Trading cold comfort for change.

Lately I've come to the conclusion I just can't stomach working for other people any more. I want to be my own boss. I want to try to make it on my own, and I'm happy to fail in the process. As long as I can say I gave it a red hot go.

I want to set up a tea house. I can't explain to you why, beyond my love of tea, that's what I want to have a crack at.

There's a shit load I'm going to nead to learn about small business..... and tea... But I'd love to hear from anyone here who's decided to shove it to their day job and setup their own small business.

Is the pressue and risk worth it? How steep is the learning curve? How much cojones does it really take?

I know that life is only ever trading one set of complications for another. I guess I'm just done doing what I'm doing. I love the company I work for and the peeps I work with. But I'm just losing the love for what I'm doing and the reasons I'm doing it.

As random ass as it all sounds, I think I'd be a lot happier drinking and brewing solid quality tea for people.

 

Is it worth the risk? Perhaps. For some, no, for many, yes. But if you're interested, the only way to know for sure is to try it. The rewards can be fantastic.

I would suggest that you try to find as much out about running a business as you possibly can, including some of the "softer" areas such as personnel management and customer relationship management. Here in Canada, the Federal Business Development Bank, a federal government non-profit outfit, has a program where retired businessmen, accountants, even lawyers, will offer start-up businesses some help with business plans and common start-up issues. Probably Australia has a similar program somewhere. It's free, and these guys have been there, done that in a lot of cases.

I think if you're interested, you should go for it. If you don't, you will always wonder.

 

I admire you in wanting to try something new. I would be scared to death (as some of tfpers already know). Has there been a tea shop in your area? Is it something that people would like? How much tea do you have to sell to make it into the black? Just a few questions. Hope this helps.

Good luck

 

Owning your own business is a LOT of work and VERY risky. It can also be very rewarding. The main reasons most new small businesses fail is due to lack of financial reserves. You have to plan to lose money for at least 1-2 years and be ready for unexpected expenses. You may have a great idea and a wonderful product, but if you can't keep the doors open long enough to develop a following it can be a painful experience.

Good luck and have fun...

 

I have a friend who started a custom automotive paint shop last year. He's had untold ups and downs over the past 12 months but he turned a profit for the year. Really uncommon for a start up to be profitable after one year. You need to have the right temperament to withstand the set backs and there will be some. You have to be focused and you need some luck. If not a lot of luck. Do your homework, make sure the numbers work. Especially the numbers. If they don't work, it makes no difference how hard you work, it won't happen.

 

You will want something that generates regular clientele. Art showings, poetry readings, story clubs, stuff like that. If the art showings take off you can even generate income with them. Get into local festivals/tours/walks. Ambience is all in a tea house, I'm thinking. You don't want to have 4 people take up 4 tables for 4 hours each while they have a single cup of tea and stay hunched in solitary silence over their laptops.

Is there education outreach, tea tastings, historical tie-ins or theme months you can explore? And look for small business startup education as offered perhaps through your local business associations, local government, your city or town council, or even private enterprise teachers. A cool sign outside makes a difference. Maybe make/commission something sculptured out of wood or metal that catches attention, creates conversation and is unique.

I said shove it to my day job and became the home-maker/artist/wind-beneath-her-wings. That doesn't work for everybody, so I really can't offer any advice on the journey from employee to self-employed.

 

I'm not sure if this will help but there's a local Tea Lounge which is amazing and the story behind it is inspiring as well. I find if you're just opening shop for the money the only ones that work is franchising because of the mentality going in. If it's a passion franchising goes against you. I'm sure there's stats available. With any endeavor mentorship or anywhere for support and advice is what makes or breaks it.

Check out this video. I love the series and this one in particular you might find interesting.
revision3 .com/foundation/jessejacobs (can't post links yet)

 

1. Be prepared to work an ungodly amount of hours at the sacrifice of your social life and any romantic relationships.

2. Be prepared to lose several now very irritated friends who cannot understand why you no longer have time for them.

 

Partner up with a good bakery. I mean, what good is tea without the crumpets/biscuits?

I have no idea how to run a business, but good luck. I'd love to have a good tea shop near me.

 

Hahaha, I work ungodly hours as it is.... and not having romantic relationships won't be a major change for me

I'm going to spend this next year doing a lot of research, both into how one runs a tea house and tea itself. One thing I have noticed is that the tea houses I've been to are marketing their very own tea.

Yes, it will take some gumption and hard work, yes, the risk of financial ruin will be big. But, while I'm still young, while I'm not tied down to or responsible for anyone else, while I have no mortgage or significant debts. I want to at least come out the other side saying I gave this an honest shot, I tried my best to something I wanted then in the long run I'll be a better person for it. If it fucks out and I have go back to what I know, so be it. I'll go back to where I am now, which isn't bad, just old.

Thanks for everyone's input though

 

Cynthetiq, you are exactly the kind of person I hoped to reach.

The city I live now takes exceptional pride in its coffee due to the history of cultures that have migrated here. It's a coffee town, I was a coffee person. But it's hard to find, and a lot of people do desire, a decently brewed tea!

I did honestly wonder how far down the rabbit hole I'd have to go to source the teas I want. As it turns out, I may just have to trek to South Africa, China, and India for my teas. No big thing, I do want the finest quality with the assurance of fair trade.

But it adds a whole other aspect to the business I need to think about and learn about. I'll have decided whether that is all worth it. Here, it's amazing if you can find someone who knows how to brew the stuff properly let alone source quality tea.

But, my mind cup is empty and ready to be filled with tea knowledge. So I shall read these books you suggest and start checking out many more tea houses to see what works and what doesn't.

 

it is a big risk, and it sounds like you have already made up your mind... the only advice i really have to offer, is to make sure you leave ur old job, and the industry/field, on very good terms. maybe even hand out free Cup-o-Tea vouchers before you leave... LOL This way, if things do go south for you down the road, you havnt burnt any bridges. and, creating a customer base out of your former colleagues could prove beneficial for start-up...

Oh, and High Five to you for taking the plunge... i made the decision to change fields 2 years ago, and it was the scariest thing ive ever done, but also one of the best... i am 30 times happier than i was... Congrats!

Killer Pink Floyd reference in the title too... rock on...