Start up tips.

[Skyba]

Hi all,

I've been thinking a lot lately about how to go about starting up my own bussiness, I'm not going to do this for a long while as I'm only just about qualified so I need much more experience I know but I have started little bits already for the future because I'm a self employed subby so I'm doing parts of the bussiness side.

I've already decided on a name and found I can get the website and i've set up my accounts and started keeping a good record of all my incomings and outgoings to make my self assesment easier, all that stuff I kinda find easy, the problem I have is that I've recently moved from Cornwall to Bristol so I don't have the advantage of getting started with private work from people i know and starting up slowly that way.

What tips would people give on how to build the client base and do many of you work for letting agencies and if so is this a good way of getting some regular work or is it more hassle than its worth.

Thanks a lot for any ideas and help.

 

[growler]

knock on old ladies doors and tell them their house will burn down unless its rewired !

 

[PKBristol]

You need some of those official RCD leaflets from the NIC, the ones which say something like you'll die if you cut the grass without RCD protection blah blah blah. Those leaflets have got me a couple of rewires !!

 

[vaughant]

Sorry to sound negative but don't bother,running your own business is not what it's cracked up to be,especially with little experience.
Keep a books in job and do it on the side but only log the minimum amount in you can get away with unless your looking to borrow against the company for a new van etc.
Go limited company so if it goes ---- up you walk away owing nothing,I'd do as much cash in hand as you can.
And for all those saying I'm morally bankrupt sadly these are the realities of what you have to do in Britain right now to put a few ££££ in your pocket rather than see it all fritter away in taxes/licenses etc.
Try if you can to get into a big factory as your books in job as workers there are always looking for boys who do hobbles,you'll get your rep built up that way then but be aware that if you go it alone you'll need to up your prices and you'll soon see where these people dissapear to then,someone whos doing what you should be,working books in and hobbling on the side.

 

[Skyba]

Sorry to sound negative but don't bother,running your own business is not what it's cracked up to be,especially with little experience.
Keep a books in job and do it on the side but only log the minimum amount in you can get away with unless your looking to borrow against the company for a new van etc.
Go limited company so if it goes ---- up you walk away owing nothing,I'd do as much cash in hand as you can.
And for all those saying I'm morally bankrupt sadly these are the realities of what you have to do in Britain right now to put a few ££££ in your pocket rather than see it all fritter away in taxes/licenses etc.
Try if you can to get into a big factory as your books in job as workers there are always looking for boys who do hobbles,you'll get your rep built up that way then but be aware that if you go it alone you'll need to up your prices and you'll soon see where these people dissapear to then,someone whos doing what you should be,working books in and hobbling on the side.

So wish I could get a job on the books, unfortunately I've been forced to go it alone as a subby anyway which basically means all the disadvantages of bein self employed with non of the advantages, it's not even like subbies get a better deal these days, you're lucky to get above £13-14 an hour as a subby these days.
As I'm still waiting for my portfolio to be signed off I've been working as an improver and I was gettin £10 p/hr until I was laid off last week, I turned down 2 jobs today both offering £7.50 p/hr which is just an insult to be honest, once I paid the theives at the payment company and my CIS tax I'd barely clear £200 for a weeks work

 

[VoltzElectrical]

So wish I could get a job on the books, unfortunately I've been forced to go it alone as a subby anyway which basically means all the disadvantages of bein self employed with non of the advantages, it's not even like subbies get a better deal these days, you're lucky to get above £13-14 an hour as a subby these days.
As I'm still waiting for my portfolio to be signed off I've been working as an improver and I was gettin £10 p/hr until I was laid off last week, I turned down 2 jobs today both offering £7.50 p/hr which is just an insult to be honest, once I paid the theives at the payment company and my CIS tax I'd barely clear £200 for a weeks work

I've always taken these low paid jobs when I'm quiet as it does two things

1. keeps your hand in, and the wolf from the door (£200 a week is way better than JSA).
2. leads to more opportunities as you are out there meeting people.

I think that you are trying to run before you can walk TBH. When you come on here asking for advice, perhaps you should listen to what is being said to you. It's all meant in the best of spirit, not to constrict, or thwart your ambitions, but to guide you along the best path and let natural opportunities arise.

I have been slogging away at the game for over 6 years, and taken the rough with the smooth, the low paid jobs as well as the better paying ones. Eventually, like you will, I got my qualifications and my Gold Card, and finally just two weeks ago got a permanent job with the council on PAYE, Holidays, Van, phone, pension.

Be patient young Skyba. There is a natural order to things.

 

[Skyba]

I've always taken these low paid jobs when I'm quiet as it does two things

1. keeps your hand in, and the wolf from the door (£200 a week is way better than JSA).
2. leads to more opportunities as you are out there meeting people.

I think that you are trying to run before you can walk TBH. When you come on here asking for advice, perhaps you should listen to what is being said to you. It's all meant in the best of spirit, not to constrict, or thwart your ambitions, but to guide you along the best path and let natural opportunities arise.

I have been slogging away at the game for over 6 years, and taken the rough with the smooth, the low paid jobs as well as the better paying ones. Eventually, like you will, I got my qualifications and my Gold Card, and finally just two weeks ago got a permanent job with the council on PAYE, Holidays, Van, phone, pension.

Be patient young Skyba. There is a natural order to things.

I Wouldn't say I'm trying to run before I can walk as such I'd definitely say I'm not ready to go it alone but I am only a matter of weeks from getting my gold card as I began my journey into the trade in 2009.

It's not the business side I'm worried about as i was a project manager in my previous career before I fell ill, I'm more than confident in my ability to do electrical work in a domestic setting but I would be less confident taking on commercial and industrial projects if I was required to design as my industrial experience is limited to reading drawing and doing as it says.

I'm not saying I'd go out now and try and go it alone but you can never be too prepared, if I'm going to go it alone it will be with a vast amount of preparation before hand to ensure that it's all done correctly and I don't need to rely on the bank for start up.