1 PROMOTE YOURSELF. If your business idea revolves around skills you have from your previous career, you can start selling them today. Sites like freelancer.com, elance.com and peopleperhour.com make an ideal showcase for web development, social media, marketing and business support.
2 PLAY. For a more playful take on selling services, go to fiverr.com. People registered on the site will record a movie trailer-style voiceover, draw a cartoon, design a logo, transcribe an interview or sing a personalised ring tone for £3.80 and up. It’s a fun place to experiment with charging for something you’ve only done as a hobby. It’s also a good way to practise your skills on projects where the stakes aren’t high.