I want to tell a real story about trying to open and grow my own business. It is clear that most women prefer to find a job as a hired employee, as long as they are paid decently and there is an opportunity for promotion . Probably, my experience will be useful to those ladies who really want to do their job. On TV, they usually show how others get everything right, okay. But there are not enough real stories to take into account.

Where did the idea of ​​opening a business come from?

Immediately after graduating from university, I started working in newspapers and magazines as an advertising space sales manager. And almost from the second place of work, the thought that I wanted to actually do something of my own did not leave me. But for the release and promotion of the publication, a lot of money was needed, and I had no options to start with something less expensive (from scratch). Therefore, every time I came to a new place of work, I thought about what I could borrow here in terms of ideas and building a business. But each time it ended with the usual dismissal and the search for a new job .

I often changed jobs, at first every year, then I could endure work for the benefit of someone else's business for only six months. As a result, frustration due to wasting time in nowhere began to lead to a change of job every 3-4 months. It's boring, uninteresting and depressing.

How did I do my business? attempt number 1

Having accumulated a wealth of knowledge in the publishing business, I decided to find a sponsor to publish an advertising magazine. Found. My old friend, with whom I worked earlier in the editorial office of a newspaper, by that time had her own business: a company that installed plastic windows and doors. But since the long experience was still not alien to her, she agreed to sponsor our joint project with her.

I played several roles in this business at once: editor-in-chief, sales manager, personnel specialist (I led the selection of personnel), and besides this, I negotiated with printing houses, looked for promotion options. In general, there was a lot of work, but at first, while they invested in development, there was little money. Then we began to have differences in ideological terms. I said that it would take a few more months for the publication to establish itself on the market (and this requires new investments in the project), but her opinion did not coincide with mine: she insisted that profit was needed now. In general, I had to leave the project, since I was not the hostess in it (not even in the share).

Two conclusions follow from all this. First, don't do business with people you know; second - legalize your part in the business.

Trying to do business #2

The next attempt to make their own business was the opening of a retail outlet. In general, in the search for an occupation, a lot depends on your strengths, knowledge and ideas. Since I had zero ideas after the first unsuccessful attempt, I had to follow the standard path - to organize trade. Then in 2005, many were doing it. The so-called lumps were scattered throughout the city, including in the subway, in shopping centers, and anywhere.

My husband and I decided to take out a loan of 200 thousand rubles and organize the sale of household chemicals in a nook rented in one of the grocery stores. Before doing this, I drew up a business plan, calculating income and expenses. The numbers showed that the efficiency goes to zero. But others somehow trade. So we thought that trade would gradually develop.

The first fly in the ointment was the visit of tax officials on the first day after the opening. We have not yet fully mastered the operation of the cash register and could not beat off the check at the moment when they made a test purchase. I had to pay a hefty fine. Less than a month later, our rent for these three square meters was doubled. After that, money for the purchase of new goods was chronically lacking. And it was also necessary to pay the implementers, who now and then strove to steal something, then simply did not go to work due to illness or a spree.

In general, after six months, the whole thing naturally came to naught, the loan was then paid off for another four years, earning on it in other jobs. Takeaway from this story: Measure seven times before opening once. If your calculations show zero or minus - do not take on such a thing at all.

Attempt to organize your business #3:

After two unsuccessful options for organizing my own business, I decided that something more serious was needed, so that there was ground for creativity and for earning money, and that I alone ran it all.

Well, our desires are always material. Having settled down once again in a company that produces business souvenirs (pens, bags, flyers, badges, etc. with company symbols), I somehow imperceptibly and with pleasure got involved in the topic. It was interesting. I independently mastered two programs Corel and Photoshop to make layouts. In almost a year of work, I have gathered a client base. Everything was going to open your own intermediary company, which would offer similar services on the market. Moreover, serious disagreements began with the authorities at that time: after all, the uncle wants the employees to work around the clock if possible and preferably “for free”.

Outcome

Having calculated all the points, I quit and in the same month opened an LLC, in which I was the only one. Immediately began to work intensively. I pulled up all the clients, orders went. But then another surprise awaited me. I had no idea that payroll taxes were so high: almost 50 percent. Other costs were added to this: you need to pay for the work of an accountant, you need to pay for the work of the bank for servicing the current account, in addition, you also have to pay VAT, transportation costs. In general, for all the running around and almost round-the-clock work, I got even less than I received as a hired employee. But on the other hand, I was my own mistress, I had freedom for creativity. In general, it turned out to be a kind of self-expression without money.

After this attempt, I again concluded: the main thing, of course, is to like the job, but one man is not a warrior in the field. Some hands are actually not enough to get a serious income. Taxes take a decent chunk out of what you earn, so volumes must be large. And one more thing: pure mediation for small firms (now in many areas) is unprofitable, since there are quite a lot of manufacturers on the market, and a sophisticated customer prefers to contact manufacturers directly.

If you are also planning to open something of your own, consider my experience and do not make the same mistakes. Let your business become a source of inspiration and profit for you, and not a stone around your neck. These are the pies.

author — Tatyana Udachina