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Can a Hobby Become a Business?
Psi:
yeah, the regulation certification thing is a difficult decision. It's pretty common for tiny 1 person company/self-employed person to not bother doing it when starting out.
It's really something you have to make a call on with regard to the specific risks (of your product type) and the costs, and when you want to start doing it.
There are more risks when you are selling your product within your own country than when you only export it.
ebastler:
--- Quote from: Psi on February 11, 2023, 12:52:06 pm ---yeah, the regulation certification thing is a difficult decision. It's pretty common for tiny 1 person company/self-employed person to not bother doing it when starting out.
It's really something you have to make a call on with regard to the specific risks (of your product type) and the costs, and when you want to start doing it.
There are more risks when you are selling your product within your own country than when you only export it.
--- End quote ---
This is the kind of topic where it would be really helpful to know your country of residence for perspective.
BTO:
OK,
Short Answer : YES... HELL YES!!
A Bit Longer Answer :
I'm 49,
Started Electronics (Technically speaking) at the age of 4
Got into it seriously from the age of 6 (150 in 1 Dick Smith Electronics Kit), Then later your Jaycar kits and Short Circuit Mags 1-3
From here i could go on about a big story (that basically everyone has already stated)
WHAT'S IMPORTANT REALLY..... IS THIS
1. If you're going to do this and work for someone, it won't be worth it (very likely it won't be, but not certain)
2. IF YOU DO IT AS YOUR OWN BUSINESS...... YES... ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT
3. A Few Pointers
- Love what you do and don't worry about Money initially (Money will be there, No Question)
- Get Really Really good at what you are doing (also get good at understanding people and customer service)
- In a business 1 thing is key, YOU MUST ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO ALWAYS GENERATE IDEAS
- After that YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO SELL, Although if you are good at what you do people will buy what you are offering
- Know how NOT to cut yourself short, So as a general rule you should not work for less than $100 Per hour
(Now.. if you look at that figure and say ... WTF ??? then.. that's your first problem, you need to get to a point where , when you look
at that number you are saying things more like "Yeah, i agree, around there is a minimum and $100 is pretty low")
So.. you can start a business but then it fails because you don't know how to quote
- Things will be fun and enjoyable, but then things will also be shit, it can't always be fun.
- You can learn how to integrate certain projects to be fun, You can learn how to make excuses to crack out your scope or L.A.
on certain projects even though they were not necessarily needed
and all this amounts to you learning more stuff, and it'll be cool
but yes you can
just to give you an idea... I'm in Sydney, I'm personally making around $1,000 - $3,000 per day (6 days a week)
(and.. You should work 6 days, but not 7 because you'll burn out) and then when you make these rates
you'll find maybe once a month you get a job that is like $10,000 or something like that, that pushes you forward
After a while money becomes less important and you focus more on the work and being good at what you do.
But you must always respect the business formula that keeps you in this situation and keeps money coming in.
For me the formula is
- Always be good at what you're doing
- Always pay attention to detail and ensure the client is happy
- Dont' focus on the money while working, never focus on the money.. FOCUS ON FIXING THE PROBLEM
- Identify bad habits and turn them into good habits
- Always look for ideas and opportunities
you do that.. and you'll make a decent amount of money
there is no question as to whether you can do this or not , BUT IT'S NOT EASY
but the catch is... If you get past "HARD" You get the reward.
Georgy.Moshkin:
I am 40 and transitioning. At first, I tried to find an investor for my accessibility wearable device project. What I needed is more time to work on my project, at least few months of full focus. I did all prototyping using my own money. I asked several potential investors to pay for my rent, but nobody agreed. Around one year ago I had a new idea, instead of doing this big project, I just teardown it to a smaller parts and design independent products based on microwave sensing, gesture sensing, image processing, haptics and maybe more. Currently I am making what I believe may become world's best gesture sensing module. For the past year I've learned how to accept payments, logistics. If you plan to make your hobby a Business, you obviously need a way of accepting payments and selling ways, YouTube channel, online shop.
I designed electronics, some enclosures machined parts, bent parts, firmware, gui, websites, even carton for product package and eva linings, and in my opinion I was underpaid, often just to make product sell well, because other engineers did not do they work well in the past and created long lasting problems. So additional reason to make your own engineering business is to avoid anxiety of solving stupid problems and not being paid enough, because money is already spent in the past
ebastler:
--- Quote from: BTO on April 26, 2023, 02:59:10 pm ---just to give you an idea... I'm in Sydney, I'm personally making around $1,000 - $3,000 per day (6 days a week)
(and.. You should work 6 days, but not 7 because you'll burn out) and then when you make these rates
you'll find maybe once a month you get a job that is like $10,000 or something like that, that pushes you forward
--- End quote ---
In the interest of managing expectations: That's revenue, right? I understand that you are installing network/computing/satellite stuff, so probably a fair share of 3rd party hardware cost, plus costs to keep the shop, car(s) and equipment running. Could you please give an indication of the actual bottom line, if you feel comfortable with that?
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