New business start up; a few questions.

[trev]

"Providing Enterprise level services and support for small business and micro-enterprises".


What are "enterprise level services"?
Wouldn't a "micro-enterprise" automatically be a small business?
If you're throwing stuff like that into a business plan you may as well use "thinking outside the box"or "blue sky thinking"

 

[Octopus]

Is it me or is this thread confusing?

 

[Silly Sausage]

I put some handy examples up in the OP.



Hi, I'm a trainee. I've placed a few questions at the beginning of this thread. Would you be able to walk me through some answers to my queries? They're not difficult questions, and I've given examples to clarify my question where they are needed, such as in Question #1. I'm not interested in making a lot of money from this one line of work; as I have said in my opening remarks, this is only one part of the business plan I am writing, but it is just as important as the rest of it. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

The boys have already answered your questions.
The PAT, or to be correct, ISI&TEE business is a dead dog.
The established testing companies have got it sewn up, paying pennies to agency workers.
You stand NO chance in starting a new business in this game.

Honestly, find something else to do!!!

 

[trev]

Is it me or is this thread confusing?

I was thinking of running that up the flagpole to see who saluted

 

[ApacheTech]

The boys have already answered your questions.
The PAT, or to be correct, ISI&TEE business is a dead dog.
The established testing companies have got it sewn up, paying pennies to agency workers.
You stand NO chance in starting a new business in this game.

Honestly, find something else to do!!!

So far, Q1 has had a very short answer, but no detailed answer, using the examples given. Q5 has been done to death, regarding saturation. The other questions haven't been touched.

Yes, this thread is confusing. I didn't think it would be this hard to get some answers to what really are some very simple questions.

 

[uksparks]

I always like a good laugh before I go to bed, thanks, this has fulfilled my needs for the evening.

 

[Silly Sausage]

OK, last post on this,

Q1: how long is a piece of string?
Q2: I could teach Trev's dog appliance testing.
Q3: see Q2.
Q4: Yes, but it may take a while!
Q5: Soaking bleeding wet.
Q6: Buy the latest ISI&TEE book.

 

[trev]

1 Far too many variables for a meaningful answer to be given.
An independent retailer, for example, independent of what? All businesses are independent to some degree.
A family run shop, how many people are in the family, what are they selling?
How small is this small office? What is done in there?
A used car lot/beakers yard, have you ever been to one of those places? Heater, kettle, radio. that's about it for a lot.
Nursery, plants or children? How big?

2 Is the DvD enough? Enough to do what? To carry out isitee? If I could get our dog to read and write I could get him to do this mate. It's not rocket science.

3 You need to be working in the electrical field to complete an NVQ3

4 No idea, ask them. You might get the answer you want, some members of here are in the IET so one of them may be able to help you more.

5 Answered in full

6 What has affected the tester's job is the race to the bottom as has been described above.

 

[ApacheTech]

OK, last post on this,

Q1: how long is a piece of string?
Q2: I could teach Trev's dog appliance testing.
Q3: see Q2.
Q4: Yes, but it may take a while!
Q5: Soaking bleeding wet.
Q6: Buy the latest ISI&TEE book.

Thank you.

Five down, one to go. Now I only need a sensible answer to Q1.

Anyone?

Honestly, this is like trying to get a quotation from a sp... oh, wait...

 

[Silly Sausage]

I forgot to ask, have you just been on some kind of small business course?
Your original post just reeks of the lingo they'd fill your head with.

 

[trev]

Now, what are "enterprise level services"?

 

[ApacheTech]

No, I did a module on Business Studies in uni a few years back. I did a lot of research during my dissertation on SMEs from a Web Development perspective. I do a lot of network consultancy and systems analysis, bringing businesses networks, hardware, software and website up to date and secure. That's where the Social Engineering comes in, with Information Security. I've been doing this for a while now as a not-for-profit business and I'm now branching it out into a for-profit venture. I would like to offer PAT Testing as a part of the Systems Analysis package, with follow up appointments for aftercare.

I do take the non-flippant feedback to mind though. I'm used to forums where you ask a question and people answer the question you asked, rather than strawmanning the whole thread. I never thought I'd get this reaction, I assumed this was for people to get support and advice.

 

[uksparks]

I can't finds thing sensible to add to this thread.

I got 3x 300g packets of bourbons from ASDA today by the way.... for just £1, on offer.

 

[ApacheTech]

I agree that my wording for the strapline needs work. My main line of expertise is in computing and at least within that field, a distiction is made between small, medium, large and enterprise level companies. Essentially, the larger the company, the better the support. As a 5 user licence holder, the support you get would be pretty minimal, but it you've paid for 15,000 licences then you get round the clock support and are on first name terms with your dedicated advisor.

 

[uksparks]

No, I did a module on Business Studies in uni a few years back. I did a lot of research during my dissertation on SMEs from a Web Development perspective. I do a lot of network consultancy and systems analysis, bringing businesses networks, hardware, software and website up to date and secure. That's where the Social Engineering comes in, with Information Security. I've been doing this for a while now as a not-for-profit business and I'm now branching it out into a for-profit venture. I would like to offer PAT Testing as a part of the Systems Analysis package, with follow up appointments for aftercare.

I do take the non-flippant feedback to mind though. I'm used to forums where you ask a question and people answer the question you asked, rather than strawmanning the whole thread. I never thought I'd get this reaction, I assumed this was for people to get support and advice.

Yeah but you are gong on about computers and the Internet (don't get me started on the Internet as I promise I know more than you on that) and then say you want to make a business out of PAT testing when up pearly have no knowledge whatsoever of testing and wouldn't have a clue what the readings mean or how to interpret them other than pass or fail.

Strawmanning? Is that kind of like a scarecrow?

Oh you will never in a million years make a profitable business out of pat testing. I get my pat tester out every now and then, as it happens I'm doing some tomorrow along with an EICR, but hardly ever get it out, I've probably only made enough money to cover the cost of the power supply for it.