Got 100k GBP burning a hole in my pocket - what to do with it?

What would be the best investments or bussiness ideas to make the most of the money?
I've noticed alot of people getting small bussiness loans for much less cash than this, so I should be able to start-up something fantastic with 100k - should'nt I?
I have an engineering job right now which takes me away from home all the time, but would rather do something with the money so i can be home more often.
Any suggestions?

If you have to ask what business to start, I would question whether you have the passion to see a business through a phase where it might start failing. It is rare for a business to be running smoothly from the day it starts out, and if you lack passion, it will provide you no enjoyment what so ever.

Businesses are an awful lot of work. I once spent 8 months trying to assess the feasibility of starting a business, and decided that the initial outlay was not worth the risk of failure, since it would have cost me about 拢100,000 with NO guarantee of getting any of it back. So I've shelved that idea, and decided it's best to invest in other people's businesses, which are already up and running, already successful, and already making a profit. Buying shares is a great idea, because for 拢100,000 you can buy into a lot of companies, and make a diversified portfolio to hedge against the failure of individual sectors.

A good investment strategy is to put 25%-75% of your savings in shares, 25%-75% in bonds, savings accounts etc. and maybe 2%-5% in gold, or other precious metals or commodities.

I won't advise you on individual shares, but the market appears to be heading down at the moment, so you may find an opportunity to buy into good companies at reasonable prices.

National Savings & Investments are great because they're 100% guaranteed by the government, so you can be sure you won't lose your money. However, you generally pay for this security through lower interest rates. It's best to spread your money through several savings accounts, both NS&I and other high-street or online accounts in order to benefit from fluctuations in interest rates.

You may also like to consider Zopa as part of your investment strategy. Zopa is currently paying me 7%-11%pa, compared to a savings account which is about 6%. Zopa is a lending and borrowing exchange, which allows you to lend money directly to individuals with good credit ratings, cutting out the banks and middlemen which allows you to choose your interest rates and keep the profit.

If you apply via this link:

http://www.zopa.com/member/The%20Hulk

you get 拢30 free if you lend more than 拢500.

I wish you luck with your investments!

give it to me :)

I wuld not mind about 5grand!!! lol

Pour some water on it before it singes your pubes.

Live off the money while you study for a qualification that'll enable you to work from home.

Buy some new trousers

Enrol on a remedial English course where they will teach you how to say and write '拢100,000' properly.

Alternatively, spend it on drugs.

Never start a business with your own money..

Buy gold...prices will hit the highest on record this year...best of luck....

Serious answer
if it were me:

I'd equip and start a small BDSM club somewhere outside london (which has plenty of such places)
possibly south coast - hampshire for example.

run the club about once every 2 weeks and maybe use for a swinger venue on other weekends.

when other business feel the pinch of the economy, sex and fetish are quite recession proof...... sex is always popular... especially when every other avenue of personal enjoyment is taxed to the hilt

Split the risk - Put some in high savings while the markets is kind of unstable and if you want to start to your own business you can do that and not risk it all.

Sit down and write what you love and hate about your current job and then think about what you would love to do in an ideal world. Can you think of a hole in the market that you could fill with your skills and experience? Research the local market - can you do something that would allow you to work happily?

Last thought - and this is a bit of a weird one- you are an engineer and that is a skill that is hugely in demand by NGOs in developing nations. Can you take a leave of absence from work for a month and go and volunteer for that time? Working on projects such as those run by UNICEF, Save the Children and the Red Cross could help you focus on what you like best about your work. Some of that money can cover your costs (rent etc) while you are away.

You could buy my iPod Nano. I wanna sell it!

Or ... you could start a record label. That's a good thing to do. You'd be working with talent and it's good profit as long as you treat the artist right.

Bad idea. Starting a business with money and no desire is bad. You can invest till you feel a need to be in a business. I am suggesting you invest in American real estate email me for why. My sister in UK will tell you how good USA is for investing.

Buying a business is a great option. There is a good website at http://www.bizsale.co.uk that lists thousands of businesses for sale.

But I would advise you to keep half, tucked up in a secure savings account. It is often possible to leverage your purchase. That means you can use the 拢50,000 to obtain bank funding for roughly 拢100,000. This gives you 拢150,000 in total to spend on the purchase of the business, and initial cash flow reserves.

Make sure it is something you have researched well and is in a sector that you know and like.

Look for organizations that finance small business. find a business or idea that touches that spot in you, contact the person , do the research and invest in him. Dont forget to map out a contract that you get 50% of profits, lol

Hello! Well, at this moment you have the oportunity to start your own business from home by internet. It's a business opened from everybody, you don麓t need to have any experience and you are your own boss. The only one thing you need is to have the desire of learning and change your life. To know more about this, visit this web site:
http://www.website.ws/sergioalain/

Good luck !

Give me 拢50k for 30% of my business, last accounts show 拢25k profit..... on t/o inxs of 200k

www.finysis.net has some good investment advice. I also recommend their Corporate Analysis e-book package, which is excellent and cheap.