I have always wanted to have a small shop to sell printed materials, namely, just t-shirts, caps and mugs.
I have everything I need as far as material is concerned: I bought a small multi-purpose printing machine, established a supplier of cheap & wholesale materials for the t-shirt and other products and also the necessary required skills and time to run this self-made business, which has all but failed to surpass my expectations.
Now, I would like to take it to the next level, by opening an online-store and getting permit or registering it as a sole-proprietorship kind of way, which would allow me to rent a small shop/store and to keep this thing going.
Now, the problem is that, according to people, one must have some sort of a diploma to operate any business of any kind in Switzerland, which for the life of me can't figure out what might that be in-order to operate this small shop.
Does anyone have any though guide, or better yet experience on setting up a small-scale & self-managed-business? If, so I would love your 2 cents on this one.
It might no longer be the case but at the time you needed a "quota" to import cotton items (i.e. t-shirts). You might want to check on this before you put too much effort into the rest.
At the same time you should check out the duty rates etc. as well. It will impact on the profitability of the project.
Thanks Nigler, since the time I arrived in Switzerland, I was constantly told to forget any dreams owning a business even to the extent of a small sole-proprietorship because the requirements.. skill/permission-wise were unimaginable, so I had somehow given up on that, but it seems that is not the case according to you.
It would be nice if someone with any personal experience on the subject could shade some light, at-least where/how to start.
I have a lot of experience in my area but no formal qualification. I was told that I needed a music diploma to open a music school but I found several people locally who run very successful music schools without such a diploma. So I rented a space and set something up. I have commercial premises that I rent, regular customers and no problems. Keep everything professional, keep proper accounts, pay your tax on time and you will be OK. Make sure you have insurance cover.
Some activities that are not critical , do not require some high falutin ́ diploma from the Federal Institute of Irgendöpis. IF you are building a house , there will certainly be somebody involved with a federal licence. The same with docs and electricians etc.
Some people use their diplomas as declarations of quality, for example I always see a little sign for a hairdresser, in my village, where she declares that she has a diploma from a federally recognized school. I don ́t think she would cut my hair better than some kurdish syrian barber in Zürich.
I know a swiss guy who was working as a sewing machine repairman and quite an ok one at that. I later found out he was a graduate of the butchers ́school, but I don ́t think he had practiced in that field for too long.
Vribrium, if you already have the machines just figure out some prices and try it out and see what happens. You are bound to make some mistakes , and possibly fail but I ́d say go for it. The swiss like a local product. Sure you can have things made in DE for pennies, but some people like personal contact and enjoy not sending their money abroad.
And if you ever get a request for something embroidered, let me know!