how long does it take a business to work?

[sillybilly]

Hi,

I set up a business 6 months ago (I'm not allowed to give you the address) and although my sales are going well its a long way from providing me with any real income and I'm getting a little depressed with it all?

How long does it take for sites to start to pay - some honest views would be appreciated.

[antonia]

erm...could be a couple of years!
Sorry to be depressing but it can take a while to build up a good income. In the initial stages I think most people find money going back into stock before they can take an income.

[baby-bean]

Obviously it depends a lot on the nature of your business, but it took at least 2 years until I could consistently draw money out of my business, and even now it's not exactly making me rich!

[buppybean]

why can't you add the address? Is it top secret ;) ?

Mine took about a year to bring in a small wage, it was fab for 2 and now has been crushed by the credit crunch with very few sales this month :(

[lajlaj]

At the very least two years as you will find you probably have to reinvest into product, advertising, marketing, pr, blood, sweat and tears!!

[knotjustjigs]

Hi,

I set up a business 6 months ago (I'm not allowed to give you the address) and although my sales are going well its a long way from providing me with any real income and I'm getting a little depressed with it all?

How long does it take for sites to start to pay - some honest views would be appreciated.


You are allowed to add your website address to your profile just not in your post/signature until you have made sufficient posts on the site.

I agree approx 2 years, it can get you down at times but for me theres nothing i'd rather be doing more gd12

Ketty x

[Spacekids]

I agree that it can take a long time, but I suppose as long as you can see growth, and that reinvesting in stock is making the business bigger and stronger, then there is light at the end of the tunnel (I hope!).

[samigail]

I'm about 10 months in, I am still putting a lot back into stock - if not all!

[Olive_Oil]

at least 2 years! if not more!!!

[chris]

Ketty and I were discussing this yesterday.
There are so many 'hidden' costs depending on your business - stock, insurance, packaging supplies, equipment, credit card payment facilities, PC, website etc etc.
I made a lost in the first year, just about broke even in the second and may even make a profit this year!! :party05:

I would say 'stick with it', it is worse at first (I hope!). Just make sure you claim all your business expenses so that you do not pay tax unnecessarily.

[Slug]

It cost quite a bit to set my site up so it'll take a while for me - I fully expected it to take time though. 6 months isn't really long enough to build a business I think you need to give it a couple of years at least.

[blush]

Very few people will see an income in the first 6 months.In order to build a successful business yoy are realisitically looking at reinvesting everything back into your business for at least the first two years.Ther eis no such thing as 'get rich quick' and you have to be prepared to put in a lot of extra hours int he first few years also.

[LittleSnuggler]

I've just done my tax return for my 2nd year and I did actually make a small profit :party05: Hopefully year 3 will be my 'big break' year, although I'm not holding my breath :hysterica

[sillybilly]

This is my third time trying to post a message so I hope this works???

Thank you all so much for the replies - its not depressing to know that it is going to take 2 years - it just helps me see the road map. Last month was actually quite good - but its all very up and down which i think is the credit crunch effect.

I was very cross yesterday as I got an unsolicited phone calls from a so called Business mentor who was looking to become my mentor (I already have one) and when I explained very politely that I wasn't able to use her servies she made a cutting remark about how all her mentored business are really busy - as if mine was on the downward track!! I don't know of amy retail business who are thriving in this environment so I think she was being mean - stupid as I'll never consider her a mentor even when my time with the one I have runs out.

I've still loads to do on my site

thanks again, I'll be posting more in future as its great to know there are some folks out there!!!

carol

[Miranda]

Can I just quickly comment and be picky before I fly out of the door? (You can hate me for it)
Your page title 'Baby products which saves mums time' is grammatically incorrect and very hard to say, let alone remember. I'd have chosen 'Baby Bill, funky toys, fun furniture, fantastic choice or something like that for your page title. It remains on the IE bar grating on me (I don't shop at poorly worded sites, puts me off!)
Then under 'once upon a time...' and in a different typeface and in black so my eye goes to it first before reading the 'once upon' bit is the sentence beginning 'there was' . Instantly I think 'why wasn't that a capital T on 'there'?' ! Could you put some dots '...there was ' so my eye then sees the '.....' and that makes me go back to read the 'once upon a time....'?

Also I struggled to find your site, had to click a link from another article to get to your site. Have you submitted it to the search engines? I would also suggest to read up on search engine optimisation and put a bit of work into optimising your site so it gets picked up by the search engines


Anyhow, I'm meaning that constructively; that was how I got to your site and my first thoughts on the front page....
lmk if you'd like help on the writing, I enjoy that sort of thing!
got to go....will look at more later

[uvbuggyblanket]

Hi hun...
I would agree with most 18-mths-2years.
I have been surviving for about 8 mths and re investing all and more :( with a view to speculate to accumulate;).
I still currently work full time as a P.Officer aswell which helps to fund. Its all hard work but i wouldnt change a thing. apart from sales increase:) xxxx stick wit it!
PS the Low moments i still have too... but i try to focus on the positives

melxx