How it all began, and what came of it.

I want to share with you the story of one bright undertaking. The story of how NOT to start your own business. A tragic story about the collapse of plans and relationships. A story with a very ordinary beginning and a rather funny ending.

It was a rainy fall a year and a half ago. It was the eighth year of study at the university. For eight years of study, I studied and safely forgot: mat. analysis, the basics of pedagogy, features of social work with drug addicts and much more ...

Fortunately, the luggage of knowledge remained: professional Photoshop skills, pretty good knowledge of PHP and JS, HTML layout skills (both block and table layout - all the same, much has changed over 8 years). Remained a good experience working in freelance, in dubious offices, in large advertising agencies ... and even chaldea at outdoor banquets. So ... what am I talking about?

Oh yes! It was 8 years of study at the university. Classes were over, I began to write a diploma. Together with the diploma came the understanding that I want some kind of financial stability. I decided to get a job. Yes, it is Work with a capital letter. To make me happy there, to pay enough, to have a good friendly team. Well, and many, many more. Knowing full well that it’s hard to find such a job, I got into one company engaged in the development and promotion of sites. The company was part of a large holding and did not look like a dubious office. They took me to the position of designer, layout designer, programmer, etc. In short, all in one. They did not promise to pay much, but the work was near the house - a good saving on meals and transportation. Contrary to my fears, everything turned out quite successfully. For six months, my salary has doubled. I got my own “department” - I, the designer and layout designer. The proud record “Head of the web-design department” appeared in the workbook. No signs of trouble…

And then one day the company changed its leadership. Bonuses and salary increases are over. Working conditions have worsened. Relations with management left much to be desired. I started to think. I thought a lot. About life. About money. About future. Ha! Invented! I WILL CREATE MY COMPANY! No, well, not well done? Knowing full well that it would be difficult for one, I decided to stir up the whole story with partners. The first one was found the next day - it was a designer from my department. Three more “passengers” came from the managers of the company in which I worked. We all clearly thought out. Managers will look for customers. My comrade and I will do the work. Profit (minus managerial interest and the cost of our work) were going to be honestly divided into 5 parts. What's next?

And then we decided to make an LLC. Nooo ... it's not a three-eyed kawaii smile. This is a limited liability company. Registering it was not difficult. Through the company all the pleasure was worth 10 TR We honestly took off 2,000 tugriks (well, not funny, huh?), I shook a little in turns. And lo and behold! We have got our mega-super corporation. Surprisingly, the founder (the only one) was me. What then of course I managed to regret. And off we go ...

In the first week one of the managers fell off. Just scored on everything. Then during the second week. You think that made me think about something? Well no. I spit on them!

Incidentally, I still worked at work with my designer. There was no time for any organizational and bureaucratic moments. There was no one to look for customers. And we with the "comrade" decided to quit. I quickly scribbled a statement. They signed it. Not without persuasion of course, but signed. The designer said he would quit at the end of the month. It spun. Trips to banks, notaries, accounting firms, etc. ate my time like longollers. A week later, I learn the most unpleasant news: the auditor is coming to us, the dude is not easy. He stupidly sat in my place. He did not even think about any dismissal. I was left alone. One on one with the costs of accounting, taxes, banking services and so on, so on, so on.

For three months, a couple of clients happened. It turned out a little money, which for the most part was spent on expenses. So what? You need to live on something ... I got a job again. To a small website business. Well, I can’t do anything else! I do not know how! There he worked as a developer for several months. I learned a lot - thanks to ****** for this. After which I was invited to work in a holding company, with the company of which this story began. Serious salary, prospects, etc. etc.

Over the next months, periodically some orders from friends, acquaintances, relatives appeared. My "Firmochka" paid for itself. But in reality, she was more annoying than pleased. Inquiring how much it costs to close an LLC, I was really upset. And here…

And here is the funny ending promised at the beginning of the story. The holding began to absorb small market players through their acquisition. Tadam! I sold my company to my management. Shovel. Well, isn’t it funny? Actually that's the whole story. I don’t know why you read all this. I don’t know why I wrote all this. I just wanted to share my experience.

In fact, everything is not so simple, and the story does not end there ... but this is already my little secret. Maybe later ... in the nth number of months (years, decades) you will learn the continuation ...

Moral from Iamzet :
And the moral of this fable, in my opinion, is that to start your own business seriously, at least two things are necessary:

A reliable team, at least three or four people with sufficient qualifications, ready to do business seriously, and not "optionally" in their free time. One is not a warrior in the field, he won’t be able to take any serious work, the team is a guarantee that the undertaken obligations can be fulfilled. A “bad” team of random people will fall apart at the first setbacks or successes. Or even just as in the case described.

We need some kind of “business plan”. Understanding where and how to make enough money for a living. Not in the distant bright future, but right here and now, at least 2-3 months in advance. Then there may be ups and downs, but the beginning should be predictable. This can be a “portfolio of projects” that can really be obtained, or a certain innovation, for which it is possible to get financing, again, it should be clear where and how.

Both conditions must be met together. A team without work, in the expectation that something will somehow work out, is doomed to decomposition. And vice versa, the situation when the search for at least someone who starts it will most likely end in a one-time job.

To develop the business you have started, you need many more things. The company should have some zest (dumping price is not considered such), distinguishing it from others, it is necessary to establish and cherish good relations with existing and potential customers, and so on and so forth. But this is a separate issue. In addition, it must be understood that it is very difficult to earn big money on custom development, it can be said, impossible.

UPD: Re-read. I decided to clarify some points.
1. There was no investment. There was something free in the region of 5-6 thousand rubles that could be spent without harm to life.
2. Now I have no relation to the sold business.
3. Almost half a year did not communicate with the dude. Now again, best friends. Understood everything. Understood each other.