Anyone care to share their story? Part 2.

My first venture was a guesthouse abroad. Had the opportunity and thought why not. Hadn't thought of owning my own business before then. Whetted my appetite though and gave me the taste. Involved with mostly online stuff these days. Can pick my office then

Hello folks,

I work full time but I have always had passion to do my own business. Before moving to Ireland in 2004 I was selling all sort of stuff, shirts, gift items, watches, readymade clothes etc. In Ireland I set up a FB page and though My business is at a very early stage but I am already seeing benefits of it. FB page https://www.facebook.com/tornadosportsireland/?ref=tn_tnmn&__mref=message

I am getting boxing, tawekwando and MMA gears from Pakistani factory who make for some world renowned brands and selling them to local clubs and on free sites like adverts.ie. I am now thinking to work on my brand and start a website as money can be made on this. thank you.

I think it has to be a passion, you have to love the idea of doing something. People often like the status, potential rewards, but dont forget that to start a business, you need time. I don't belive that simply putting in a 9-5 will really get a big business of the ground. Often I see the sum of 70 hours per week as needed for a start up.

Just over 4 years ago I was made redundant. It was a UK company although I based in Ireland. On the day of redundancy I was sitting in the Airport waiting for my return flight at the end of the day.

I made a few phone calls looking for leads for new jobs when one of my old work buddies offered me a few weeks work to train his customer in his new app. I figured it would tide me over and I had done some training in the passed and liked it. And thats where it started from. I made more calls, it did take a full year to turn it into a real full-time business/job. I now run a successful training business and make a good living. Its worked out well and my problem now is that I cant find trainers of the level of quality that I want.

Took a small risk and it paid off

www.althris.com

Can we see the website?

I live in the UK at moment but we are going to relocate to Ireland in the next month. I will explain why in a bit.

2009 I found myself a single mother in a grotty house on benefits. I applied for every job going, cleaning jobs, care jobs, bar jobs any job. I have plenty of previous experience, I was croupier for 5 years so I can handle cash, I also worked in prison education and care. I got nothing back for months. Eventually one place gave me a interview. Carework with people with wet brain. The interviewer basically told "you are well qualified, we dont give jobs to single parents, no one does, if your child is sick you have to take time off"

At the time UK government had a scheme where you could go self employed and receive working tax credits and other benefits. This mitigated the risk of becoming destitute for trying. So I started making woodcarvings to sell. It didnt take genius to work out that making and selling art and crafts isnt a good road riches. So by 2012 me and my new partner set up a bushcraft company. I did lectures on foraging and taught kids wood carving skills, the other half did the rabbit skinning and shelter building demos.

Then we had an encounter with a horsey lady in a gun shop. We were talking about midgies, and gave her a tub that is made norway called wilmas. She remarked it smelt just like pine tar. To cut a long story short, we then started making and marketing a midge repellant, then a pine tar soap, then tick repellent, then other soaps. Now a painkilling balm. We got ourselves a constant income, with a lot of repeat costumers.

Then about two years ago, sales started to drop off, booking for foraging walks stopped too. I actually contacted a few previously repeat costumers to ask why. Basically too many were worried about money to buy what is a luxury good. Contract hours had changed to zero hours, the tax credits system has being changed to something that can leave you with nothing for many weeks. If you get sick you dont get paid at all. Funding to groups I used to take out foraging had got cut. Basically the government has choosen to cut a lot people off completely, and those that are one rung above are worried they will be next.

Now I am an irish citizen, I was born in dublin and parents moved here to the UK 1979. I have watched in the last few years the present government deport Caribbean people that were invited here 40 years ago just as they were about to claim a UK pension. I watched them make promises to EU citizens that they would be fine, I have watched them break those promises. They promised the good friday agreement would honoured, and then have a brexit secretary say he hasnt even read it. Above all the UN human rights watch dogs have had do special reports on human rights abuses by the UK government to their own people. They described cutting funding to equality groups in NI as deeply concerning. I dont want to get 67 and be told I am getting bugger all because I am an EU citizen, so I am going home so I am going home to pay into a state that doesnt abuse its own people or sell arms etc ect. The fella isnt so impressed with prospect of martial law either having lived in NI during the early 80s. The UK is basically bolloxed.

