Hello and Welcome

My Story

My journey into self-employment started much like yours might, with the feeling that there had to be more to life than working for someone else. I began my career in IT, moved into sales and marketing, and eventually became a Sales Manager at BMW. On paper, things looked great. But deep down, I knew I wanted something different.

One day, it just clicked,  I had the skills to run a business. I could handle the tech, manage accounts, and knew how to market online. The only question left was: what did I want to do?

What I really wanted was freedom. No bosses. No clocking in. Just the ability to work on my own terms.

So I started a property maintenance business. Six years later, it’s one of the best known names in my area, getting 100's of enquiries per week. I earn more than I did in my old job, work fewer hours, and have more time for the people and things I care about. Life is good — but getting here wasn’t easy.

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How It All Started for Me

One evening six years ago, I was sat in my office, feeling completely overwhelmed. The pressure of work had reached a breaking point, and I honestly thought, “I can’t do this anymore.” I even asked myself if I was depressed — I felt like I would rather be unemployed than go back to work, even though I had a high-level management job that paid well. Everything hit me at once: the long hours, the stress, and the feeling that life was passing by while I was just running someone else’s business.
 

Amidst all that, I remembered something that surprised even me: my passion was building things — maintenance, hands-on work, creating solutions. I started thinking, maybe I could turn this into something of my own.

I did a bit of research and discovered that starting a website didn’t cost much at all. So, I decided to take the leap. A few weeks later, the site was live, and I found myself staring at it, reading through all the things this new business could do. That’s when the big questions hit me: Do I really want to work for this business? Can I actually handle everything I’ve listed?
 

The answer was yes.
Everything I’d ever needed to know — from tech and marketing to planning and accounts — could be applied on this new site. That evening planted the seed for me to leave behind the early mornings, late nights, and weekend grind — no more 6:30am starts and 7pm finishes. Everything since has grown from that one small, determined step.

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Where I Am Today

Fast forward to now — life looks very different. I make more money, work when I want to, and take holidays when I want to. I don’t have to ask anyone… well, maybe my wife!
 

My business is now well-established, generating hundreds of enquiries every month and supported by over 400 repeat customers. It’s grown into something I’m genuinely proud of — not just because it’s successful, but because it gives me freedom.
 

For example, I used to have to work right through Christmas as an employee. These days, I take three to four weeks off because I can. Would I ever go back to being an employee again? Absolutely not. You just don’t realise what you’re capable of — or how much you can actually make — until you take that first step.
 

And the best part? The extra time with family. Although if you ask my wife, she probably wishes I was at work a bit more!

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Why I Created SelfStart.co.uk

As my business grew, people around me, friends, family, even old colleagues,  began asking how I did it. I found myself helping them build websites, plan their businesses, and figure out the steps. And I noticed the same thing over and over again: most people wanted to go self-employed and work for themselves, but they just didn’t know where to start.
 

That’s why I created SelfStart.co.uk — to make the leap into self-employment as simple, jargon-free, and practical as possible.

Think of this site as a roadmap: NOT a get-rich-quick scheme, but a clear, honest guide to starting your own business — from someone who’s been there and done it.

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What You’ll Get

When you sign up, you’ll get access to tools, tips, and guidance to help you go self-employed with confidence. That includes:
 

• Starter tools & resources

• Website and marketing basics 

• Straightforward guides on accounting, insurance, and business planning

• Real-world advice that actually works
   

There is no subscription fee yet, just real advice. If you’re serious about creating a life with more freedom, flexibility, and purpose — this is the place to start.

This is real advice from someone who started from scratch, made mistakes, figured it out, and now helps others do the same.

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Have a plan — or plan to fail.

If you’re ready to take the first step, why not subscribe today and get full access to everything you need to build something of your own, become your own boss, you have nothing to lose.