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I have been in business for over twelve years now, my first one was as a designer, doing layout drawings by hand, went belly up after three months. I worked hard, but my rose tinted spectacles covered the fact, I wasn't getting paid. So when my husband asked if we I fancied getting our own bakery, I said no way. We had no money, we'd just got our first house and both drove old bangers. How on earth could we afford to do it?

Well, it's simple, beg, borrow and no we didn't steal. We couldn't get a loan, so we both took out credit cards and maxed them. We borrowed a bit from my Gran, sold our old bangers and anything else we could lay our hands on. We just managed to raise enough for our own shop, we made lots of mistakes, do not do what we did! It took us six years to clear the debts and I have never been so skint in my life. It was a horrible time in my life.

We had the shop now, we had to work almost 24 hours a day, I even learned how to cake ice to make extra money to keep going. I was that tired I collapsed in the bakery once and one christmas my husband put his hand through an electric pasty break (like a mangle). I thought before going into business, we'd have loads of money, big house, flash cars etc. etc. but the truth of it is, it's bloody hard work for not much money. I'm not saying don't go into business, because we are fine now, just don't expect much for the first ten years.

When you start to do better, then comes the joy of staff. Then your tears will really flow. Be ready for bitching, back stabbing, them throwing sickies when you know it's because they've been on a bender that weekend, stealing from you, lying and telling everyone around you are the worse boss in the world, even though you have just paid off their rates arrears to stop the bailiffs taking all there furniture away. You have to learn to be tough for this side of business, don't let them grind you down. You cannot get too friendly with staff or they will run rings around you.

If you are still not put off, my advice to you is, go into it with your eyes wide open, trust know one and don't ever fall for those get rich quick schemes, they do not exist. Find yourself a good bank and an accountant before you even consider starting up, they will help you from cocking up at the start, like we did.

Good luck if you do want to venture in to the dark side. Stay strong and you will do ok.