Starting my own Business

[kay-jay]

direct line is nice and cheap for public liability insurance.
whoever you go with make sure you are allowed to use a blowtorch as many policy's exclude this!!!

p.s direct line let you do hot work!

 

[northstar]

any extra for electrics kay jay ?

 

[jstevens]

Anyone know how i get a trade card thing? Like i have plumbfix near me but i need a card to buy stuff. Do i just join an orginisation like CIPHE?

 

[Resolute]

Anyone can become a member of screwfix and to upgrade to plumbfix you just need to prove plumbing quals. I just gave them details of my NVQ.

 

[msec]

To OP, watch what you spend on advertising, a lot of it is a waste of time and money. Stick to the traditionals like local paper, leaflet drops etc. Get your van signwritten, give a business card to EVERYONE you meet and get yourself a website up and running. No one method gives guaranteed results and the idea is long term, local awareness of you and your company. Get on the businesslink website, they give good advice for start up companies. I know some people still recommend yellow pages but personally, it didn't work for me.
Be warned that as soon as you begin advertising you become fresh meat for every phone jockey scam artist in the country trying to sell you something so expect these idiots and tell them where to go. Do not give them the time of day, it is almost certainly a scam.

 

[desrob]

Anyone know how i get a trade card thing? Like i have plumbfix near me but i need a card to buy stuff. Do i just join an orginisation like CIPHE?

at 17 i doubt if you have any plumbing qualification and please don't throw the 6129 tech cert at me,read other threads, it's been said and said again. your enthusiasm is to be commended but reality will hit you like a sledge hammer, once your relatives and friends run out, believe me things will be tough, there are literally thousands of 17teen year olds, possibly misslead some were along the line seeking the dream,every day there is a thread i'm hard working honest etc,i'll work for nothing ,i've done my 6129, a.c.s. but no experience just give me a chance, it's getting quite tedious and in the current climate a bit annoying.my advice to you is forget plumbing,car van, concentrate on being 17 and leave a battered industry alone. not aimed at you personally.

 

[metaldust9]

have to be gas safe for plumbfix as you can buy gas stuff on ye card so they want ye gas safe card do in our local one anyway mate in manc got one thro recpets for stuff thought his plumbing business

 

[Guest123]

As your young, under the age of 25, you could qualify for a grant from the Prince's trust and I suggest that you contact your local enterprise organisation (up here it's Falkirk for business), who run free start up courses and will help you with absolutely everything you need to know at no cost to you.

You need to contact the Inland Revenue within 3 months of starting up and all records must be kept for 5 years.

If you get van insurance make sure it covers its contents. Loss of tools can cripple your business.

Read fully the small print in Tradesman insurance. Often you may not be covered for using heat/blow lamp.

Good on you for having the drive to go and work for yourself. Sadly many are forced to live on government handouts at your age.

Best of luck to you and if you need a logo designed and a copy of some of the invoice forms and plumbing leaflets that I use then PM me and I'll help you out. I've done this freely for other forum members and what I gain is the satisfaction of helping a new start to our trade which is getting hammered from many directions! I am a fully qualified graphic designer and litho printer as well as a plumber, but plumbing is where my income is from these days.

Keep your cash in your pocket and not in some slick con man advertisers. My leaflets have a proven track record and they are cheap to produce and will get you work.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

help offered by system3 for free top fella or felleress well you never know these days LOL

 

[Guest123]

help offered by system3 for free top fella or felleress well you never know these days LOL

Def a bloke mate, with 2 kids an a missus!