Fairly making money by sub-contracting - New Business Startup

[puffy]

So far job-hunting sucks but I'm always trying. My background is really web development/programming and business but I love electrical installation with a passion but never seem to landed that job so I've decided to give the business side of me another go.

This post is no way advertising but rather to get your deep opinion on the subject.

I am building a website, an interactive one. It will no way, shape or form be similar to ratedpeople. I've used it, never liked it. So let us not discuss that business here. About the website/ mobile app:

1. User logs in
2. User selects house type etc
3. User tells us what needs to be doing etc
4. Maybe pictures / video of the areas etc - this is important to the business

This business will solely sub-contract the job out and we would take 10% - 15% off the profit (when all expenses removed) would that be reasonable? The difficulty I face is that most jobs require an onsite quote. Since I know technology very will, I can use a beautiful app for tradesman. It has killer features where the sub-contractor would do the site visit and finalise the quote based on the customer price range. The customer will select their budget so we know for sure that he/she would give the go ahead once we stick to the price range or give them some wow factor if we go above their budget.


The trust relationship

Sub-contractors will know the actual cost of the project that's why we say the business will take 10% - 15% as we will process all transaction online and with handy technologies which you will use and those techs cost money. Is the percentage range fair?

About the business

We advertise heavily. We give you t-shirts and mobile app. You invoice us after the job is completed. You get paid by BACs. We would minus CIS or you pay your own. Legal way of doing things will be reviewed. We have our own guys to sign off work. We make you happy, you make us happy. Win, win.

 

[Spoon]

I wont offer "light buld replacement services" but rather re-wire services: services with high value.

Wow. So you are not quoting for small jobs. Is your motto going to be "Don't give us your small povie jobs, give us your money". Yes I'm being an --- again, but that is the was some people may interpret you not offering "light build replacement services"

 

[Spoon]

The customer could also say "I have a 2 bedroom flat etc..." so based on their description we would determine the correct budget. If they selects the lowest budget and their description has "I have 2 bedroom etc..." we would contact the customer explaining to them x and y.

How do you know what they want? How many sockets do they want per room? Do they want TV signals in each room? Music in each room? Alarm cables? Internet cables?

 

[puffy]

How do you know what they want? How many sockets do they want per room? Do they want TV signals in each room? Music in each room? Alarm cables? Internet cables?

That's what the description is for. Not sure what's that? It's a blank text box that the customers types into to state what they want.

The website will not be for everyone. We have chosen a niche and will work with it. Just like a teacher: he/she teaches few subjects and stick with you. That teacher could never teach every subject. But I am taking on board all feebacks to see the best way to layout the website.

 

[Electric Magic]

You have not got the concept, I have noted this in previous comments. They will select a budget (based on feedback we set values):

Title: Select work type:
{customer chooses full rewire}

Budget:
{customer selects "£2K - £3K"}

Description:
{Customer: I have a one bedroom flat etc}

The customer could also say "I have a 2 bedroom flat etc..." so based on their description we would determine the correct budget. If they selects the lowest budget and their description has "I have 2 bedroom etc..." we would contact the customer explaining to them x and y.

No I think I got it. You are planning to waste customers time and your own time by allowing the customer to select a budget that you then have to tell them is unrealistic. Why not have a system that allows them to pick what they want e.g. number of sockets, type, number of light fittings type, details about the house etc etc and then tells them a price range final price to be confirmed following contractor visit?

 

[puffy]

No I think I got it. You are planning to waste customers time and your own time by allowing the customer to select a budget that you then have to tell them is unrealistic. Why not have a system that allows them to pick what they want e.g. number of sockets, type, number of light fittings type, details about the house etc etc and then tells them a price range final price to be confirmed following contractor visit?

Sounds good. Never thought of that. Hmmmm. Thanks.

 

[Spoon]

It's a blank text box that the customers types into to state what they want.

So your wonderful app is going to analyse this text and then quote accordingly....... cool app.

 

[puffy]

So your wonderful app is going to analyse this text and then quote accordingly....... cool app.

Very simple. You extract keywords etc. But Electric Magic just made a valid point.

 

[Spoon]

Magic just made a valid point.

Yes he has. He has worded it a lot better than my sarcastic comments in my previous posts...

 

[sean_ork]

There's a time and place for smart apps, this isnt one of them.

NASA spent millions developing a pen that would work in zero gravity - the Russians used a pencil.

 

[puffy]

There's a time and place for smart apps, this isnt one of them.

NASA spent millions developing a pen that would work in zero gravity - the Russians used a pencil.

And NASA's pen failed because they tried. I have not. Big difference. I try things no matter if someone says it's a waste of time. I'm not re-inventing any wheels here.

 

[Spoon]

I try things no matter if someone says it's a waste of time.

Like trying to break through a brick wall by running at it head first.... I bet you luv my posts....

 

[sean_ork]

And NASA's pen failed because they tried. I have not. Big difference. I try things no matter if someone says it's a waste of time. I'm not re-inventing any wheels here.

I'm not knocking you for tying, but going against what you've been told on here is akin to the Russians knowing that a pencil will work, ignoring advice, and spending millions trying to reinvent the pencil.

I wish you well, I hope you have very deep pockets, or are lucky enough to find someone daft enough to fund you.

 

[puffy]

Like trying to break through a brick wall by running at it head first.... I bet you luv my posts....

What if those bricks are made of plastics?

 

[puffy]

I'm not knocking you for tying, but going against what you've been told on here is akin to the Russians knowing that a pencil will work, ignoring advice, and spending millions trying to reinvent the pencil.

I wish you well, I hope you have very deep pockets, or are lucky enough to find someone daft enough to fund you.

Actually 15 customers (home owners) told me it's a good idea plus two well-known companies said the same. Now 15 customers are good to start with.

I'm a developer myself and I have little cash for server hosting and that's all I need along with those 15 customers.

 

[Spoon]

Why don't you make an app that checks if a house has had a survey. If it has then you can view it for £1.

The reason why I say that is the first house I had a survey done on has faulty foundations. I kicked off at the estate agents cause they must have known this before I spent hundreds of pounds getting the survey done.

I wish I could have send the survey so someone and then the next person who wants a survey on the house will not waist lots of money like I did.