The idea Pete has a full-time job as a clerk in a factory office, working from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Having left school with very few qualifications he has little scope in his present employment for promotion, and his earnings are relatively low. Until recently Pete and his partner, Angie, enjoyed a reasonably good standard of living; she also had a clerical job and the two salaries together allowed them to live comfortably. However, their circumstances have changed recently with the birth of their twin daughters. Angie has her hands full and is unlikely to be able to return to work until the children start school; it is not really worth her while to go back to work in the meantime because childcare for two children would eat up a large proportion of the additional inconne she could bring in. Besides, she thinks children do better if they have a parent with them full-time.

Pete wants to find a way of earning more money. He and Angie have a mortgage of £45 000 on a flat currently valued at £55 000. They have savings of £3000 kept in a 'rainy day' account on 90-days deposit. The flat looks very small now that there are four in the family but there is no realistic chance of moving to anywhere larger without an increase in income. Given the lack of promotion opportunities in his present job Pete has been looking around at ideas for self- employment. A recent visit to the gardens of a stately home has given him an idea. On the day that he and his family visited, a vintage car rally was taking place and there were large crowds of people around. Pete joined a long queue to buy two cups of coffee from a mobile stand. The refreshments facilities clearly did not match the demand and Pete could see the opportunity to make money.

On the way home he thought it through. He could use the family savings to buy a small mobile coffee stand. If he could borrow his brother's van he could take the stand around at weekends to antiques fairs, car rallies and the like. At the stately home he had paid £1.50 each for the cups of coffee - surely it must be possible to make money?

Financing issues Peter's business idea is low-key in that it involves very little initial capital outlay, and very little risk. His immediate action plan would look like this;
• Find out about:

(a) cost of mobile coffee stand;

(b) any charges for setting up a pitch;

(c) cost of coffee, cups, sugar etc.
• Discuss plan with:

(a) Angie;

(b) brother.