Starting a Business - Part 1: Rookie Mistakes

After working in the TV industry for a while and learning some valuable lessons, I decided that, while a very interesting industry, I don't want to be someone's employee all my life. I want to be my own boss, have my own company and be able to look back on something in 10 years and say; shit yeah, I built that from the ground up.

So I waved goodbye to the TV industry and embarked on a new adventure. What could be fun, full of learning opportunities and low budget to start with? Then my GF starts asking about what she would need to host her own website and if I can help get her sorted. I started doing some research for her. After a while I find myself being more and more interested in becoming a webhost myself. And a new goal is born.

I start doing massive research into existing companies, their business model, their pricing, all that stuff. The more I read the more I know this is what I really want to have a go at.

So today, after about two months of writing a business plan I went to register my business today. All went well and when that was done I went to the bank to get a business account. That went great as well. But as usual things seemed to go way too smoothly. When I got home I realized I had messed up in the very foundation of my company. I had held off on buying the domainname until the business was registered and I was absolutely sure the business name was available. Bad move... someone else got to the domain before I could.

Rarely have I been this pissed at myself, as this is something I should have seen coming from miles away. Hell, I used to laugh when this happened with new TV shows and the network forgot to register the domain before they made the announcement.

But I'm going after the company who registered it and checking how much they want to shake me down for to sell it to me. Probably going to be a high price to pay for such a stupid mistake.