Self Employed - Who's busy, who's not

[alarm man]

well i am due to start uni full time in september and am going to go S/E whilst i am there got a few leads in the commercial market so heres hoping. if it takes off it may well unburden the student loan

what you studying phill ?

 

[Mark_Burgess]

Force into self employment after being made redundant I had a slow start for at least 12 months, did a lot of tiling and bathroom fitting, this last month I can say has been the busiest I have had on a 20,000 square foot factory rewire, offices and production etc. This last week has been spent 'just disconnecting their old factory' to removing partitions and suspended ceilings.
Got about another 10 days at the new site.

Inbetween a couple of domestic referb jobs that are ongoing.

Nothing more on the books as of yet

 

[Mike71]

Again cheers for the responses fellas. Nice to hear some of you are really busy. Lets hope the industry is picking up a bit.
thanks, Mike

 

[ezzzekiel]

a lot of it depends on various factors, how well known you are and how many decent contacts you have, there will always be plenty of work out there its just a case of people having your number and not someone elses.

be friendly dont charge over the top do a good job and go the extra mile for the client.

 

[martysparky]

I'm so sick up to the back teeth and beyond with boss' its pushing my hair out!

Not very busy but wont have a boss again if I can help it.

 

[Johno]

a lot of it depends on various factors, how well known you are and how many decent contacts you have, there will always be plenty of work out there its just a case of people having your number and not someone elses.

be friendly dont charge over the top do a good job and go the extra mile for the client.

I agree

 

[cbw]

I am on the "a day off would be nice" side!

Shouldnt grumble but too busy!

 

[sythai]

Be prepared for endless paperwork..... but definately well worth it, no boss there to answer to, book holidays off etc

Been on my own 6 months now after subbin for years and rates getting worst and worst. Having to travel further and further.

Bit up and down, but now booked until end of Oct which is good for me. Just waiting to see how things go over dec/jan, reckon might be a bit quiter. Was doing 3-4 day weeks for first couple of months but ideal in the summer! And still almost breaking even on my previous 40 hour week wages.

Have managed to get 2 really good contracts with a kitchen firm and conservatory firm after a lot of 'hassling' people and having to really sell myself... and lots of other bits and pieces from a monthly ad in local A5 glossy mag.

Best form of advertising by far is to get a load (think I got 5000 to start) of A6 postcards professionally designed / printed / distributed.... £200'ish.... picked up a £5k extension the other week from a this.... just a card landing on someone's doormat.

All the best... Sy

 

[Amp David]

Be prepared for endless paperwork..... but definately well worth it, no boss there to answer to, book holidays off etc

Been on my own 6 months now after subbin for years and rates getting worst and worst. Having to travel further and further.

Bit up and down, but now booked until end of Oct which is good. Was doing 3-4 day weeks for first couple of months but ideal in the summer! And still almost breaking even on my previous 40 hour week wages.

Have managed to get 2 really good contracts with a kitchen firm and conservatory firm after a lot of 'hassling' people and having to really sell myself... and lots of other bits and pieces from a monthly ad in local A5 glossy mag.

Best form of advertising by far is to get a load (think I got 5000 to start) of A6 postcards professionally designed / printed / distributed.... £200'ish.... picked up a £5k extension the other week from a this.... just a card landing on someone's doormat.

All the best... Sy

Would have to agree with the postcard route. Spent about 160 quid on them and have had endless small jobs from them and last week a call for a conversion of 1 house into 2.

Only started up this year and has been slow, but slowly but surely its picking up.

I've managed to get in with a local letting company, bathroom installer and a gas safe man. Each of these have given me jobs here and there, but getting the van out and about has also generated work for me

 

[Des 56]

The work is out there,problem is I cant no longer get motivated to get stuck in and do more,think I am getting past it or just becoming a lazs git

 

[Amp David]

Think its the latter des

 

[Mike71]

Thanks for the responses again to all. Good idea about the printed postcards, fairly cheap method of advertising and one or two jobs out of it and it
pays for itself.

 

[marksparky]

i into 2nd year s/e after bein made redundant and 1st year was either a feast or famine, was seriously considerin lookin an employer again at end of year 1 after a quiet couple of months, then past few weeks work has flooded in! thank god. my advice wud be to be carefull with ur pricin and as someone said before go the extra mile, keep on top of any paper work!

 

[mattyevz]

Iv been self employed for about 5 months now im doing ok. Some weeks im really busy then the next week nothing, but iv managed to get by. Its better than working for someone else.Work when you want and how hard you want. All the hard work is rewarded to you.

 

[K&L_Electriccal]

Iv been self employed for 8 years now, Some weeks we are really busy then nothing. Just have to take each week as it comes, we had 5 lads working for us at the start of 2009 now we just down to 2 of us.
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