Reality check for wannabe electricians

[VoltzElectrical]

Hi all,

I've read numerous threads recently from well meaning people wanting to retrain as a domestic electrician and prepared to spend thousands of pounds to do so.

How much do these people REALLY know what it's ACTUALLY like to run their own domestic business?

I invite you all to post the REAL DEAL, WARTS AND ALL, on here to build up a more accurate picture of what it's like to generate business, quote, not get the job, get the job and not get paid, underquote, organise materials, chase money and walls, find faults, lift floorboards, deal with difficult customers, not sleep at night through money worries.

And the pro side too.

A call to arms guys to give these people the other side to all the advertising sold to them by course providers, thus enabling them to make an INFORMED CHOICE.

Regards.

 

[DurhamSparky]

snears!!?????

 

[RWJ]

snears!!?????

I don't even know what he's on about and I'm from "down here" probably his home grown cider

 

[DurhamSparky]

probably!!! you southerners!!!

oi james i was in norwich last weekend!! went to feed the ducks at wroxham and also had an emotional day out at Great Yarmouth!! (so glad i never went there as a kid)

 

[cbw]

You need to speak Polish to get any where in Yarmouth

 

[billy110]

Changed a board today, going back tomorrow to resolve numerous DIY wiring faults, did a breakdown on my way home. Just sat down to write 2 letters, catch up with my accounts, reply to the 10 or so emails i was too busy in the day to respond to, eat if i can then get a few hours sleep. Up at 0630 to start again. Work 7 days a week, love it but it is hard graft! I don't need rocking at night!

 

[cbw]

Everyone needs a little rocking.......home grown cider for sale....................

 

[DurhamSparky]

You need to speak Polish to get any where in Yarmouth

i did notice!! however the lass at the donkey rides hut smiled and waved at me!! she was dead fit as well...! looked polish like!!

 

[DurhamSparky]

Everyone needs a little rocking.......home grown cider for sale....................

send a sample!!

 

[RWJ]

i did notice!! however the lass at the donkey rides hut smiled and waved at me!! she was dead fit as well...! looked polish like!!

Tell me about it I have to work in Yarmouth!!

 

[RWJ]

send a sample!!

Me too you promised me and steve cider years ago!!!

 

[mattmoo1974]

Ring Sheppys cider's taunton they ll post you it
Be warned my Northern friends its alot stronger then a "pint of mild"
Its also good for irritable bowel syndrome and will "keep you regular"

 

[sbrown2]

Similar to posts on here, I do two jobs. The one that pays the bill (Maint Eng) and my own. I find my work is arduous and I'm glad of this post to validate what I'm finding. The routing of cables, working in tight loft spaces, the dust, work in damp ****ty areas. But I do find it rewarding as at the day job the work is mundane and in the same place. My own work is varied. I have been at it for 5 months and turned over around £4500 so not great yet but I have 2 1/2 years left of a 3 year plan

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Similar to posts on here, I do two jobs. The one that pays the bill (Maint Eng) and my own. I find my work is arduous and I'm glad of this post to validate what I'm finding. The routing of cables, working in tight loft spaces, the dust, work in damp ****ty areas. But I do find it rewarding as at the day job the work is mundane and in the same place. My own work is varied. I have been at it for 5 months and turned over around £4500 so not great yet but I have 2 1/2 years left of a 3 year plan

good stuff. can you divulge any details from your 3 year plan?

 

[johnboy6083]

i want to work for myself. at the moment im a self employed electricain working via an agency for a large contractor. im earning about 28000 at the moment, but the last 2 years ive averaged about £50000, because ive been on large industrial jobs, or substations, or shopfitting, and ive done all of the hours i could. bear in mind, i only get them jobs, because i have to spend a few grand on tickets, ie confined spaces, safety passport, ipaf, besc, and national grid. im also prepared to do anything.
I know quite a few sparks who arent so lucky in the work front, and others who are working for a lot less.
even doing what i do (agency work) is getting a lot harder, and thats coming from sparks who have lots of contacts, and have been doing it years.
as for working for myself, im lucky in that i have all of the tools i need, including power tools, ladders, testers ect. i would be happy to take most jobs on, but its the financial aspect that im worried about. fisrtly, ive got to pay for

public liability insurance =£100- £150,
scheme membership= £500 ish
advertising= actually have no idea, im gona research but im guessing a few hundred at least including t-shirts ect

then ive got to worry about cash flow. that is funding the materials and fuel for the jobs, whilst waiting to get paid, and also having the money to live during that time.
i know it isnt easy, and ive got varied experience across the industry. if you can only specialise in one area, then you will find it an awful lot harder.

i have this final point though. ifyou are a good electricain then it doesnt make you a good businessman. i think that you not only have to be good at your trade, but you have to be a businessman too.

 

[elektrisien]

Yeah, thats all difficult, but take this ................ when working for a boss ..........being forced to work 7 days .... 10 hours a day with no overtime. You are not allowed to take a smoke break, because your addiction is not the company's problem. If you sit down even for 1 minute you get threatened with the sack ..............waiting 7 weeks to get your pay .....................being told you are not getting paid all your money because the company did not make a profit on the job ............. coming to work in December's snow, work on a car park roof where its minus 5, then getting 2 days money docked from your pay because you were too slow .............. at the same time the owner is being himself a new sports car.