I know not nearly enough about being self employed in ireland, like you seem to need an accountant where as the UK lets you fill in your own self assessment forms etc. So I am looking for work for now, and I will be setting up the cosmetics business in parallel as that seems the easiest way of getting pps numbers, and making contributions, while learning how things like grants works for website development work. Irish regulations for cosmetics and herbal products are much simpler, and there is a lot less red tape for start ups.

Anyway we are really looking forward to making a good go of things. We have never looked a business as way of getting flash cars and a big house, there is more to life than a wage packet. We know we have a good product, and we look forward to making it work and grow.

Im still stuck in this 9-5 work. These posts actually encourage me to think about the way I want to work.

Hi. Just joined the group. I just wanted to have information and really an idea of starting up a business.

I am engaged in home business baking occasions cakes and sweet products, etc. Baking is really a big passion of mine. I have been into bussiness catering local and regular customers and friends for years.

I am a foreigner originally from the philippines but had been a naturalized irish for 10 years now.

I am just would like to seek help on how to start up a bussines like a small coffee shop incorporating my baked goods/products.

I dont have degree for baking but i am a college economics graduate back in my home country. I may say i am a self thought baker and i was able to developed a recipes through the years of my passion from baking. I want to engaged and to offer my product into a bigger scale but i dont know where to start.

Thanks in advance for the help.


SofiaZabal

For fellow entrepreneurs ...

I've just come out of the EI sponsored Phase II "New Frontiers" Entrepreneur development programme . If you are planning your own venture, its a fantastic 6-month journey with a total emphasis on getting you prepared for bringing your idea to fruition.

I came out of it with a product/service ready to launch <snip> and plenty of guidance and preparation for engaging in seed-fundraising over the coming year year.

Google "New Frontiers" to find out more... I think they are having call for Phase I and Phase II at the moment..

I will keep it short and sweet. I was lucky enough to have gotten connected with a group of highly successful people that run a private entrepenurial mentorship program that is teaching me how to build assets that produce cashflow.

I hope to pay it forward in any way that I can ����. If anyone wants to chat or if anyone has any questions I will be happy to answer them to the best of my ability.

As a side note I personally believe that in whatever your venture is that you need to find people that have already done it successfully so they can help you dodge the pitfalls.

Mod Edit: That's all well and good but as a first post, it smells of pyramid scheme to me. I may be wrong and you are welcome to PM me with further details but I would warn anyone reading your post to take proper advice before agreeing anything - work or money wise - with you.

The Gloomster!

Hey Gloomster,

I do appreciate your concern about my post and its great to see that you look out for others. But I can assure you I have never or will never be apart of a pyramid scheme in any way shape or form.

I never liked being an employee. too eccentric and dont pretending to be a drone. I created a couple of ventures before with varying success but finally ive launched my own proper company recently. just working on getting clients. Got sacked from the day job because they found my website. so now its make or break

I didn't initially set out to be my own boss. My entrepreneurial journey started when I stumbled upon an opportunity I couldn't resist. I was working a 9-5 office job and felt the itch for something more. One day, I saw a gap in the market and decided to take a chance. It wasn't a premeditated plan, but rather a leap of faith that led me down this path. It's been a rollercoaster ride since then, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'd love to hear others' stories too!

A couple of years ago, I was just like many others—working a regular 9-to-5 job and dreaming of something more. I wanted freedom, flexibility, and, most importantly, the ability to control my financial future. But I had no idea where to start. That’s when I stumbled upon the IPTV business. I had zero experience in tech or sales, but something about the potential excited me. With nothing to lose, I decided to take a leap of faith—and it’s been the best decision of my life.

