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Has Anyone Here Set Up A SUCCESSFULL IT business

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    Has Anyone Here Set Up A SUCCESSFULL IT business

    With the contract market going the way it is, I'm sure a lot of people are toying with the idea of setting up an IT business or website.

    So far, I've only read negative comments on this bulletin board.

    Has anyone sucessfully set up a venture that is making money and if so, as an inspiration to us all, what was it?

    #2
    I read here that a company called Webtastic was doing particularly well.

    Comment


      #3
      I am aware of quite a few in the Cambridge Science Park and similar places.
      The Public sector is booming with a huge potential, particularly with the provision of products.
      The Third sector ( Charities etc.) also is doing well. This is a multi-billion pounds p.a. sector.

      I am currently very keen to hear from companies willing to operate under a common umbrella company (funded by myself) and owned by the individual contractors. The objectives being to leverage the individual contacts ( each contractor must know at least 4/5 companies ) and also competencies.

      In my opinion, the difficulties experienced in the market currently are structural and highly unlikely to disappear with time. It would not be wise to wait for better times to return!!!!

      As usual on these board, one is likely to attract various types of interests.
      Those which have no constructive comment to make, please refrain from doing so.
      The others could mail me on [email protected]


      T

      Comment


        #4
        I've heard a bloke named Bill Gates has done quite well also...

        I would guess starting an IT business now would be pretty damned hard. Noone is spending any money, everything is being shipped to India and staff are losing their jobs by the 1000's.

        I'd rather startup a plumbing business or sell novelty gnomes at garden fetes. Both would be more profitable than IT.

        Comment


          #5
          Yes

          www.crickett.co.uk, while I'm still mostly contracting we're gained a customer base of around 20 customers at the moment and growing. We've also just built a new portal website which should go live in a few days, and are in dicussions about a joint venture to develop a internet business with a local businessman.

          Our hosting side www.cricketthosting.co.uk is making a small profit too.

          Regards, S

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Yes

            Glad to hear it.

            I'm toying with an idea for a website at the moment, but I need to get up to speed on Web technologies first as I'm a VC++ developer.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Yes

              I think the fundamental problem is the corporates are reducing spending and look likely to continue to do so for some time.

              Whilst, admittedly, there is alot of money in the public sector, (Increasingly senior managers are jumping ship to the public sector which is annoying career public sector workers big-time.), sadly alot of that work is 'jobs for the boys'.

              It really is amazing how, although by law such work has to be advertised and tendered, alot of the work goes to people who know people. I know a guy who, although no IT experience, has just supposedly 'won' a million pound contract - I understand he has close family contacts with the awarding body.

              Similarly, I know many self-employed people who swear they will never waste time tendering for public sector contracts again.

              Lastly, yesterday I heard of a business - providing long-term health care - which had to go bankrupt. Although it has contracts with the social services departments from TWO Councils it simply could not get the invoices payed and the lack of cash-flow killed it.

              I understand the owner went through a nightmare of constant promises that the invoices would be paid but, sadly, he found himself working with a permie mentality where people ALWAYS get their cheques at the end of the week no matter what happens and they just did not understand the urgency...

              So, last night, the social services were in a panic wondering who was going to care for about 120 infirm and elderly people, the 70 odd workers had just lost their jobs and, as much as they wanted to work, dared not work any more hours as they had not been paid for a week... Makes you question the whole concept of being self-employed.

              Comment


                #8
                New business

                We've also just helped launch www.findmeabnb.co.uk which I hope will be of us to some members here.

                Regards, S

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: New Business

                  Do you have an affiliate feed from the BNB site?

                  I am building a portal. I currently have hotels on it, and am looking for alternative accomodation as well.

                  A CSV or XML feed would come in useful.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    BNB Feed

                    FanPilot,

                    Not as yet no, but we are looking to continually improve it, and if what you propose helps promote the site - or provides direct income we'll be happy to chat to you about what we can do.

                    Regards, S

                    Comment

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