Self employment

[Gizmo.man]

I really want to go self employed As a plumber
But don't know where to start or look. Where to advertise

 

[Hardy1]

join the club mate. join the club.

 

[samh]

I take it you're employed as a plumber atm, so its probably worth putting the hours in and working self employed in your spare time (weekends, evenings etc) It'll be hard work but while doing that you build a customer base of your own, get a name for yourself as a one man band and get some secure earnings as well.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

good luck

 

[Guest123]

Contact your local Business Gateway and they will help you with everything. They run free business courses and offer free ongoing help and advice to your business.

 

[matt5541]

i would advertise in local rags and internet find a tradesman and so on get contract work with letting agents and word of mouth is good if your a honest trades man who does a top job as people always remember the bad plumbers and starting out is hard work but hope it goes well for you

 

[Hardy1]

Contact your local Business Gateway and they will help you with everything. They run free business courses and offer free ongoing help and advice to your business.

just checked and the one coming up is scotland??? or am i looking in the wrong place?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

google them adding your area to the search should come up then

 

[Gizmo.man]

Thanks for your reply. I have been working alongside
A gas man for 3 years and he's packed me in
And I have decent enought experience and
Confidence just don't know where to start
Or the know how. In considering yellow pages
To advertise.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

good luck mate -you will need it

will not comment as you will not like what I would have replay back !

 

[Hardy1]

cheers

 

[Guest123]

In Scotland it is known as the Business Gateway and they have offices all over Scotland helping businesses to get started and funded. It is a superb organisation.

In England it is known as Business Link, I don't know much about them or if they have offices and are as widespread as our own version but go and have a look. The website is here:
Business support, information and advice | Business Link

 

[Gizmo.man]

Then why bother replying? Why bother even being
On a forum? And as for luck I don't need yours. And if I did need luck
Believe me I wouldn't want it off u!

 

[Gizmo.man]

Thank you for all positive replies. Help is always
Appreciated.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

Then why bother replying? Why bother even being
On a forum? And as for luck I don't need yours. And if I did need luck
Believe me I wouldn't want it off u!

believe us when we say there are dozens of people wanting work/placements/unpaid experience every month. just do a search on the forums. there isn't the work around at the moment.

 

[Guest123]

Well said Steveb.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

thank you

 

[Gizmo.man]

Yeah suppose there isn't enough work around. I've been looking for a year or so
But I think for now I'm better off on HGVs. Nothing much out there at the min
And I hate call centre/office desk jobs. Only reason I went or plumbing is because I love
Working with my hands.

 

[Hardy1]

well said steveb, and again good luck gizmo.man

 

[sparra1100]

good luck mate -you will need it

will not comment as you will not like what I would have replay back !

me to and good luck on the £35,000 to £60,000 we all earn

 

[sparra1100]

Then why bother replying? Why bother even being
On a forum? And as for luck I don't need yours. And if I did need luck
Believe me I wouldn't want it off u!

if thats your attatude to people who,ve been there and done it then carnt wait for a few months down the line when your skint and moaning on here theres no work and youre in peoples houses getting grief will you be as ignorant to them dont think you will last long

 

[Gizmo.man]

Well its not about the money! (yet)

 

[gravytrain]

this works for me

yellow pages
yell.com
my own website
parish magazines

as well as working with your hands do you like

bookeeping
doing your accounts
preparing quotes
invoices
chasing non paying customers
marketing
maintaining your customer database
lots of lovely paperwork

as has been said there is not much work around (apart from paperwork) and judging by the news its only going to get more difficult

 

[Gizmo.man]

I am familiar with all that paperwork and chasing around non payments
And I'm not looking to make mega £££s
Just something little extra to keep afloat really.
I know things are bad out there.

 

[Destroyer2813]

Then why bother replying? Why bother even being
On a forum? And as for luck I don't need yours. And if I did need luck
Believe me I wouldn't want it off u!

That aint the way to get good advice remember when u wanna come back and start asking questions people may well remember your attitude

 

[samh]

If you just want something little extra to keep afloat you'd be better off working in a supermarket (if you can get a job there) you get contracted to a certain amount of hours, and if they can't give you that many they still have to pay you for them, you're guaranteed National Minimum Wage and most have good schemes where you work your way up to managerial positions and nice bonuses.

As a self employed plumber (specially starting out) you'll work every hour possible, be constantly tired, struggling even more so to keep afloat (setting up costs) and I doubt you'd be making enough after NI contributions, van insurance, public liability, advertising etc you'll be making yourself national minimum wage. Its the wrong thing to be looking at if you only want to make a little extra. Sorry if this seems blunt/harsh but its the reality of it.

 

[gaspastemania]

Can i ask why plumbing???

 

[Gizmo.man]

Well I think plumbing should be good for a career start I'm only 22
And I hate supermarket work or shop work they treat you like a dog

 

[markfxy]

I don't think 3 years experience as a plumbers mate will get you far you need to be realistic there are a lot of good tradesmen out there struggling to find work. With things the way they are you'd be better off stacking shelves at tescos more job security and better pay.

 

[Guest123]

A dog can crap and doesnt have to clean it up. A human can crap and a plumber has to clean it up.

 

[Gizmo.man]

Lol well said!

 

[samh]

Only 22? That isn't only, you're going up against 1000's of 16/17/18 year olds who all think its a good career to start. I'm one of them in a way, although I knew it's really hard to get into before I started learning at college, I got into it because I want a trade, want to become a property developer and have always been interested in plumbing.

