Ideas please

[chillipepper]

I have �30000 to invest towards a possible career change, or with a view to making a regular income. Has anyone any sensible ideas. Thanks.

[Ethel]

Without knowing your particular skills, hobbies, interests, experience it is impossible to advise.

What sort of things have you done in the past? What particularly interests you

More to the point - what can't you do?

[chillipepper]

I've mainly been involved in the construction industry, but would dearly love a total change of direction. Something more people orientated.I don't needa great deal of expendable income, but must keep earning. So re-educating is not the best answer.

[Oneeyedvic]

Have you thought about buying a franchise? There are various magazines available to help you choose

[Maypole]

I guess generalised options are:
(a) invest in a relocation (your �30k) wont go far
(b) retrain into a new skill (starting at the bottom, will take some time but is arguably lower risk)
(c) buy a business (do you know anything about running a business, higher risk: franchise may decrease the strategic risk but your return will be lower because of franchise fees and initial cost. again your �30k wont go far)
(d) start your own business from scratch (huge aggro factor but its all yours, can you come up with a viable concept?)
(e)buy 30,000 lottery tickets and hope for the best ;o)

Have you done one of those parachute or aptitude type exercises to see where your inclinations lie?..........

[Whoever]

I recommend you try and get hold of a copy of "The 1994 What color is your Parachute?" by Richard Nelson Bolles (ISBN 0-89815-568-1 (There is probably an updated version and your library may be able to get it for you.) It's a practical manual for job hungers and career changers and by the time you've ploughed through to the end of it, it may have helped you clarify your thoughts in which direction you would ike to go.

[zzxxee]

why not see a small buisiness adviser?

[chillipepper]

Thank you for all your advice. All very helpful