The Beginning: Taking the First Step

When I first started, I didn’t know anything about IPTV. I had to learn from the ground up. I spent hours reading articles, watching YouTube tutorials, and asking questions in online forums. I wasn’t just looking for a quick buck—I wanted to understand the business, build a brand, and provide a service I could be proud of.

I started small, selling subscriptions to friends and family to test the waters. My focus was clear from the start: offer the best customer service and deliver a product that works. I didn’t want to be just another reseller—I wanted to stand out by ensuring my customers never had to deal with buffering issues or poor-quality streams. Stability and support became my selling points.

Finding the Right Panel Server Provider

One of the most crucial steps in my journey was finding a reliable panel server provider. In the IPTV business, your service is only as good as the server behind it. I spent time researching different providers, reading reviews, and asking for recommendations from established resellers. After a few trial runs with various providers, I found one that offered the stability and uptime I needed to deliver the best service to my customers.

Choosing the right provider wasn’t just about finding the cheapest option—it was about ensuring my service would run smoothly, with no buffering or downtime. I knew that if I could offer a high-quality experience, word would spread, and I’d quickly build a loyal customer base. My panel provider became a trusted partner, and that decision set the foundation for my long-term success.

Having a reliable server allowed me to focus on growing the business without worrying about technical issues, and it gave my customers the confidence to stick with my service for the long haul.

Early Challenges: Overcoming Obstacles

Those early days were tough. Sales were slow, and there were moments when I doubted whether this would ever work. I faced countless rejections, and technical problems were a regular occurrence. But every setback was an opportunity to learn. I realized that what would set me apart from competitors was consistency and persistence.

Despite the challenges, I kept pushing. I improved my infrastructure, focused on solving problems quickly, and slowly but surely, my reputation began to grow. The word-of-mouth referrals started to trickle in, and I was gaining loyal customers who appreciated the stability and support I offered.

The Game Changer: Marketing My Way to Success

Around six months into the business, I knew I needed to ramp things up if I was going to make a real living from this. That’s when I decided to get serious about marketing. I created a targeted Facebook ad campaign aimed at people in USA and the UK, where I knew IPTV services were in high demand. My ads focused on the things that set my service apart: no buffering, premium channels, and top-notch customer support.

The results were incredible. Almost overnight, I started getting a flood of inquiries and sales. My first real breakthrough happened when I hit $5K in sales within a month. It was a huge milestone for me, but I knew I was just getting started.

Scaling Up: Turning $5K into $20K a Month

After that initial success, I reinvested everything back into the business. I expanded my server capacity, added more channels, and worked to ensure my service was the most reliable on the market. My customer base grew quickly because of the trust I had built. People knew that if they subscribed to my service, they wouldn’t have to worry about downtime or poor-quality streams.

To keep growing, I started offering referral programs, which brought in even more customers. I also began working with other resellers, helping them succeed, which in turn boosted my own business. By creating a network of loyal customers and resellers, my monthly income steadily climbed.

Before I knew it, I had reached the $20K a month mark. It took hard work, patience, and a lot of learning, but I had achieved something I never thought possible. I was no longer tied to a 9-to-5 job. I was my own boss, and I had built a business that gave me the freedom I had always dreamed of.

What I’ve Learned: The Keys to Success

Looking back, the key to my success was simple: focus on quality ( Hight quality server ) and never give up. I made sure my service was the best it could be, and I treated every customer with respect and attention. When things got tough, I didn’t quit—I learned, adjusted, and came back stronger.

Today, I’m running a thriving IPTV business, pulling in $20K a month, and constantly looking for ways to scale. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that anyone can do this with the right mindset, strategy, and persistence.

This journey has changed my life, and it all started with a single decision to take a chance on myself. If you're ready to start your own journey, know that it's possible. Just take that first step—you never know where it might lead.