Starting as a self employed

Kasper said:
Cheers mate, I always wanted to learn English, so at school I paid more attention to it :birra:
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mate just get your self a tool belt and become a boarder on agentsic 18 pound's a hour book in 12 hour days this is a lot more money than I am on
 
You might get some contacts working for agents. I used to work for small builders at weekends and built up a few contacts. Once my few builders got established I went on my own and they recommended me to other builders.

I started just after I got married with a mortgage and in 1981 when established Plastering companies was going to the wall. It was a daft time to start up in a deep recession but youth was on my side. Could easily work 7 days a week and a couple of nights. Being reliable will keep work coming back.
 
Kasper said:
Hi, I got few questions regarding going self employed. I'm working for a company right now, I worked for this company last 4 years and I learned plastering and all aspects of it but what us crap is that I'm basically on really s**t money, its literally came to the point that I would probably be better off working in the warehouse than doing this. So I decided to very soon pack up and go on my own. Problem is I don't really have many contacts with builders etc. What I came out with is to base my advertisement on social media. I'm quite switched on when it comes to graphic design etc so I can do it myself etc the question is how much work can I get just out of social media, like fb and Instagram etc ? I'm planning to get some business cards from vista print and van advertisement. I'm really worried about going self employed and being out of work, especially now when my partner is pregnant and she's soon gonna be out of work too. So I would like to hear some of your guys opinions. Thanks.
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Get yourself a good website and don't undersell yourself or your skills. Good luck.
 
hector said:
personally i started with nothing 26 years ago,...but with benefit of hindsight i would not do it again,.......realistically if i was to start afresh now,.....i would want my van to be worth at least 7,000, good runner full history etc,....and at least 5,000 in the bank ,.....and at least 6 weeks of work lined up,.....before i would even consider going self employed
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I started with nothing to and still got most of it left after 54 years at it
 
smoother09 said:
Act as if you're on your own whilst working for them! Put all your plans in place advertise or whatever do jobs on a weekend using there materials to start with then build a base before jumping in both feet!;)
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exactly.....

start putting in 7 days a week till you have enough money on the bank then start dropping the other work :D

Some great advice on this thread :D
 
Stay where you are with foreigners at weekends. When your turning full time work away each week that may be the right time.
Lads are right you need cash in bank otherwise you won't last the quiet spells.

If you go back to your old boss hell pay you less than your on now to prove a point

In the short term a new job with a pay rise seems sensible
 
John j said:
I just be me . I.m not one of these who walk in referring to customer as mr smith or mrs smith
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Not saying that don't have be nice nice and false I fuking hate false people. How treat people the way you talk to them in polite manreable way. And be your self. what wrong calling someone Mr Jones if he's in 80s and you never meet him before? it just being respectful to that person. If he's younger generation I get it.
 
carys said:
Not saying that don't have be nice nice and false I fuking hate false people. How treat people the way you talk to them in polite manreable way. And be your self. what wrong calling someone Mr Jones if he's in 80s and you never meet him before? it just being respectful to that person. If he's younger generation I get it.
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You know what I.m a bit two faced here as a kid all my mates parents I.d address mr and mrs etc.
And when lads mates come and call me john it pisses me of . Some even ask what's for tea. Cheeky little fucks. One even asked for money for shop .
Done work for a Tyler and he was mr this mr that in front of customer and I just thought you sound G**. Soon as he pissed of I asked him his proper name . He pissed his sen and said Bob will do mate
 
If I we're you I'd stay in your job do weekend jobs for bit extra. And go to night skool for plumbing and heating.wish i had .I know it would be tough. But your young and have the time. Your going to strugle wot ever you decide .so at least once qualified your worlds your lobster .
 
MIXERMAN said:
If I we're you I'd stay in your job do weekend jobs for bit extra. And go to night skool for plumbing and heating.wish i had .I know it would be tough. But your young and have the time. Your going to strugle wot ever you decide .so at least once qualified your worlds your lobster .
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Did that last year £1600 and 2 yrs later in night school have my level 2 in plumbing and heating (not gas ) very handy..exams a bit tough mind and you will need to study outside college
 
Well done windy stick at it mate. You'll be able to get 2000 grand labour for putting in a boiler .it's bafeling how they justify there labour costs 3or 4hours work .there is no logic to it . If we did that we'd be on the 6 pm news. Good luck son.
 
windy said:
Did that last year £1600 and 2 yrs later in night school have my level 2 in plumbing and heating (not gas ) very handy..exams a bit tough mind and you will need to study outside college
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Do the sparks course...£2400 for 5 weeks and enough to get you on a competent persons scheme to self certify. I love electrics find it oddly satisfying
 
Lodan said:
Do the sparks course...£2400 for 5 weeks and enough to get you on a competent persons scheme to self certify. I love electrics find it oddly satisfying
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I'm the opposite. Was into the plumbing and never missed a class in 2 years. Have no interest in electrics...guess we are all different
 
windy said:
I'm the opposite. Was into the plumbing and never missed a class in 2 years. Have no interest in electrics...guess we are all different
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Of course mate or wed all be doing the same job
 
MIXERMAN said:
Well done windy stick at it mate. You'll be able to get 2000 grand labour for putting in a boiler .it's bafeling how they justify there labour costs 3or 4hours work .there is no logic to it . If we did that we'd be on the 6 pm news. Good luck son.
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I've decided the l2 is the end of the road for me.. to get gas safe from the point I'm at would cost circa 6to8 k in course fees and req 4 to 5 months full time training..then the gas portfolio...

Very hard to get placements at my age 46 even if you volunteer. I cant afford the outlay plus the 4 to 5 months with no income..

Even when you do qualify your only at an entry level sprog and wouldn't know enough to start off without further supervision and ongoing training
If you plaster a wall wrong it's not gonna hurt anyone. Make a mistake with gas and the whole street could blow up..

I'd do it in a heartbeat if I was 18 but not 46 with 3 kids
 
Hi guys, just wanted to update you. I fod what you said, worked my ass off last 4 months doing weekends and evenings and straight after Christmas went on my own as my company had no work at all. I started advertising on Facebook and got s**t loads of work, I'm actually very surprised how smoothly it went but it was really stressful in the same time. Waiting for my van to be wrapped up now. Thanks for all of the advice!
 
Well done and congratulations as I guess you're a dad now? Try to build up a cash reserve as you're bound to get flat spots and s**t happens like the van needs fixing in a hurry.
Thanx for coming back and maybe give us another update in a few months time.
 
John j said:
I just be me . I.m not one of these who walk in referring to customer as mr smith or mrs smith
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I call customers by their first name to their faces and Mr when I'm talking about them.

Try to keep the other trades treating the job with a bit of respect.
 
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