guilds have authority, if any, and how to deal with that aspect.

We rented part of our workshop to a leather worker. He was very successful and he specialised in Celtic designs on the things he made like belts and handbags. This worked so well that later we shared our shop with him for a few years as it widened the customer base.
He also did as we did and sold on the wholesale market but in those days we had assistance from the HIDB [ Highlands and Islands development Board ] who ran a large and very successful Trade Fair every October in Aviemore. We also sold at England and Wales trade fairs.

 

[Drago]

I have a number of symptoms of Dyscalculia

I didn't know you were from Transylvania.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I think you're wise to take your time to consider your next move; in my experience things often resolve themselves if we allow our subconscious to do the work.

It's also possible that something good will pop up now you are actively looking and thinking about opportunities.

...or maybe I'll start work and they'll say, "By the way, we need someone to teach woodwork once a week..."

 

[tom73]

It's got quite hard to make any money for youtube now unless you have the numbers. Most make money from the stuff they sell from it. Making content that keep people coming back every week is time consuming and can be a full time in its own right. So I think it's wise to rule it out as nothing more than something to as pass time.

Making things to sell looks like an idea which can be used as way to get to know how things work and what the market is lie with out going into it with a large outlay. You can always so have a market stall once month along with craft fairs and maybe listing listing on a seller site like Etsy.

As for a coffee shop @oldwheels is right location is key. It's why I've not done it yet as I've not found the right place for my what I want. I'd also like a social element to mine. Remember some locations may look right but are not. Eg locations near a the station you can offer best of every ting. But its on the wrong side of the road people won't cross over on the way. Having one with a social purpose is a good idea and you have a better idea of what help you can get having one. Germany looks to be more open to social purpose enterprise than here. Coffee shops are a common option as social purpose business model. Here it's mostly LD or people with former chaotic lives.

I looked into ESOL teaching when we looked like moving to Australia. So know a bit about it and what the options are.
If you want to be paid right and stand out for the rest you're going to need some formal training. You'd need some formal teaching qualification if you want to be paid anything decent. The gold standard is Cambridge CELTA the most widely recognised English teaching qualification in the world. With that your options are quite wide. I don't know which placers near you offer it though it can now be done online. It's not cheep and will take time but once you have it you'd be well away. Part off it covers basics of teaching so If you have a recognised teaching qualification you can APEL some it. I can't remember what they told me about how shorter it makes it.

 

[oldwheels]

It's got quite hard to make any money for youtube

U Tube did not exist when we started so I never considered it and probably would not have used it anyway.

The gold standard is Cambridge CELTA

Is this not just a snob thing. When I graduated if you went into overseas civil service jobs you had to go to Cambridge for a 6 month diploma because allegedly it was the only qualification recognised. Those who went there just larked about as they all has BSc Agric degrees from University of Glasgow but had to be able to say they had been to Cambridge.

 

[tom73]

U Tube did not exist when we started so I never considered it and probably would not have used it anyway.


Is this not just a snob thing. When I graduated if you went into overseas civil service jobs you had to go to Cambridge for a 6 month diploma because allegedly it was the only qualification recognised. Those who went there just larked about as they all has BSc Agric degrees from University of Glasgow but had to be able to say they had been to Cambridge.

No it's been around a long time , as with many things long before qualifications got dumbed down. Sadly now anyone can set up a training company and offer qualifications to a "given" standard. With CELTA everyone know's just what you're getting. As with my A-Levels Cambridge are just the awarding body. One that anyone who looks know you've had to work to get it.