About to go self employed

[awhitfield]

Hi everyone, not sure if i am in the right place to discuss this but here goes.
I am about to make the jump and go self employed as a gas safe engineer/plumber.
I have 12 years experience as a domestic plumber and 4 years as gas safe.
I have all my own tools,analyzer,van,public liability and have just had my gas safe probation lifted.
I would appreciate any advice given about going self employed.

Many thanks
Andrew

 

[Ermintrude]

Smoke loads of weed it helps u stay motivated an on task.

Just suspect everyone is trying to rip you off big time .

 

[Deleted member 7121]

Good days and bad days , but never let it grind you down !

 

[jtsplumbing]

When you give a price stick to it, don't sell yourself short, don't fall for the old ,the jobs yours if you can just drop the price a little more.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Have a really clear idea of your overheads. Don't just guess them, make an estimate for each category, and then test it against reality every quarter. Dont hide from the admin. You are now a businessman first and foremost and a plumber/gas engineer 2nd.

For whenever you have spare time, always have a list of tasks that will assist developing your business - even if its just leaflet dropping.

 

[townfanjon]

Be prepared for the hardest ride of your life.
Good luck, work hard and you will succeed .

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Good luck build it up slow and steady. Just try not to loose money on jobs make sure you spec them properly. Communication with the customer is key

 

[PlumbersMate]

Been GSR 4 years and just off probation, is that how long it takes?!

 

[newcastle phill]

+1 ^....???

 

[lame plumber]

good weeks bad months recently 🙂

 

[wetdrip]

Terms and conditions signed before work commences.
Get to know your way around small claims procedures.

 

[Linkyplumb]

Been GSR 4 years and just off probation, is that how long it takes?!

I would imagine he was gas safe registered under a company, then got his own reg, hence the probation

 

[oz-plumber]

As with Ray - Learn your overheads.
Pick every job to pieces - big or small - ( small are easier ) when you get home.
Go through every item you use and work out a cost.
That way you will learn quickly on how to calculate overheads and consumables.

Invoice promptly and as soon as an invoice is overdue - get onto the customer.

All the best

 

[Linkyplumb]

sound advice there Oz

 

[TFGplumbing]

dont be shy asking for your money cash flow is king

 

[newcastle phill]

Payment on completion immediately.
Make it your term of doing the job clearly at the outset.
Take a deposit to cover all materials and a small amount of labour at the outset (large jobs)
If the customer isn't happy. Walk away.
Asda doesnt invoice for shopping.

Where possible avoid doing work for other businesses. Especially property developers and letting agents and landlords.
The worst payers imho.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Asda doesnt invoice for shopping.

Post of the week.

 

[SimonG]

Bigger jobs agree staged payments. If you do take a deposit for materials make sure you include your mark up in the deposit. Puts you ahead at the start.

 

[wetdrip]

Post of the week.

If he had put the apostrophe in the correct place then I would have agreed.

 

[lame plumber]

If he had put the apostrophe in the correct place then I would have agreed.

Could have done with a comma in your response, to be correct. 🙂