What made you make the jump to self employed

[telectrix]

in 1975 i was earning a wage of £24/week. i was made redundant, so went self-employed setting as call-out charge of £10. suddenly i was then earning over £150/week after expenses.

 

[JBW175]

For me, it was finding something I’d enjoy doing after I left the Army. I’d always planned on going on the Super Yachts but the Mrs didn’t want me going away for long periods of time, so I had to have a rethink.

I’d worked on large 3P marine installations for the majority of my career, so making the switch over to an electrician working shore side seemed a logical thing to do.

I also didn’t fancy having to answer to anyone after I left the mob, and My dad had always been self employed (wood butcher), so the freedom it brings appealed to me.

 

[Steviec1]

I did it 4 weeks ago, I know how you feel I have 2 young kids (2 & 4).
My story is that I worked for someone for 20 years. The chap had other income and seemed to lose interest in the electrical buisness, it got so frustrating in the end because customers were contacting me asking me to chase up the boss. He stopped quoting and invoicing was slow. When regular customers started moving on to other contractors I realised I had to go, or I'd get binned eventually anyway.

I'm doing OK so far, it's only my 4th week and more and more people from my past have realised im now setup on my own. Im pricing multiple jobs for 4 different builders, ive got a couple of industrial units that I provide maintenance for and so far not had a day off.

My wife set up a Facebook page but it's proving to be a pain in the bum so far, I'm looking a silly jobs, and it seems most of these people don't want to spend the money, they seem to get everyone round and go for the cheapest quote, I'm not really into that, the 6 week wonders are welcome to these.

Fortunately I know alot of buisness owners and people in trades in my area, a I think that has helped me a bit but I have had to try and take everything that comes my way.

I'm finding it hard with my time at the moment, I find I'm spending a lot of time looking at jobs, it feels weird because I feel that I've not made any money some days, I think it's just because it's new to me. Im doing all my quotes in my evenings so don't get a great deal of time off.
I'm sure it will all settle down.

I set up on my own in 1988 I had 2 young daughters and a mortgage. I also had workers hard for gaffers that couldn't organise a drink in a brewery.
Worked on panel building and installation on car plants, steel works, automation processing.
Gained degree in electrical engineering in 1992. I then added control panel design to my abilities.
I carried out turnkey projects on many different process systems. Design, build installation and commissioning all over the world.
Moved into them park work in 2010.
Its a great life, but you have to be good at running a business as well as being good at the trade, get a good accountant too!!

 

[Mike Johnson]

Isn't it amazing how many boss's are incompetent according to the people working for them, so incompetent they run a business, are awarded contracts and employ others to do the work. ?

 

[JBW175]

Isn't it amazing how many boss's are incompetent according to the people working for them, so incompetent they run a business, are awarded contracts and employ others to do it. ?

They may well be good at running a business but rubbish at managing their employees.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Why do so many employees need managing?

 

[pc1966]

Why do so many employees need managing?

Many don't, but the boss seems to think they do...

 

[Mike Johnson]

Its been my experience that the many do, most boss's end up being marriage councillors, financial advisors and have to micro manage some of their employee's whilst still trying to organise a drink in a brewery and run the business.

 

[AJshep]

Its been my experience that the many do, most boss's end up being marriage councillors, financial advisors and have to micro manage some of their employee's whilst still trying to organise a drink in a brewery and run the business.

My old boss was very good at running a buisness, he ran a successful business for year's. He just lost interest and towards the end.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Burnt out and tired.

 

[Zerax]

The two biggest problems with every business are customers and staff... if you could get rid of these... they'd run alot smoother...

 

[Dustydazzler]

Pay rates simple as that really

last company I worked for as a contracted sparks 40 hour week contract £30,000 pa inc company vehicle + tester etc (20 days paid holiday)

self deployed normal rate £300-400 per day , 5 day week using lower estimate £1500 a week. 6 k a month , £72 k a year

 

[Mike Johnson]

Double post.

 

[Mike Johnson]

The two biggest problems with every business are customers and staff... if you could get rid of these... they'd run alot smoother...

And the problems with most customer's are usually caused by the staff.