Starting up help

[Dan604]

I will post again but with another title, hope to get more response.

I been on this forum for a while now but never really used it... until now!


I am in a bit of a predicament where yes I am working within the electrical field, although not on the tools which is where I want to be.


I am working as an electrical controls/design engineer however I am looking to get on the tools. Issue is, I do need some kind of security when it comes to money.
Myself and a good friend have thought about trying to get work in outside of our permanent jobs and try build up a customer base and then hopefully if all goes well, leave our jobs in hope we have built up enough consistent work to give us a liveable wage.


Has anyone else been in this situation? And if so, how did you go about the transition from the normal 9-5 working for someone else, to starting a business on your own or with a partner? Myself and my friend are both mid 20's.

 

[Octopus]

With extreme difficulty. You need to start by working out if its financially possible as building up a client base "out of normal working hours" could be tricky to say the least. In fact I can't remember when a customer asked me to work "out of hours".

Add that to the fact you've very limited experience.

The final point to consider is that if you go into business together you'll need to be a formal partnership or ltd plus you are likely sooner of later to crash through the VAT threshold too.....

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Only times I worked out of hours was in commercial jobs, vets, pubs..... Even the Police want to do stuff in office hours usually.

so it will be rather difficult as most people are asleep / eating tea / having a bath / a bit of hows yer father out of hours

 

[Dan604]

Bit of how's your father... Who needs lights on then? Ha I am going to be getting some work with a relative who does commercial office re fits (suspended ceilings partition walls etc)
He has said that when I have finished my inspection and testing(which I'm currently doing), he will get me involved with the lighting circuits on small jobs etc.

sounds like it's not going to be an easy road!

 

[SJD]

For domestic work, I often do estimates in an evening or Saturday, and sometimes smaller jobs - e.g. for people out 9-5 during the week. Attitudes vary, some people are appreciative of that, some are a bit surprised that I offer. But it would be a bit odd if you were only available out of hours, and I doubt you could build up a business on just that.

 

[Octopus]

For domestic work, I often do estimates in an evening or Saturday, and sometimes smaller jobs - e.g. for people out 9-5 during the week. Attitudes vary, some people are appreciative of that, some are a bit surprised that I offer. But it would be a bit odd if you were only available out of hours, and I doubt you could build up a business on just that.

If somebody came to my house and only offered such terms I'd immediately think something was wrong!

 

[uksparks]

As SJD says, I myself do quotes in evenings sometimes and at weekends, and sometimes people like it if I can do the work at a weekend or after 5 when they are home. I try to avoid it but if it means getting the work then I do it. Not everyone can do stuff in the day.

when I started up I did a lot at evenings and weekends, it's worked for me. Business is "ok" to a degree, it's slow but then again next week I might be full up.

I changed from from doing what I was to electrical work for various reasons and it was the right time in life, I packed in a £45k salary to do electrical work, I'll put it this way, the bank balance is going down faster than it's going up at present, but things will change.

 

[uksparks]

If somebody came to my house and only offered such terms I'd immediately think something was wrong!

Yes a part timer, someone with a main job and they do electrical work on the side.

 

[snowhead]

Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
No On the tools experience in the field.
Not currently working in that field assuming you are now doing mainly Industrial / Commercial design and want to be in domestic install
Thinking of a Partnership in a non existent business.

Do you have sufficient savings to support yourself for at least a year and to buy stock, tools vehicles plant etc and provide cash flow whilst waiting for customers to (possibly) pay up?



Do you just want to be self employed, why not try for work in the field you are in now?

 

[uksparks]

Do you have sufficient savings to support yourself for at least a year and to buy stock, tools vehicles

It's not a cheap hobby, I spent about £1500 on a van inc security, still drive it now. And I spent about £10,000 on tools.

as well as household expenses, I have to find £300 a year for van insurance, £500 for NICEIC, £225 road tax, £400 for pli, pi and tools

 

[Dan604]

All good pointers, but to say no experience at all is a bit of a jump to a conclusion.
I spent a few years working on the tools at weekends for a contractor - weekends were more his overflow work which he couldn't fit in during the week, not to say I have all the experience I will ever need, but we are all learning every day right? And I have been on jobs on my own (for this contractor) which I have managed to do a good and satisfactory job.

Reason for wanting to do it this way round as apposed to get a full time job with a contractor first is purely because where I am working at the moment I am in a 2 year contract which would be un feasible to leave any earlier.

Savings, well i do have savings but not enough to support me for a year, however going back to the last point of not giving up full time work for 2 more years would balance things out.

Really good to hear all the mixed opinions of working 'Out of hours'.

I'm now thinking of getting in contact with local electrical contractors and see if there's any scope for sub work at weekends evenings etc - who knows?
Utilise the contacts I have already and hope word of mouth brings extra in work.

Wanting to build a business over night is not what I want as that not only requires job experience but the learning curve of a business.
What I do want is to just get some small jobs in, example ring extensions, additions and modifications to light circuits, shower circuits etc. not full rewires! Just get me into dealing with customers, learning more about the job and business side of it.

i guess many are right, people may not like the idea of a part time sparky, but I guess I'm not crying out for the work either as still have job security.... For two years at least!

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Don't worry about being part time, I have been 6 years & its not bothered anyone, even large companies (I have a thing going with Capita).

If you are good enough it will be fitted around you. Just aim to do a better job than anyone else. Cocky thing to say I know but the rest will follow if you do that

 

[uksparks]

As spartykus says there's nothing wrong with being part time, I've done it but be prepared to come up with reasons and excuses to customers as I found more often than not they would say don't you do this in the day or you have another job and this is a hobby etc...

but like i saud offering weekends and evenings only, yes might be helpful to customers but unfortunately does get them asking questions.

 

[Dan604]

Don't worry about being part time, I have been 6 years & its not bothered anyone, even large companies (I have a thing going with Capita).

If you are good enough it will be fitted around you. Just aim to do a better job than anyone else. Cocky thing to say I know but the rest will follow if you do that

Cheers! Real good to hear others can do it! Exciting stuff and need to get test gear (and get the I&T done) but that's a topic for another day!

 

[atm84]

Is there anything in your contract with your current employer which says that you cannot do any other paid work?

If they have gone to the length of tying you in for two years I would be surprised if there wasn't something else which says that you can't do any other work.

 

[Dan604]

Is there anything in your contract with your current employer which says that you cannot do any other paid work?

If they have gone to the length of tying you in for two years I would be surprised if there wasn't something else which says that you can't do any other work.

Not that I have seen no! It's two years due to course training costs (courses which were forced upon me during probation period which if I didn't take the course, I wouldn't of passed probation. and its to the tune of £3k!)

If there was something in there, I guess would be a case of what they don't know won't hurt them... Just dont let it get in the way of the bread and butter so to speak

 

[rich.250]

It can be done yes
Just be careful of a partnership. Been there got caught out. Lost a lot of money.
It's difficult because unless you both work as hard as each other and want exactly the same thing it will not work.
Hope all goes well for you!

Rich