New business start up; a few questions.

[ApacheTech]

Strawmanning? Is that kind of like a scarecrow?

Yes, yes it is. Well done you.

 

[uksparks]

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.

We are on first name terms here, MDJ, Trev, Archy, Murdoch... I don't recall having to even pay for one licence?

 

[ApacheTech]

We are on first name terms here, MDJ, Trev, Archy, Murdoch... I don't recall having to even pay for one licence?

*slow clap*

 

[Silly Sausage]

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.

Fair enough, I think I understand now (I'm an optimist!)
If you're providing hardware, it'll be proven fit for purpose once it leaves your hands.
This PAT stuff is a red herring!

 

[uksparks]

Archy, what are those two lots of 6 digit numbers on your footer? A train? Prison number? Lol?

 

[Silly Sausage]

Grid ref!

I'm off to howl at the super moon!

 

[Guest77]

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.

Look now fella how many times do you want an answer, we have told you some Companies are charging 50p an item, we have told you large Electrical Contractors have cornered the market, we have told you a small business of 10 or less people will have between 15-30 items which will need testing, we have told you anyone can pat test, we have told you to forget specialising in it as the market is dead and you will have to work 18 hours a day 7 days a week to earn 30k after tax, what else do you want to know?

 

[Octopus]

Look now fella how many times do you want an answer, we have told you some Companies are charging 50p an item, we have told you large Electrical Contractors have cornered the market, we have told you a small business of 10 or less people will have between 15-30 items which will need testing, we have told you anyone can pat test, we have told you to forget specialising in it as the market is dead and you will have to work 18 hours a day 7 days a week to earn 30k after tax, what else do you want to know?

Its obviously a trait of youngsters today, ask a question, ignore answers, ask again, ignore answers.............

 

[plugsandsparks]

I suggest some primary research is in order, so ... go out to some of these businesses yourself and count them, you could say you were doing a survey, and if you find any correlation between a business type / market / size / blah blah and number of items please let we know.

 

[amlu]

1. How many items, on average, would you expect a small business to have? I know this varies from business to business, but I'm just after a very bal park figure to use for my pricing strategies. For instance:

• Independent Retailer (Tech)

they don't give a damn or will have a retired sparky doing it for them for years in case they need it.

• Family Run Shop (General)]

they don't give a damn or will have a local sparky doing it for them for years in case they need it. you may get business in case he retires.

• Small Office

they don't give a damn or will have a company doing it for them in case they need it. dropping leaflets or business card may work...

• Used Car Lot/Breakers Yard

they properly don't care.

• Nursery
• Community Centre

those will have some big boys doing testing.


5. How saturated is the PAT Testing market at the moment? I know the changes made in 2012 have put some people off starting up or carrying on with PAT Testing. In my immediate vacinity, there doesn't seem to be anything, but I'm not sure about the North West. I'm looking, realistically, in a 25 mile radius of Chester.

see above.

 

[ApacheTech]

Look now fella how many times do you want an answer, we have told you some Companies are charging 50p an item, we have told you large Electrical Contractors have cornered the market, we have told you a small business of 10 or less people will have between 15-30 items which will need testing, we have told you anyone can pat test, we have told you to forget specialising in it as the market is dead and you will have to work 18 hours a day 7 days a week to earn 30k after tax, what else do you want to know?

I've said many times now that I'm not looking to make 30k p/a from this. I'm not really looking to make much money at all from it. I've just asked some simple questions, and although I know how to answer Q5 now in every language since Latin, I still have to find a response that actually answers what I have asked for Q1. "12-30 but don't bother" is not an answer to the question I have asked. A number against each example. Is that really too difficult?

I suggest some primary research is in order, so ... go out to some of these businesses yourself and count them, you could say you were doing a survey, and if you find any correlation between a business type / market / size / blah blah and number of items please let we know.

Let you know? Are you joking? I can't even get a straight answer to the question from anyone on here, other than a miserly "12 - 30 but don't bother".

1. How many items, on average, would you expect a small business to have? I know this varies from business to business, but I'm just after a very bal park figure to use for my pricing strategies. For instance:

• Independent Retailer (Tech)

they don't give a damn or will have a retired sparky doing it for them for years in case they need it.

• Family Run Shop (General)]

they don't give a damn or will have a local sparky doing it for them for years in case they need it. you may get business in case he retires.

• Small Office

they don't give a damn or will have a company doing it for them in case they need it. dropping leaflets or business card may work...

• Used Car Lot/Breakers Yard

they properly don't care.

• Nursery
• Community Centre

those will have some big boys doing testing.

How hard would it be, just to put a number? A ball park figure, whether they care or not. It's not much to ask for. That's all I want. A number against each example. Is that really too difficult?

 

[Plonker 3]

I haven't read the whole thread, got a bit bored after the first few posts. But every business is completly different in what equipment they have that would require PAT, so how the hell do you expect a sparky to know?

 

[ApacheTech]

Ball. Park. Figures.

I'm asking, in a PAT Testing Forum, how many items disparate businesses, on average, would need testing. I ask here, because, being a forum dedicated to PAT Testing, it is frequented by people who may have tested appliances at such businesses and might be able to give me a broad figure, based on past experience. I appreciate that not everyone on this forum will have had this experience a priori; and I also appreciate that the current climate within the PAT Testing "industry", if you can call it that, is not conducive with start up companies. This is, however, a part of my due dilligence.

 

[Guest77]

I've said many times now that I'm not looking to make 30k p/a from this. I'm not really looking to make much money at all from it. I've just asked some simple questions, and although I know how to answer Q5 now in every language since Latin, I still have to find a response that actually answers what I have asked for Q1. "12-30 but don't bother" is not an answer to the question I have asked. A number against each example. Is that really too difficult?




Let you know? Are you joking? I can't even get a straight answer to the question from anyone on here, other than a miserly "12 - 30 but don't bother".



How hard would it be, just to put a number? A ball park figure, whether they care or not. It's not much to ask for. That's all I want. A number against each example. Is that really too difficult?

Gasp this really is getting silly now, you have had the answer several times yet still think you haven't, I'm outta here you will be pleased to hear, if anyone else helps you I will be suprised.

 

[trev]

Ball. Park. Figures.

How many items do I have in my home that could need testing?
How many items do I have in my lock up that could need testing?
How many items does my wood butcher mate Keith have that could need testing?
What about Vic Young Nissan Dealership?
What about McNulty's marine repair yard?
What about the Nissan Plant in Washington?
There's no bloody way of knowing without going direct and asking them!
What is a must have item for one business is something which will gather dust for another so they'll not bother buying it. You may as well guess.