Finding myown work

[lofty84]

I would like to start my own little comapny, whilst I like the the perks of being on the cards (sick pay, holidays etc) its hard to find a company that is willing to give you a perminant contract, my experiences say to me that they would sooner take you on on a self employed basis so they dont have the hassle and commitment that comes with haveing a permanent employee which is fair enough.

I think being my own boss will really suit me, im great with customers/clients and rather like the idea of only having myself to answer to, deciding what time I start and finish and how far awayfrom home Im prepared to travel. When your with a company if they have a job that is 2 hrs away you have to go to it even if it means leaveing at six and not getting back in untill 2 hours after u finish for the day. obviously this is all free time you give to the comapny.

At the moment I am currently working for a guy on self employeed basis haveing recently registered as self employeed, and he charges me out at a hourly rate which allows him to make a little something on me and give me a weekly wage. I dont have a problem with this as he finds the work and all ive got to do is complete the job so its fairly low stress and im learning under hiswind so to speak. I cant help thinking though that if I just bit the bullet and started to look for my own work eventually I would be better off. Im currently takeing home £300 a week. Im not the fastest electrician out there nor do I have alot of experience but I have served a 2 year apprenticeship whilst completeing my C&G 2330 and have also acheived my 2382 and as I say am pretty confident with my customer skills.

I am not partp registered or part of a scheme but plan to register with one by the end ofthe year. My boss at the moment has kindly said that if I decide to try and find my own work I can say that I am doing it in accordance with his company, which is very good of him. It will enable me to take on part p work (bathrooms and kitchens) and complete certificates.

I dont have a van unfortunatley but I dont think that means I cant start a business, its something I can work towards and get in the future, it might look a bit unprofesional turning up in a car but I can always explain to the customer that I am just starting out on my own and hopefully in time if I do well and am driven I will have one.

admitably I still turn up for jobs and become confussed but the way I see it I can do the basics like adding sockets, cookers, lighting, additional circuits etc, and Ive been told anything I am not to sure about I can ask him and he will either come and help me or tell me what I need to do which again is very nice of him. The best way to learn is to get out there on my own I feel and give it a go seeing as I have this security. He has offered to help me price jobs etc etc as well

I know guys do an 8week course and then go about finding there own work as some probably make more the £300 a week.

I live in surrey and was thinking of chargeing myself out @ 12 an hour (cash of course) so I can tryand make £100 a day. Even if work is slow and I can only find 3 days work each week, at least I am earning in three days what I use to earn in 5.

what do u think, should I go for it and make some business cards, flyers to post through people letter boxes and see what happens. surely ive got nothing to loose... and I will only become a better electrician haveing to solve problems hands on, not haveing someone to help you out.

 

[lofty84]

ive looked for previos threads that have helpfull advise as suggested by one ofthe first replies but cant say im finding anything particuarly helpfull.

I think the most important thing has got to be

1. how you are with customers, polite friendly reliable etc
2. how neat your work is and wether youve taken pride in it
3. how tidy u leave there house, it pays to be seen with the hoover out im sure

 

[lofty84]

It was deffo the C&G2330 it was 3 years long and I had to complete a site diary along side it. unfortunately it was really hard to find an employer as when i startedthe course i was already 24. I did it tho although I had to work for free in the day as an electrician and then paid in the evening as a porter.

 

[trev]

Incorrect.

1) Can you complete the work and leave the installation in a safe condition so as not to endanger those using it?
2) Do you know how to prove this by the inspection, testing and certification procedure?
3) Do you have the insurances REQUIRED BY LAW in case of things going wrong?
Your customer service skills come a very poor second to the foregoing imho

 

[Andy78]

I too am starting up on my own at the moment, and am facing the challenge of finding work. I can get maybe 10 days work a month labour only from a friend which is really helping out, but really need my own customers. As an initial promotion drive I'm gonna do the following:

Leaflet the houses in the local area over the next few weeks. I'm thinking about 4000 in total, home printed to save money.
Drop my business cards and leaflets to all local shops and businesses, hoping for cards to be picked up by customers and any trade from the shops themselves.
Personal introduction to landlords/letting agents/builders etc to get my name and face out there.
Start a facebook group for my business to get word of mouth to my friends and family and their circles of friends.
Sending letters off to larger electrical contractors to hopefully get work as a sub-contractor.
Eventually a website will be built as extra advertising.

