Hi all, just a few questions to all you mobile geeks as I'm trying to build my home clientelle whilst working full-time and am just wondering how you cope with some stuff, like

*If I'm in a clients I'm afraid to drink juice/coffe incase I end up needing the loo as I'm too embarassed to ask to use theirs or even to accept a drink! Anyone else like this? Does it get better after time?
*Do you pay yourself a wage and try to save the rest in a seperate account for a rainy day/stock etc?
*How do you name your moblie business and where do you register it?
*Have you noticed a change since the recession, you are busier/quieter?

Sorry for all the daft questions, am just very nervous about taking that step to being mobile self-employed! Thanks for any replies x

Hey there, I live in Australia and work full-time and study beauty therapy 2 nights a week and operate a small business from home average about 3 clients a week. I was exactly like you when i started.. I am not mobile but I work from home and you just need to not think too much into it, trust me it is hard. I find having a bottle of water with me is good.. in case you get very thirsty and don't want to leave the room. As for the needing to go to the loo well, if you need to go you need to go

Candice

im new to this but one thing thats helped me is working out how much each treatment/product costs me and at the end of every work day i take that amount to put towards reordering products. the rest of the money is then able to put towards extra products, new equipment and bills ect because i know ive covered stock, hey without it you cant work!

hth x

hi there. I'm doing exactly the same-trying to set up on my own-the transition is very hard and scary!!!

Working full time in a salon then doing private work in any spare time is draining but worth while.

I am used to the little things now-I do accept a drink if they offer but only really water. Its never good to hold yourself if you need to go to the loo-if you leave there house then get stuck in traffic your in trouble. Sometimes you just have to pluck up the courage. Once you do the clients over and over sagin you will feel more comfortable.

Hope this helps, good luck x x x

Thanks for the advice guys
gemmima1 know what you mean about a scary transition, it's so totally draining indeed! I have no time to go to the gym or anything, and with clients trying to feed me up along with my lack of will-power I'm dreading the damage, but hopefully after christmas I'll be able to leave the salon and work just my own hours and therefore have time and energy for the gym again!
Thanks again everyone xx

i have found the credit crunch ok as i am cheaper than all salons near me.. so thumbs up there!!
and if you need a wee just ask,, i doubt anyone would say no lol xxx

*If I'm in a clients I'm afraid to drink juice/coffe incase I end up needing the loo as I'm too embarassed to ask to use theirs or even to accept a drink! Anyone else like this? Does it get better after time?

I don't tend to drink anything at clients' houses as my hands are busy! Plus, I don't want a cup of coffee or anything sitting around when I'm using a file, as I certainly don't want product dust landing on anything I might put near my mouth! But I will sometimes have a quick drink between services (I'm not a hot drink lover, so usually water or juice... whatever they offer)

Too embarrassed to use the loo? Yes, I'd work on this. I'm at some clients houses for hours (say, a leg waxing, full pedicure and a set of acrylics, or 3 sets of gels for friends all at the same house...) and sometimes you need to go. Holding it in is just going to make you uncomfortable and could cause damage to your kidneys. Just go! (just ask, "would you mind at all if I used your loo?"... I can't imagine too many folk getting upset with that!)



*Do you pay yourself a wage and try to save the rest in a seperate account for a rainy day/stock etc?

As my income is secondary to our household, I tend to bank everything, sort out what I owe for outgoings, and every few months withdraw an amount when needed. This does work for me, but wouldn't if you were solely dependent on your income.




*How do you name your moblie business and where do you register it?

I looked through Companies House, Yell.com and Google to see if my chosen name was being used already. I have not registered with Companies House myself yet - I am a very small entity with just me working, so I felt it was not worth the expense at this time. But, then no one is stopping Joe Blog down the street from taking the same name.

As soon as you have a name, call Inland Revenue immediately! and declare yourself self-employed. You have 3 months (I think?) to do this after you start working, but best to do it quickly. You'll have to start paying your national insurance too - small amount, but worth it! (if you need mat leave, etc)


*Have you noticed a change since the recession, you are busier/quieter?

The recession hit hard just as I was going on maternity leave, so I estimate I would be quieter if I were working. However, keep diversifying your business, offer to new sectors, and keep your work to an excellent quality every time. This is not the time to offer cheap services. People will see your work and pass your name on.


Best of luck to you - it's a lot of stress at first, but worth it!!