New business start up; a few questions.

[Silly Sausage]

I'm sure someone could formulate an equation to calculate the number of items that any one business would require testing.
Something akin to this maybe... :smilielol5:

The Drake equation is:

where:
N = the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which radio-communication might be possible (i.e. which are on our current past light cone);and
R[SUB]*[/SUB] = the average rate of star formation in our galaxy
f[SUB]p[/SUB] = the fraction of those stars that have planets
n[SUB]e[/SUB] = the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets
f[SUB]l[/SUB] = the fraction of planets that could support life that actually develop life at some point
f[SUB]i[/SUB] = the fraction of planets with life that actually go on to develop intelligent life (civilizations)
f[SUB]c[/SUB] = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space
L = the length of time for which such civilizations release detectable signals into space[SUP][8][/SUP]

 

[trev]

Voluntarily deleted.

 

[oldAL]

sorry,
I know its an old thread,
but just reading this got me wound up,
as someone said,
OP asked a Q, didnt get the answer he wanted so kept asking the same Q.

Im a small business,
probably got about 70-80 items that need PAT, im a spark BTW,
so that includes everything from my cordless chargers, site radio, 230 stuff, 110 stuff, printer/pc/laptop/tablet etc etc etc in office,
my mate is also a small business, he is a brickie, [does a job writes a receipt in a book]
I dont think he has anything that needs PAT,
so its a stupid Q
btw, what is the difference between a small business and a micro enterprise and all this other gobbliedegook?

 

[ApacheTech]

Thank you for your response. I did mention taking average numbers. If your brickie friend has no need for PAT, then he is automatically written out of any further conversation. You have nearly three times the items quoted previously within this thread. I am aware of the severe variance within numbers of items; hence asking people who may have done hundreds of site visits, for average values.

A micro-enterprise is a company that employs between 0 - 9 members of staff. A small business is a company employing 10 - 250 members of staff. Medium businesses employ between 251 - 1000 members of staff, and a large business employs 1001+ members of staff.

 

[Guest77]

. I'm not really looking to make much money at all from it.

Well you will certainely get your way regarding this comment.

 

[oldAL]

Thank you for your response. I did mention taking average numbers. If your brickie friend has no need for PAT, then he is automatically written out of any further conversation. You have nearly three times the items quoted previously within this thread. I am aware of the severe variance within numbers of items; hence asking people who may have done hundreds of site visits, for average values.

A micro-enterprise is a company that employs between 0 - 9 members of staff. A small business is a company employing 10 - 250 members of staff. Medium businesses employ between 251 - 1000 members of staff, and a large business employs 1001+ members of staff.

how is he?
he is a small business, or, as you put it, a micro enterprise, I must tell him that he is now an enterprise, he will be pleased,
he is a part of the average,
so, my earlier comment still holds true,
its a stupid question, there is no average that can be relied upon,
do you only want an average of businesses that have more than 10 items?
or do you only want the answer that suits you?

 

[ApacheTech]

See, now you're just being silly. If he has no items for PAT, he is never going to be a prospective customer. I'm asking for a number to put on a sales forecast sheet. He is outside of that scope. If he had a cement mixer, or a power drill, then he'd be inside the scope, as he would be a potential customer. I thought that much, at least, would be obvious.

 

[oldAL]

he has a cement mixer,
and a radio, but I doubt the radio prob last more than a week at a time,
and the mixer runs on diesel,
how can you possibly discount him?
a business with 0 use for you is still a business,
if you were to do a mail drop would you tell the postman to only do the premises with items needing tested?

 

[davesparks]

It appears, from the OPs definitions, that I am involved in 3 micro-enterprises. Lucky me!

1- electrical work (who'd have thought it) and I have probably 12 items eligible for PAT. But I'll do them myself if needed.

2- stage lighting etc hire company, there we have over 1000 items eligible for PAT, but most of them won't just plug in to a standard PAT machine. And we do it all ourselves anyway, plus doing specialist PAT of such equipment for customers.

3- professional fireworks display company, probably around 20 items eligible for PAT. But access to the site is very restricted so you wouldn't be getting anywhere near it.
I do it myself there too.

So there you go, 3 micro-enterprises with very different quantities of electrical equipment to test.
So that's an average of 344 items per business (don't you just love statistics)

And all irrelevant I guess as the work wouldn't be coming your way anyway!

 

[Jason Howard]

It appears, from the OPs definitions, that I am involved in 3 micro-enterprises. Lucky me!

1- electrical work (who'd have thought it) and I have probably 12 items eligible for PAT. But I'll do them myself if needed.

2- stage lighting etc hire company, there we have over 1000 items eligible for PAT, but most of them won't just plug in to a standard PAT machine. And we do it all ourselves anyway, plus doing specialist PAT of such equipment for customers.

3- professional fireworks display company, probably around 20 items eligible for PAT. But access to the site is very restricted so you wouldn't be getting anywhere near it.
I do it myself there too.

So there you go, 3 micro-enterprises with very different quantities of electrical equipment to test.
So that's an average of 344 items per business (don't you just love statistics)

And all irrelevant I guess as the work wouldn't be coming your way anyway!

That's kind of a little bit too rude don't you think.

 

[kenuk]

Hi,

I'm currently writing up a business plan for a new company in the North West; the main disciplines I will be working in are Web Development; Software Development; Risk Based PAT Testing; Cyber Security Training; Social Engineering Awareness Training; and Computer Repairs and Maintenance.

Most of the work is contractual, however the Risk Based PAT Testing will be a source of regular income on a monthly basis, with a lot of seminar and freelance style work in-between. I'm not expecting to make a fortune from PAT Testing, but my ethos is:

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

​

I'm focussing mainly on small businesses, micro-enterprises and sole-traders because of the work and research I've carried out during my dissertation this year.

I have a couple of questions that I cannot find answers to online.

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)
• Family Run Shop (General)
• Small Office
• Used Car Lot/Breakers Yard
• Nursery
• Community Centre

It would be nice to have a Light, Medium and Heavy average for the purposes of financial forecasting.

2. Is using the PAT Testing Distance Learning DVD going to be enough? I have a background in Electrics and Electronics; I have a firm knowledge of Electrical Theory and Electrical Engineering and I have an IET Accredited Honoues degree in Computing and Networking. I have also done some Level 3 Diplomas in Workplace Safety and Health, Project Management and Electrical Studies via ALISON online. Is it worth forking out for the C&G 2377 22 and 32, or should I start with the qualification from the Distance Learning DVD and take the course if I find myself in over my head?

3. Can you do a Electromechanical NVQ while PAT Testing, in order to diversify to be a full Electrician?

4. Is it possible to work towards professional registration with the IET through starting off in PAT Testing or working as an Electrician?

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.

6. Is much of the information you can find online still valid, after the changes made in 2012 to the CoP? There seems to be a lot more emphasis now on merging PAT Testing with traditional Risk Assessment; has there been a shift away from PAT Testing being within the remit of the Maintenance Dept. and more towards the Health and Safety Officer's remit? How has this affected our jobs as outsourced labour?

Thank you for any assistance you can give. Questions #1 and #2 are the greatest concern at this time.

How did you get on?