I'm self-employed and work from home. No bosses, no schedules, no meetings and no silly social interaction. Just deadlines... Started part-time when I was 25, went full-time when I was 27.

 

I started a little firm... some months ago? my memory when it comes to time is lacking. This spring I think. I was gonna call it "attics doingmanythings-bureau" (but with real name and in my language, a doingmanythings-er is a pretty name for someone unemployed most of the time, I thought it was funny).

But then my importantpaper-phobia (it sounds made up but it is real, and really crippling) got worse and I failed at gtting approved for tax-stuff, which means I have a firm, that I can't use at all, I just get adds in the mail directed at people with firms, that is the only change from before.

I plan to get it in order some time soon though. I have lots of ideas. I think it is a good idea to start small, do things that require little or no investments, and then add a bit at a time. And have some halftime work of some kind on the side, if it doesn't generate much money.

My boyfriend has a little firm too, that he just use once in a while, and the economic bit of it doesn't seem at all as difficult as people make it out to be. I am sure it is different if you have employees and stuff, and taxreductible this and that... but if keeping it all simple he doesn't seem to put more than two three day max a year on the economic side of it. So I think I should be able to cope too, if I just get started.

 

I started a record label over this past year, I'm not doing it for my own benifit though and more for experience and as a hobby. It was stressfull at first overcoming social anxiety and talking to different people about arranging a release and getting things made, meeting deadlines, but I'm glad I did it. I'm an entrepreneurship major so my overall plan for the future is essentially to create and manage business's, I don't have any grand scheme for a major corporation or anything but I want to find opportunities to start things and keep a hand on them when others take over, perhaps moving managment to someone else but keeping a part of the ownership. My advice for you if you want to make a living is to seek what the market wants, artistic paths might not be the greatest solution for you at the moment. My business is a record label for example, and I've lost far more than I've put in, but I'm happy with it because it was never intended to make me a living, it's something I enjoy and it's something a small few enjoy, and that makes me happy.

 

I think it would be a great option for me. Something where I am just a contractor who researches, drafts, and edits articles, white papers, proposals etc. Otherwise, own a cafe or travel blog with my wife.

I think there are plenty of opportunities where the use of social media and requirement intersect. Like my wife and I enjoy travel blogs or even city events blog for families. We discuss ideas on where the current crops do not meet our needs and what families would enjoy or prioritize. Like wanting to shop and support local business and sustainable food/produce.

I think there is a large shift occuring with people as they emerge into professional careers and family life and a lot of opportunities at providing options for them to meet their goals of living more balanced, centered, and sustainable lives. Everything for recreation (resturaunts, travel, etc) to lifestyles (public transportation, re-urbanization). It is exciting because society is being re-shape and pulled back from an advertisment designed, unsustainable market driven lifestyle (suburban sprawl, big box stores) to consumers informing themselves and making holistic choices. Not that the sprawl is going away, but a new consumer is emerging.

Finding a way for them to make smarter choices or providing them is very viable and exciting I think.

 

1) Get a separate bank account for your business. It makes the taxes much easier.
2) Do a little research to see if you need a business license or a sales tax license. Easiest way to do this is find an accountant that you know (through church or family or whatever) or a friend knows and ask them for some free advice.
3) Keep you expenses to a minimum. Most businesses fail because their expenses are too high (usually the owner's personal expenses) and they don't have funds for improvements, expansion etc.
4) Realize that most businesses take 3 to 4 years before they become consistently profitable.
5) For INFP's: figure when you have the most productive energy and try to work like madman and get your work done during those times. Don't waste energy fretting over stuff that needs to be done when you are not in a productive mood.
6) Read the book Organizing for Your Brain Type
7) Don't give up.

 

I mentioned this before in another thread, but check out if you have a local SCORE Chapter near you (if you're in the US)

 

I've tried and failed at this a few times. I've mostly tried design/advertising/publishing businesses, since I do web/print design. I've been unable to get enough steady clients to support myself with it. I haven't given up, but right now I sub teach more than anything, and my design clients have dwindled to almost nothing.

Its the promotional/business side of it I struggle with. I don't network well and don't sell myself well, and so I struggle to win new clients. I tried a business partner once and got screwed over, so I'm wary of that.

My goal is to be self-employed and totally location independent though. Hopefully sooner than later.

 

@attic

https://www.frilansfinans.se/

@ everyone else

There's umbrella companies for those of us who want to run a business "without running a business" (without the admin side).

 

For those in health professions, you could try running a small clinic (healing work of all kinds ... massage, counselling, medical) from home or joining an existing clinic where there are other people who manage the business side, and work only a few days a week.