Hope this gives you some ideas on initial promotion. I could also use any advice that anyone else may have, so I'll be watching this thread.

 

[Octopus]

Leaflet the houses in the local area over the next few weeks. I'm thinking about 4000 in total, home printed to save money.

Really, do you think that buying ink cartridges will be cheaper??

Out of interest, how much did you budget for marketing in your first year?

 

[Andy78]

The paper and ink has cost me less than a tenth of the cheapest local quote for professional printing.
i can't see me spending more than 3 hundred quid this year in marketing costs

 

[Octopus]

The paper and ink has cost me less than a tenth of the cheapest local quote for professional printing.
i can't see me spending more than 3 hundred quid this year in marketing costs

Wow, I must save I'm surprised at the saving.

You need to allow at least £100 per month for your first year, and if business is slow maybe more.

 

[Andy78]

Well I must confess, it's not original branded ink, just compatible stuff from ebay. Seems to print alright though. Thanks for the heads up about the costs of continued promotion. What do you think to my initial ideas ? and what should I be doing for continued promotion ?

 

[Octopus]

Well I must confess, it's not original branded ink, just compatible stuff from ebay. Seems to print alright though. Thanks for the heads up about the costs of continued promotion. What do you think to my initial ideas ? and what should I be doing for continued promotion ?

PM me, let me know where you are and I may let you into some of my tricks. Things I won't put on this forum.

 

[Andy78]

Cheers buddy. PM'd

 

[Von Vardo]

The paper and ink has cost me less than a tenth of the cheapest local quote for professional printing.
i can't see me spending more than 3 hundred quid this year in marketing costs

I had 5000 A5 flyers printed up by TMS printers (forum sponsors) for less than the cost of 2 sets of ink cartridges for my printer. On good thick card and delivered very quickly!

 

[robd]

If you charge yourself out at £12 ph you'll be wasting your time, like somebody else already said you'll be getting more like £6 back for your troubles and if you do really well you might be able to keep busy all the time, get say 40 hours a week on £6 ph hour and then wonder why the hell you bothered. I hate to put people down but seriously big time reality check needed here

 

[Heisenberg]

PM me, let me know where you are and I may let you into some of my tricks. Things I won't put on this forum.

But if he's round Surrey way, I bet those tricks will be staying in the bag :smilewinkgrin:

 

[D80]

I had 5000 A5 flyers printed up by TMS printers (forum sponsors) for less than the cost of 2 sets of ink cartridges for my printer. On good thick card and delivered very quickly!

That's what I'd go with rather than making them myself. I don't think I could make my own flyers cheaper than the professionals can do them, and no doubt there would be some difference in quality. Almost a shame so many end up in the bin:furious3:

 

[Des 56]

Self employment,If you can get work then go for it.
The rates you charge and all the rest of the issues will iron themselves out
You will find your own road by experience,no one way is the right way
If you succeed or fail,at least you gave it a chance

Being prepared is sensible,but try not to imagine self employed as some very steep mountain that has to be climbed

I dismay sometimes when youngsters starting out pay for vans and fancy tools and all the latest equipment,ending up not concentrating on what its really all about,sometimes failing and being in debt up to their eyeballs
Its about making a living,stay basic with outgoings, until the work pays for the luxuries of the de Vinci vans and equipment trappings


I have been ever so slightly offended by some of the van remarks in this thread,vans ugh

I have been self employed since the 1980's and most of those years my vehicle has been an unsigned very modest estate car

As for turning up embarrassed when your without a van,I personally couldn't give a monkeys
I am lucky in a sense that work comes to me rather than ever having to have had to resort to advertising

I tried a decked out transit at one time but gladly got shot of it fairly soon

,the estate is much more adaptable for my needs and paying for some unneeded paint your wagon vehicle just to give a client a feel good factor is my decision to ignore