Going back to the original question:
I used to work for a large finance company - a mere 11 years - until they finally managed to p...s me off for good and I left. However, I spent the last year using and abusing their facilities to set up my own company to do just what you want to do Mishandled. My main activites at the moment are installing and configuring computers in people's homes and in SMEs. I also do repairs and general consulting on PCs/networks.
I would have the following advise if you go down my route:
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don't rush into it: - for starters there is the point of choosing to be self-employed or setting up a limited company - each have their own advantages/disadvantages - basic ones are: who's going to do your accounts/how you're going to keep on paying into a pension/insurance considerations - if you can't work because of an accident you don't get paid/have you get some basic startup funds etc... etc... best to get a book or two and visit the "businesslink" website (you may get financial help to set up the Co. too)
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research your market: you need to pinpoint who you are going to work for and where - for example I only cover the SW area of London and generally speaking only have my own customers in rich areas - I happen to live near some of most affluent areas of the UK so it helps (without actually living in one I hasten to add!). You are best advertising what you do best and add bits later as you go along - like offer basic training on Excel and Word to newbie users (like people who have just retired and want to join the club before it's too late).
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technical/qualifications: I have, in 3.5 years, NEVER been asked for any proof of qualification - even by medium sized companies who happened to find me in Google - ie total stranger let loose on a network environment. I think experience and presentation count more. I have been messing, ahem, tweaking around with computers since I was 13, ie 25 years ago, and have had the benefit of working with some tough customers in my previous job - which helps in sticky situations. It also helps to learn to say no, or "I don't know how to do that" when you're not sure. I've become a bit of a jack-off-all-trades - so I know a little about everything rather than everything about specific topics. Customers appreciate it more when I say that I have no experience about something and I'd rather not take the risk - than having a go and wrecking the system. (re a comment that was made above - how often has anyone asked a garage repair person or boiler expert to show their qualifications before accepting their services?? it's no different in my world. As long as you look confident and act professionally you'll be ok). I am however firming up my knowledge with the Open University.
Another thing you could do is to have a contract with a third-party company that offers system installation services for the big PC producing boys - that way they provide you with the jobs and keep you going while you find your feet - the Co. I do that with is currently flooding me with jobs as the winter times tend to be busier that other times (<-- that's another point - the work can be seasonal - plan for the quiet times <-- get a garden, a good set of confy chairs, a pair of Raybans and a good book
but make sure you've worked your socks off during the previous months to keep you going when everyone else is on holiday [oh yeah, and forget about holidays for a couple of years...!
].
But I digress...I can PM you the name of the third-party company I work for if you like - lemme know - but I hope that my (brief!) words have given you some ideas (or put you off I don't know). The key word at the end is planning, 'cause as they say "p..s poor preparation leads to p..s poor performance...
amowf signing off.
ps. did I mention the Inland Revenue, Statistical Office, Companies House, HMCE and all the other people ever so keen to lumber loads of paperwork on you? And each carrying hefty fines if you ignore them. Been self-employed is a full time job - I once told the IR I was working part-time (cause I'm a house-husband half the time) but doing 45 hrs a week.
