new pat testing business

[bredon86]

hi every1,
i have recentl set up my new pat testing company and am just looking advice on how to get work quickly?? also where is best to get labels and asset sheets from??


regards shaun

 

[needasparks]

Where abouts are you based matey.

 

[Joules Burn]

Good luck buddy, you will find it tough going to start up. Make sure you put the leg work in, but please do not try and compete on price with some of the companies out there. Some are offering prices as low as 70 pence an item. Show some integrity and make sure that you offer a quality service and don't become a sticker jockey. Pat testing is about ensuring safety, not just making money.

 

[bredon86]

im based in birmingham and will not be competing on price...i am just looking to get my foot in the door that is all. i have a big contract with the local uni already and am just looking for work around tht.

 

[paulspurs]

hi everyone

new to this site just started my own pat business only been going a couple of weeks has anyone got any tips on how to get new customers done a lot of work advertising cards made up you name it.

i think my prices are good at £1.40 an item fed up of these 75p an item places claiming to do over 400 item in an 8 hour shift by one person what a joke anyone who does pat testing should know that anyone who claims to do this must be cutting corners and could be putting lives at risk. A good honest days pay for a good honest days work

 

[paulspurs]

bredon86 how long have you been going for

 

[TaffyDuck]

I do as little as possible .I charge £2.50 per item for one very good reason, I hate doing it, so I might as well earn £300+ per day. Good luck mate, would suggest you actually call in for 2 reasons. 1. Its better to make face to face contact. 2 you can have a sneaky look at the labels, 80% of which will be out of date anyway. Offer £1.50 per item or a discount of 20% if they sign up for a 3 year contract. Sure you will do well.

 

[bredon86]

ive been a qualified spark for 8 years and i am starting both pat testing and fixed wire testing business officially been going 2 weeks now but i cant advertise for fixed wire untill i have completed my nic assessment so untill then i want to obtain as much pat testing as possible. thanks for the advise guys.
could those with there own business possibly help me out with some the template forms i am going to need eg... risk assessment form and invoice and asset forms

much appreciated

 

[Joules Burn]

Go to How to Keep PAT Testing Records This site has some free downloads for certificates and test logs. very useful site, well worth a look.

 

[Pattestinguk]

Hi Bredon86 , it depends on your local competition, but I would try some telesales as you can cover more businesses that way and get lots of feedback.

 

[scottb]

Good stuff....will certainly be usefull to the the new guys on the Block....
CHEERS.....

 

[richardhammond]

hi all, i bin going just over a year now, PAT testing is a second job for me.... i charge an average of £1.60 (+VAT) per item. i can easily do about 100 items in 4 hours. but then i do a proper job of inspection and test so i give a good service and i leave a building knowing i have done a porper job and that all the portable appliances are safe.

 

[Steve_P]

Am I missing something again?

 

[wildgoose]

hi all, i bin going just over a year now, PAT testing is a second job for me.... i charge an average of £1.60 (+VAT) per item. i can easily do about 100 items in 4 hours. but then i do a proper job of inspection and test so i give a good service and i leave a building knowing i have done a porper job and that all the portable appliances are safe.

Just to clarify your procedure:
1, Locate the item to be tested.
2, Power down and remove plug from socket - if necessary.
3, Visually inspect appliance - special attention to cord and plug top condition.
4, Remove cover from plug top and check connection tightness and fuse rating.
5, Carry out the PAT.
6, Following a successful test, plug in appliance to test for correct functionality.
7, Enter results onto your tabulated report sheet.
8, Write label and adhere to the tested appliance.
9, Return item back into service by plugging it in and switching back on - if required.

Repeat items 1 to 9 every 2.4 minutes regularly for periods of 4 hrs.


You will "do a proper job of test and inspection and can atchieve this schedule easily"


Well, I've been in the industry since the seventies but in that time I cannot say I've been able to reach the standard you have in a year.

Think maybe my expectation of the PAT process is different to yours!!

 

[richardhammond]

hi wildgoose, the main reason is when its a repeat test all the paperwork is filled in (itam name, seriel no. etc) but also when testing computers (scree, power cable, pc, power cable) thats 4 items but 2 are IEC leads that are tested withic a couple of seconds using preset settigns on my kt71 tester.