Hi, so i was wondering how to buy materials for jobs, up until now I was just buying on my debit card in say wickes and then charging customer with like 10% profit on it, but im worried about large amounts of money going into my bank and I don't really know how to put that through quickbooks either. I started collecting cash for material for each job before I start but not everyone is keen on giving cash to somebody they just met without guarantee that they ever gonna come back... Any advice ?
Materials
- Thread starter Kasper
- Start date
Stevieo
Royal Spin Doctor
I go to builders merchants and get the customer an estimate.
When they agree it the builders merchants calls the customer and they pay over the phone.
Then we sort out any bits and bobs at the end.
That's for whole renovations.
Small jobs I just whack it on my card with a good mark up.
I only really usually work for people with investment property though, and Ireland is quite old fashioned about doing stuff like getting to know the customer and ringing people up and stuff like that .
smoother09
Well-Known Member
Don’t matter coronavirus is here my advice is spend spend spend!!
Can’t take it with you
Can’t take it with you
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Deleted member 40920
Guest
You're worried about large amounts of money going into your bank account? What you on about lol. You just put it through as money from a job, which it is...
So if you've got a day job coming up for say £30 materials, you go and ask the customer for £30 in cash first?
hollybank
Private Member
I never ask for money upfront,it just sounds unprofesional.
Well this is what I was doing so far
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Deleted member 40920
Guest
I never do for anything less than around £500, if im putting in an order for thousands than I'll ask for money day of delivery of goods
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Deleted member 40920
Guest
Probably the most bizzare thing I've ever heard regarding someone's business
Olican
Private Member
Bulk buy all your non perishables direct, you will get great deals. It'll sting at first but you'll feel the benefit through the year
smoother09
Well-Known Member
If it’s a huge job and I get a bad vibe from a customer il take a payment after the first week just to see if there good to there word! That’s purely a trust issue on my part I can usually sniff out the rats
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Deleted member 32554
Guest
Apart from bags of muck and boards I save about 40% on Wickes
hollybank
Private Member
I must be too trusting ,job im on at the mo im £2000 in it already with materials and wages.If it’s a huge job and I get a bad vibe from a customer il take a payment after the first week just to see if there good to there word! That’s purely a trust issue on my part I can usually sniff out the rats
Fatarm
Trainee mod
hollybank
Private Member
Its for a business, done work for them before and its in the bank in less than seven days so im not worried finishing off this weekend.
Happy days.
martinemj
Well-Known Member
I understand and agree to a point
about 1500 I ask for 30 percent as deposit before start and either a stage payment or balance at finish depending on size of job
algeeman
It’s A Boy
strange how most plasterers dont seem to ask for money upfront....
while most other trades do for materials.
FreeD
Private Member
Doesn't make sense Casper...get yourself an accountant don't bother with quickbooks waste of time...accountant will save you a fortune. Never get money for materials up front.
For example 1 days work: Labour £300 Materials £50...tell the customer £350 for the job. Then go to builders merchant put mats on account or buy from Wickes etc...bill customer total cost at end.
Never let the customer know how much you ere charging for materials.
If I was to say to you I'll skim a 10m2 wall for you for £350 including labour and materials...how does this sound compared to I can skim wall for you £300 labour £50 materials? Sounds terrible customer knows how much the materials are and thinks I'm not paying a tradesman £300 per day. So always give them total cost never break down.
TonyM
Private Member
It’s gippo as f**k
algeeman
It’s A Boy
my older brothers upholsterer by trade
he says the same as pete 30% upfront secures the job.....
he landed contract for Luton airport and various hotels
without the 30% he said he wouldn't of touched them.
Vincey
Private Member
After last summer all my ways changed mate
No more credit or mr pussy clot
plas1
Well-Known Member
I only ever ask for materials for micro or venetian as I've had a few try and change there minds on colours etc.As for boarding and skimming i'll supply as never normally any more than a grand unless it's a full house/houses and developers normally want to supply themswlves which suits me fine.
JohnDoe
Active Member
JohnDoe
Active Member
Would just feel like a t**t asking for 50 quid to get some plaster.
D
Deleted member 40920
Guest
Yeah bit different for a chippy going and buying doors, frames and arch, or some oak flooring, or a plumber buying a new bathroom. Bit petty for a few bags of multi.
Tbh I've had my whole house redone and had every trade come and go and not a single one asked for a penny up front. Even the builder who did the extension
JohnDoe
Active Member
Because you know them and they trust you.
If I was asking for money up front to me that would mean I dont trust the customer. And if I think there a bit dodgy I shouldn't be doing the job.
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Deleted member 40920
Guest
In 10years I've only ever not got paid from 1 job, and that was because I completely forgot to chase them up. It randomly popped in my head about a year later! Checked my bank out of curiousity and they'd never paid, felt abit pathetic chasing them up for £250 so just let it go lol
Happy Brexit day mate!!!!
I wouldn't let 50 quid go 2 years later
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Deleted member 40920
Guest
Cheers bud. You're about a year early though
algeeman
It’s A Boy
that's £250 a week mate ....
if you get the £50 from a different job everyday.
turn off phone and head straight to Wetherspoons
youd have a cracking week
