New Plumbing Business Knowledge

[bcp]

what advice specifically are you looking for or need help with?

 

[dontknowitall]

Most towns have short business courses on being self employed (via Business Link). They're usually part time courses lasting an afternoon or so for about 10 weeks and are often free of charge (or for a nominal sum).

They won't teach you a thing about plumbing but about marketing, accounting, more marketing, sales technique, more marketing, cashflow, etc. (Oh - and more marketing!) Unless you market yourself/your business you won't have customers and this is why these courses concentrate on this aspect. Advertising is one tiny part of this marketing lark.

 

[lame plumber]

I find it stunning to come onto a website and ask a general question of how do I go about becoming a self employed tradesman and expecting an answer of any use. If anyone is seriously wanting to change their ability to earn a living surely they would undertake some serious research and look for help from people who can offer proper considered advice, ie bank manager, other local plumbers or tradesmen, your own boss etc.

common sense would tell me to look at how much it costs me to live now based on outgoings, list the lot work out an expenditure sheet and see what can be cut to pruduce a minimum income level to survive. then produce another spreadsheet of potential income based on some preliminary costings and work out what could be a potential income based on basic ideas of earnings, adding in costs to run the business, then see if there is the potential to make a profit a survive.

In other words build a business plan based on worst cost scenarios and worst income scenarios and see if you could survive on minimal income and any savings you have. If you cant survive, keep on as an employee.

then if you want a bit of advice on line, inform the forum of your current experience and worklife, tell them of your ideas to move to se, tell them how you intend to boost your earning potential and ask for ideas on how to improve on what you have proposed, then you might get some sensible answers and assistance and support,

Theres too many out there who pop up and say I want to be this, how do I do it? and expect a sensible response, sorry but if thats what you appear to be, dont expect anything but a harsh response, I wouldnt want to give anyone the idea its easy out there! Being nice could only cause misery to somones family as they havent thought things through and planned and prepared themselves properly for a major change in their lives.

 

[Hybrid]

About 3 years back I helped a guy get his NVQ evidence sorted, he wasn't too bad. Bumped into him today when he served me in a petrol station.

 

[PatrykA]

I find it stunning to come onto a website and ask a general question of how do I go about becoming a self employed tradesman and expecting an answer of any use. If anyone is seriously wanting to change their ability to earn a living surely they would undertake some serious research and look for help from people who can offer proper considered advice, ie bank manager, other local plumbers or tradesmen, your own boss etc.

common sense would tell me to look at how much it costs me to live now based on outgoings, list the lot work out an expenditure sheet and see what can be cut to pruduce a minimum income level to survive. then produce another spreadsheet of potential income based on some preliminary costings and work out what could be a potential income based on basic ideas of earnings, adding in costs to run the business, then see if there is the potential to make a profit a survive.

In other words build a business plan based on worst cost scenarios and worst income scenarios and see if you could survive on minimal income and any savings you have. If you cant survive, keep on as an employee.

then if you want a bit of advice on line, inform the forum of your current experience and worklife, tell them of your ideas to move to se, tell them how you intend to boost your earning potential and ask for ideas on how to improve on what you have proposed, then you might get some sensible answers and assistance and support,

Theres too many out there who pop up and say I want to be this, how do I do it? and expect a sensible response, sorry but if thats what you appear to be, dont expect anything but a harsh response, I wouldnt want to give anyone the idea its easy out there! Being nice could only cause misery to somones family as they havent thought things through and planned and prepared themselves properly for a major change in their lives.

Ive been lurking and reading a lot of threads on this site and I always thought that Lame was arrogant but their is no need to take any business course after reading what he just said. Well said Lame and I have nothing but respect for you.

 

[lame plumber]

if he swore nice things about me Bod, edit them back in please

 

[hammers4spanner]

said it before on here tiling tiling tiling !!!!

 

[tamz]

said it before on here tiling tiling tiling !!!!

Thats true.
No regulation very little comparative set up costs no call backs etc etc.
I have a mate who is a tiler and boasts/moans about spending £1200 on a fancy tile saw.
I just say look in the back of my van mate. There is over 10k of tools in there and another 2 or 3 of materials plus 20 - 30 k of gear lying at the house and you charge the same day rate as me. Get real.

 

[gravy88]

I had been working with a plumber since i left school 8 years ago, in December i decided i wanted to leave and do my own thing, so in Jan i told my gaffer that i had decided to leave at the end of March, he offered me more money, 50/50 in the business or to set another business up under him but for me.... (hmmm dont know how that works) anyway, i took the plunge and set up on my own, got my own van, logo designed, did a facebook page, and dropped a few cards into the local shops. I had a couple of bathrooms lined up and some other little bits and bats but nothing much really, now a few months in work just keeps coming in all the time, word has spread that i have left the other company (one man band) and have gone on my own, it's a small 'clicky' village so gossip soon spreads. Builders that were using my old boss before now use me, and so far i'm booked up untill mid october. At the same time i was setting up my business me and my mrs decided move in together so it was a very expensive few months indeed! I have just started to finally take a wage out now steady away. Some times you have to just take a chance and bite the bullet, times are hard at the moment but luckilly for me i am known in my area (not blowing my own trumpet) and also you need a decent amount of money behind you to do it right!

 

[mjt]

It's amazing that its only rude when it's something you don't want to hear?

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Congratulations. It took courage and you have achieved what many might not have been able to. I wish I had ££££ of gear and tools. I have what I need on a day to day basis and borrow, rent or buy when I have to. Always keep your eye out for liquidated stock in your local auction house and save a ton, no guarantee though. Have not been stung... yet!

I had nothing when I started, other than my hand tools.

@ Gravy88

 

[gravy88]

Thankyou, Nerve wracking to start with but so glad i've done it now!
I keep looking on ebay for bits and bats, like job lot auctions, will have a look out and see if i can find a auction house for some more bits and bats but i have got most of the bits i need, allthough you can never have enough!

If anyone is thinking of going on there own, only they will know if they can get enough work to make a do, i knew i had plenty of good trustworthy contacts, and once word spread they started using me, if your not very well known in your area then your just a fish in the ocean. You need a fair bit of brass behind you aswell to get started, you dont realise how much stuff bluddy costs! And experience/knowledge!

 

[lame plumber]

e bay isnt always cheaper remember and you dont know what your getting, tread with care

 

[tomplumb83]

I was on my own for 7-8 years. Just done a couple of years doing another job but gone back by myself again in June. Costs to set up again, on the cheap baring in mind I already have a couple of shed loads (literally) of tools and parts. Oh and Im not gas so don't have to fork out for that. £5000 for van. £250 signwriting. £250 for my unvented. £200 for trousers/shirts/jumpers. £200 on business networking membership. £400 and rising on printing. £350 for this months advertising. £250 on van racking. £800 on websites although Ive had a lot done and that covers me until next year. £100+Tools/bag/van bits. £££ for my Institute membership. ££ for card machine. There is more Ive spent but that will do for now! Incomings for this week are expected to be approx £40 plus another £100 from a manufacturer I work for that I'll get in a months time. I hope this helps

 

[GQuigley67]

tried it, could only break even mostly apart from the odd good week, was always being undercut, got sick of being skint all the time so went into subbying.