The Highs an' Lows of the Sole Trader Market

[Marti]

Mods - this may be more suitable for The Leccy Arms but not sure if I have access so delete / move if unsuitable.

I've had a bit of a dry January. Not the "no beers" kind but, apart from one bathroom fit out, not a lot of work. Now I can fully understand that this is the world of feast 'n' famine I signed up for. I can see I'm not alone by the number of people chasing work on the MyBuilder site. Even so, logic aside, I found this a lot harder to keep in perspective than expected.

So, how have the experienced hands learnt to handle, not the varying work load, but the pressure of ....enforced down time. Your opinions appreciated.

 

[Marti]

How long have you been SE ? It can 3 to 5 years to build a diverse successful business

Apologies Murdoch, I noticed this and then missed answering. I started subbing in 2016 but 2018 was the start of totally independence so yet to "summer and winter" the business plan as my gardening friends would say. That why EF has been so valuable. It's not always about the work and answers as it is the assurance that this can be done.

My most successful sales technique so far - washing the (sign written) van out side my house. It's less about clean van than chatting to passers-by and has worked more than once.

 

[Marti]

How long have you been SE ? It can 3 to 5 years to build a diverse successful business

Apologies Murdoch, I noticed this and then missed answering. I started subbing in 2016 but 2018 was the start of totally independence so yet to "summer and winter" the business plan as my gardening friends would say. That why EF has been so valuable. It's not always about the work and answers as it is the assurance that this can be done.

My most successful sales technique so far - washing the (sign written) van out side my house. It's less about clean van than chatting to passers-by and has worked more than once.

 

[Rpa07]

Crumbs, Marti’s washed his van in the last two hours more than I have in 6 months!

Apologies Murdoch, I noticed this and then missed answering. I started subbing in 2016 but 2018 was the start of totally independence so yet to "summer and winter" the business plan as my gardening friends would say. That why EF has been so valuable. It's not always about the work and answers as it is the assurance that this can be done.

My most successful sales technique so far - washing the (sign written) van out side my house. It's less about clean van than chatting to passers-by and has worked more than once.

 

[rapparee]

I don't think much of the suggestion of going door to door with leaflets and actually asking people if they need any work done.

It would give me the impression that someone wandering around aimlessly asking the general public for work mustn't be that good.

You should give the impression that you are in demand, even if you're not. A quick leaflet drop fine, but doing an unsolicited sales pitch.. it wouldn't be for me personally. Maybe things are different over in the UK.

 

[peterhyper]

I don't think much of the suggestion of going door to door with leaflets and actually asking people if they need any work done.

It would give me the impression that someone wandering around aimlessly asking the general public for work mustn't be that good.

You should give the impression that you are in demand, even if you're not. A quick leaflet drop fine, but doing an unsolicited sales pitch.. it wouldn't be for me personally. Maybe things are different over in the UK.

I have to agree with you regards the door knocking, as that is usually done by travellers or dodgey roofing blokes. I think If I got that desperate I would buy a bucket and sponge and become a window cleaner, at least then it would be fine door knocking asking if they wanted a window cleaner rather than asking if they want a house rewire.

 

[rapparee]

I have to agree with you regards the door knocking, as that is usually done by travellers or dodgey roofing blokes.

That's who I was thinking of, but didn't want to say

 

[Loki]

I don't think much of the suggestion of going door to door with leaflets and actually asking people if they need any work done.

I did suggest leaflets but never said anything about door knocking or actually asking people for work. Agree thats not a professional image

 

[Marti]

The "washing the van" thing (usually accompanied by The Archers) was possibly a lucky break. Neighbours came past to wish me / us luck. They each took a couple of cards for for friends / their kids in new homes / work and I got a few jobs which built my early customer base from ERR...zero. Probably not taught that way at Business School but neither is washing dirty vans

Humour aside, thanks for all your advice and encouragement.

 

[123]

It all takes time, and when building a customer base you will also get some bad customers - slow and even none payers, and others that are more hassle than they are worth. I find you tend to develop a nose for them, I can sniff 95% of them out now but the odd one does still slip though and it's nothing but hassle with them....

 

[Marti]

slow and even none payers, and others that are more hassle than they are worth. ..

I make you spot on - even with my limited experience of the market. Playing an honest game helps me; I do written quotes, carry a Sum-Up card payment device, do work I know to be good quality and (the hard part) walk away when the Spider Sense says "this one doesn't want to play nice"! Quoted one today - the "can you justs" equal another couple of days work - yea right! Naturally, this approach leads to income tax but we're not cowboys are we.

 

[Baddegg]

With you there marti, rather pay the revenue than work for free/cheap...