Just left my boss,starting in a new area... getting work

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christian87

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Hey
Just left my boss and gone on my own after 9 years of working for him, ive moved to a new city so i have no contacts. signed up to rated people (so bloody expensive i may close that account). signed up to mybuilder which is very cheap but there are about 10 plasters going for the same work and im really struggling to win jobs as the prices are ridiculously low compared to my old area. if i was the do the work for the price of these other quotes i think i would be better off to just go and work at tesco's stacking up boxes of cucumbers and lettuce. Should i be starting cheap and as work gets busier increase, or do i have my price and stick to it. i dont want to sell myself too cheap. Ive just put an add in the paper which comes out today, im settling up a website also. i have business cards which i need to start putting about, what are your thoughts of approaching unknown builders? never had problems previously as any builders i worked for in the past i trusted and had a good relationship with but in a new area i dont want to get shafted by untrustworthy cowboys or become associated with them, any help or advice and information on how you got going would be greatly appreciated.
cheers
 
when ever you start a new business it is going to be slow at first. a plastering business should be ok at this time as things are busy.
august is usually the slowest month of the year as everyone is on holiday and the school children are at home,things start to pick up in sept with december the busiest month of the year.

why did you choose to live in this town if the local rate of pay is so low?
 
Also it's sounds like your chucking money at advertising without looking into it first.
You should have a gander and decide which Is best then put your money on what you think is best.
Checkatrade works for me.
Not the case for everyone though.
Also Google builders/plasterers in your area and then call some up.
Direct approach will get quicker results.
Moving away is basically like starting from scratch but you have the tools and experience.
Personally I'd ring trades in your area and offer yourself low to start.
You need to get a foot in the door but you need to give people a reason to open it.
If you just try to get work and charge the same why would people give you the chance.
They don't owe you a favour so start by doing them one.
Granted some people may just use you the once but it's got you something to carry you through.
When I first when on my own I offered a day for free and both companies that took me up on it I still do there work 4-5 years on.
If there's 10 blokes in black t shirts and one in orange who's gonna stand out the most?
 
9 times out of 10 no one is going to be interested in some random tradesman that isn't established just popping out of nowhere looking for work.

If I was you id stick my nose in on some local work going on around your area, chat to a few builders say were you came from etc, its easy to advertise and look good but face to face may help you get your foot in the door and get the ball rolling.

As for pricing, its a dog eat dog world out there, but you can swindle it a little depending on quality of work and tidyness. But not much.

I've skimmed double bedroom sized rooms for £200 supplyed back when I first started doing my own work and spent as much time as possible at the end of the day cleaning everything down.

That £200 room led to 3 other rooms in the house and my number being passed on to a couple of people down the line who also had me doing work for them.

It takes a while to make yourself known but if your willing to take home a steady wage for a while it'll work out.

Good luck though mate, a honest and positive attitude goes a long way!
 
When i first started i posted loads of leaflets half of a4 size dunno if thats 3 or 5 haha . Well 15000-20000 of them when ever i had nothing on , they do get your name around even if you dont get a call off people some keep them , i used to get work off them . Some little some big jobs , met builders when i was posting them etc . Had my name on my jacket so people could see who i was . And if you talk to anybody don't pressure sell just give them a leaflet and say for them to ring you unless they ask for u to come in straight awaybwhich happened ! Lol
 
malc said:
when ever you start a new business it is going to be slow at first. a plastering business should be ok at this time as things are busy.
august is usually the slowest month of the year as everyone is on holiday and the school children are at home,things start to pick up in sept with december the busiest month of the year.

why did you choose to live in this town if the local rate of pay is so low?
Click to expand...

thanks for your response
basically i moved from essex to norwich, not through choice but because i was given an ultimatum from the girlfriend. lol to be fair though its given me a kick up the arse as i had been planning to go on my own for a while but actually moving to a new area has given me a push to go and do it. I wouldn't say the local rate is so low, its just the only leads im getting at the moment have been through mybuilder.c and you end up competing with so many other local plasterers who are going in very cheap. i lot cheaper than i was expecting. but i reading all your comments im sure with hard work and by giving a little you get back a lot more in return later down the line. i think i have just been a bit demoralized of late and needed a bit of a pick me up! :) cheers lads
 
malc said:
i would guess that a quarter of my work comes from my local yacht club. weekenders , city boys.
Click to expand...

Once you get your name around a place like that it will always feed you different jobs , i get abit from my local ciu club etc . Its one of the best clubs in the north east for money turn over etc so plenty people talk .
 
what city are you in? maybe one of the forum members might have something. and why did you leave the last city and your boss. sounds a bit mysterious like youre in a witness protection program. or david banner in the hulk
 
Jgreenplastering said:
Also it's sounds like your chucking money at advertising without looking into it first.
You should have a gander and decide which Is best then put your money on what you think is best.
Checkatrade works for me.
Not the case for everyone though.
Also Google builders/plasterers in your area and then call some up.
Direct approach will get quicker results.
Moving away is basically like starting from scratch but you have the tools and experience.
Personally I'd ring trades in your area and offer yourself low to start.
You need to get a foot in the door but you need to give people a reason to open it.
If you just try to get work and charge the same why would people give you the chance.
They don't owe you a favour so start by doing them one.
Granted some people may just use you the once but it's got you something to carry you through.
When I first when on my own I offered a day for free and both companies that took me up on it I still do there work 4-5 years on.
If there's 10 blokes in black t shirts and one in orange who's gonna stand out the most?
Click to expand...

The Labrador :numberone:
 
Jurek said:
what city are you in? maybe one of the forum members might have something. and why did you leave the last city and your boss. sounds a bit mysterious like youre in a witness protection program. or david banner in the hulk
Click to expand...

It is very funny as no location mentioned , lol it would help quite abit , well would help him !
 
Jurek said:
what city are you in? maybe one of the forum members might have something. and why did you leave the last city and your boss. sounds a bit mysterious like youre in a witness protection program. or david banner in the hulk
Click to expand...
Hes In Baghdad now, just left london for a bit of peace n quiet:)
 
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