They may treat you like a dog, but there are certain rules they have to adhere to, and you can take it up with them and they have to listen. You'll come across so many customers that'll treat you badly, and you have a couple of options, 1. Ignore it, continue with the job (No offence but looking at your posts you wouldn't do that) 2. Continue the job but take it up with the customer. (They'll either apologise and just were being thoughtless or they're actually like that in day to day life and they'll tell you to F off.) or 3. You walk away from the job. Lost out on money there, probably made a loss after a quotation, travelling to and from etc.

Its hard. Do not be fooled by people who say it isn't. They see it with rose tinted glasses or see older guys doing well and not having as much of this rubbish. They've been in the game for donkeys years and worked through all this and built a good reputation. It will not fall into place overnight, it'll take years of hard work.

Don't get snappy with posters, ask for the advice even though you won't like it. If you don't just thank them and mull it over, weigh up the pros and cons of the trade then decide if it is actually what you want to do or if it's just a bit of a whim.

I hope this helps you out, Regards, Sam.

 

[samh]

A dog can crap and doesnt have to clean it up. A human can crap and a plumber has to clean it up.

A plumber with a dog permanently cleans crap up!

 

[gaspastemania]

What about painting decorating??

 

[Guest123]

I'd recommend that you look at training in ceramic tiling. All the tilers I know are fully booked months in advance. Try the Tilers Forum link at the top of the page and someone there will advise you.

Did you try Business Link?

 

[Gizmo.man]

I know it's a very difficult task, however I don't like quitting
I will keep at it until I get somewhere with this. I really do want a trade for my self
Just like many others. But I'm sure one day my persistence will pay off.

Yes I can get a bit snappy but in a good Way

 

[gaspastemania]

I'd recommend that you look at training in ceramic tiling. All the tilers I know are fully booked months in advance. Try the Tilers Forum link at the top of the page and someone there will advise you.

Did you try Business Link?

£25 per square meter ,most dont break the tiles off nor even carry the tiles into the kitchen bathroom etc ,the ones i know easy earn over £700+ per week,
best of it is its not even a trade !!!

 

[tamz]

If you were working with a gas guy for 3 years why did you not think about qualifications earlier?
It would have been easier to do while you were working.
Why did he bump you?
Short of work or short of patience?

 

[samh]

I'd recommend that you look at training in ceramic tiling. All the tilers I know are fully booked months in advance. Try the Tilers Forum link at the top of the page and someone there will advise you.

Did you try Business Link?

I know a tiler, he's bloomin good, having to turn work down but has that old problem of too much work to do by himself but not enough to take someone else on and guarantee that he'll always have work for them unfortunately.

 

[samh]

I know it's a very difficult task, however I don't like quitting
I will keep at it until I get somewhere with this. I really do want a trade for my self
Just like many others. But I'm sure one day my persistence will pay off.

Yes I can get a bit snappy but in a good Way

That first part is a very good attitude, the second part not so great. How can you be snappy in a good way, surely its better to stay calm and put a point across in a civil and polite manner?

Whats to stop you getting snappy with a customer when they keep asking the same question and can't get there head round the answer?

 

[Gizmo.man]

He was short of work, but he sort of used me for the
Dog work and lead me to believe he was sorting out funding for ACS
And packages.

 

[desrob]

He was short of work, but he sort of used me for the
Dog work and lead me to believe he was sorting out funding for ACS
And packages.

your silly in a good way though.!

 

[samh]

BTW mate, don't think I'm having a go or trying to put you off, I'm not, I'd have nothing to gain from that (as far as I know you could be the other side of the country) I just don't want to see anyone entering the trade massively optimistic and not knowing the facts.
I hope what I've said on this thread has helped you and any others that read it and are considering joining the trade.

 

[Gizmo.man]

I live in Sheffield by the way. I wouldnt say
I'm optimistic massively but there has to be some
Optimism in you to achieve at least something
Whether one succeeds or fails. I'm just another normal guy trying
To climb a ladder.

 

[samh]

Make sure you wear a hard hat while climbing the ladder, health and safety an all that

I do genuinely wish you luck mate

 

[tamz]

He was short of work, but he sort of used me for the
Dog work and lead me to believe he was sorting out funding for ACS
And packages.

If he was short of work you'll have an idea how tight things are in the trade.

There is no funding as far as i'm aware for ACS.There is for NVQ's and he would have gotten grants and college fees paid had he applied.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

like a said good luck mate , but do the research before go a head or you could end up with all saved £ up in smoke as advertising and all other costs are reaching the sky ,the only cheap thing is going to be your charge rate !

 

[PlumbBobBob]

£25 per square meter ,most dont break the tiles off nor even carry the tiles into the kitchen bathroom etc ,the ones i know easy earn over £700+ per week,
best of it is its not even a trade !!!

don't let them on the tilers forum hear you saying that lol

 

[Gizmo.man]

Well I don't think he even bothered looking into it for
Me, I thought I could trust him enough to sort
It for me, you stay loyal to someone and
This is how you get treated. I was on £20 a day
11 hrs a day over 5 days. I have been terribly
Ripped off.

 

[Resolute]

First off, you can make it of your good enough but it's hard work and you'll need a lot of patience. You get customers not being able to explain faults properly and wanting the earth, delivered within an hour for £20! Also, be prepared to learn and get frustrated. No matter how good you are sometimes things don't go to plan and even the simplest jobs turn into a nightmare - try spending 3 hours playing with a toilet cistern then get an air lock all for £15!

Finally if you feel you can put up with all that then apologise to Safe Gas, as I guarantee you could benefit from his advice and help at somepoint!

Sorry for the long post but if you take it on board and still want to be a plumber then good luck and welcome to the forums!