Starting your own business can be a frightening decision but for enterprising Louise Metcalfe, it was the best decision she's ever made.

Twenty years on from launching her own cleaning business, Louise is now also the proud owner of two booming cafes, gardening and interior businesses.

So successful was her Sandbach one, Miola in Lodge Road, that she expanded into the next village, Holmes Chapel.

It's a family affair with her son, Wes Jobson, running the Sandbach business and her partner Carl looking after the cleaning business, Done 'N' Dusted.

And nearly a year on from beginning work on her Holmes Chapel project, also called Miola, Louise has some shrewd advice to would-be business owners.

Louise with her son, Wes Jobson.

"Choose something which you're good at and passionate about but don't struggle on the bits which you're not good at," said Louise.

"Employ others to work on the things you can't do and concentrate on your strengths.

"Go and take lessons to sharpen your skills and get a grip of the basics in other areas."

For example, Louise, who hails originally from the North East, took various classes at college from interior design to brick laying.

"I could never be a brick layer but I know what is involved and if I need bricks laying, I have a good idea of costings and time.

"I started my cleaning business when my son was little as it's something I could do.

"I then did an interior design course at college as I'd always been interested in the subject," said Louise.

Louise with her family at the launch of the Holmes Chapel business in April.

"Explore what is being offered at local colleges and schools and sign up. You never know when that knowledge will come in useful. 

"Do courses in what you're interested in and concentrate on what you're good at.

"There's always something new you can learn and often these courses are free or cost very little."

Louise's knowledge of interior design led her on to revamping a pub and she also uses the skills help her buy for her business.

She said: "I never buy anything I don't like myself and even when I'm on holiday, I'm on the lookout for nice things to buy and sell in the business."

And the interior design skills even spill over into the food served up at Miola.

"You eat with your eyes so I know how I want things to look when they're served up," says Louise.

Louise is passionate about interiors

When Louise first started, she was buying small interior items to sell and storing them in a spare bedroom.

"We had the offices for Done and Dusted then a small unit next door came up.

"The building next to it was being used as an MOT centre and I asked the mechanic if he would let me have part of it."

That was the beginning of Miola in Sandbach which has an impressive children's play room and little separate areas plus an outside area.

And you could say it's something of a family affair at Miola. Louise's son, Wes, runs the Sandbach branch and her grandchildren and step grandchildren get involved too.

"We've had little Miola aprons made for them and they come in and help," she said.

"Children are never too young to learn business skills. They get involved in all sorts of things from sorting and counting new stock for me.

"Doing everyday tasks teaches all kind of skills," says Louise.