Advice Please on a NEW BUSINESS OPNENING as a Gas Safe Engineer

[Tony]

Hi everyone, am about getting a van for my business as a Gas safe engineer.
what do I need to put into consideration towards establishing business.
which company sector offer a good public liability insurance for business
what are the major TOOLS do I need to get in the van for as business contractor.
if there are anymore for me to know as BUSINESS CONTRACTOR, please endeavour to let me know.
thanks so much.

Kind Regards.
Tony

 

[Harvest Fields]

Hi everyone, am about getting a van for my business as a Gas safe engineer.
what do I need to put into consideration towards establishing business.
which company sector offer a good public liability insurance for business
what are the major TOOLS do I need to get in the van for as business contractor.
if there are anymore for me to know as BUSINESS CONTRACTOR, please endeavour to let me know.
thanks so much.

Kind Regards.
Tony

Are you newly qualified or experienced?

 

[Tony]

Newly qualified, but have had my business probationary lifted by gas safe inspector. When he came to inspect my first job/work.

 

[Scott_D]

You must already have most of the tools needed?

 

[Tony]

Thanks scott_d, the tools I have are just for servicing and repairs. Do I need to stock my van as a businessman in progress.

 

[firemant]

Jeez.

 

[Scott_D]

I cant work out if this is serious

 

[thereisawizza]

Very strange wording......

 

[GasChecks]

Just add the tools as and when you need them. It’s exciting bring newly qualified I know but no need to rush out and spend money unnecessarily. In terms of PL insurance just go on any comparison site.
All the best

 

[rpm]

I cant work out if this is serious

I can`t be bothered trying. 😀

 

[oz-plumber]

Thanks scott_d, the tools I have are just for servicing and repairs. Do I need to stock my van as a businessman in progress.

Of course you do.
Do you want to run around all day fixing gas appliances, or attempting to, and not having any parts in stock. Customer get jack of having people turn up and diagnose faults, then turn around and say they have to order parts and will be back in 3 days.
You would probably have a heart attack if I told you what I spend on spare parts for boilers and other appliances in the months before our winter.
I know I almost did - but got rid of most of them at a healthy margin.
Most customer were happy - heating fixed on first visit.

 

[Tony]

Thanks everyone and a big thank you GASCHECKS AND OZ-PLUMBER for your kind gesture, taking time to give me a piece of advice.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Of course you do.
Do you want to run around all day fixing gas appliances, or attempting to, and not having any parts in stock. Customer get jack of having people turn up and diagnose faults, then turn around and say they have to order parts and will be back in 3 days.
You would probably have a heart attack if I told you what I spend on spare parts for boilers and other appliances in the months before our winter.
I know I almost did - but got rid of most of them at a healthy margin.
Most customer were happy - heating fixed on first visit.

You cannot stock every part for every boiler. It is impossible. You stock the key items for the popular boilers in your location. Anything else is a second visit.

 

[snowhead]

As a new business with presumably a small customer base, you need to balance very carefully what you spent on a van, tools and stock.
It's no good having a fully stocked van with all the tools to fit the spares and have no food on the table at home.

 

[oz-plumber]

You cannot stock every part for every boiler. It is impossible. You stock the key items for the popular boilers in your location. Anything else is a second visit.

True, I didn't mean to say that I carry every part for every boiler, but being in the game for a long time, generally have an idea of what parts are required the most. We also have a much smaller range of boilers over here than you guys do.
Generally carry up to a dozen PCB's, combustion fans, pumps, relief valves and exp tanks + many more items.
And room thermostats

 

[Deleted member 32524]

I carry no stock for boiler repairs. Used to but ended up carrying parts around for ages and sometimes accidently cost myself money by damaging the part or whatever. Find a local independent who should have their finger on the pulse, parts wise. As you grow you may want to spend on parts but it is so difficult to guess what you need before you even get a call about it. With experience you may want to buy something for a job when you are in merchant anyway as you may have a fair idea of what you need before you go, but this can also bite you in the butt as you buy a part and its something else, so that's my van stock I suppose. Either, visit and diagnose, collect part that day (chargeable time to and from) if I am close to a trusted merchant who has it in stock and fit it, if I have time that day, or order and return to fit. (Two call outs charged)