Check This One Out The Times We Live In.......

[CES]

Are you for real? How can £6.25 equate to £15.00 an hour self employed? If that were the case then that would mean your expenses are nearly £1600 a month if a full 40 hour week was worked. Your doing something wrong if your expenses are that much!

You are obviously unaware of company national insurance, business (public and employers liability), Corporation tax (if your ltd) accountants fees, banking fees (business accounts charge fees), van insurance, tools, safety gear, training costs, notification costs, gas safe membership. the list goes on, there are a lot of people out there with their hands out, (a lot of them trade "associations"). Then you have the potential for sickness (when you cant bring money in) holiday pay, pension provision etc.
It really annoys me when someone who knows bugger all about running a business bleats when i charge them £35 an hour. They wrongly assume that its going straight into my pocket and I always get the "that's £1400 a week!" comment because they automatically assume that we all have continous work, when in reality our hours are patchy at best. I cant remember the last time I had a full 40 hour week, oh yes I can.. it was when I was an employee and I didn't have all these expenses...
You get my drift?

 

[WaterTight]

Don't forget paperwork, getting materials and parts, typing up quotes, call-backs, last minute cancellations, postponments due to incomplete or incorrect suites / parts, calling round to find nobody is in, chasing payments, chasing pavements...oh no wait, that's Adele.

I tell you I wouldn't kick that Adele out of bed. Because I'd probably break a foot.

 

[fogarty]

LOL best joke I've heard this week, the weekend starts here

 

[Phil]

Jokes? I've got a good joke, its a pitty I cant tell it though or I will be banned. :veryangry2:

 

[nysk2008]

maybe tevev from man city is putting the feelers out, may need a new job soon - soz to all the city fans

 

[nysk2008]

Don't forget paperwork, getting materials and parts, typing up quotes, call-backs, last minute cancellations, postponments due to incomplete or incorrect suites / parts, calling round to find nobody is in, chasing payments, chasing pavements...oh no wait, that's Adele.

I tell you I wouldn't kick that Adele out of bed. Because I'd probably break a foot.

Mate, your bed would be broke before your foot, but - when in rome!

 

[tackleburger]

I have pulled out of plumbing as it is getting ridiculous in terms of price now. Too many plumbers drawn down some cash starting on a property renovation project in the next month. Sick of all the hassle see how it goes over the next few years.

 

[dontknowitall]

That's a shame for you, TackleBurger but quite understandable if the competition is silly. I think the same happened to builders a while back (especially hassle with customers) as I know of a few who've gone into renovating. Hope it goes well for you!

 

[tackleburger]

I could keep going but it's just getting silly. Got undercut on a fit only combi swap I quoted 350 guy got it done for 100. It's funny you mention it to guys in merchants and everyone seems to be suffering the same fate but in my view half the blokes you talk to are doing it just not admitting it. Ill still do my regulars servicing and wee jobs as required but got a place bought ready to go. I do all the electrics, plumbing heating fit the kitchen just get a joiner to do the work tops, and hang some new doors and fit windows. Need a plasterer as well and the rest I'll do decor etc. If I ge a call and I fancy the job I'll do it if not I'll turn it down. No more advertising costs, no more rated people (undercutting society that one) like I said a couple of years time sites may be back on and things may improve.

 

[dontknowitall]

We're hoping to move house and I've decided that with these fast track courses around (and if it pays) I'll go on various short courses to learn electrics (I know some but not enough), plastering, brickwork, etc.

You never know, you might be back to plumbing after a couple of years as all the newbies fall by the wayside again to learn something different (e.g. shelf stacking?)

 

[tackleburger]

Why not if you can add a string or two to your bow. You know I was looking around for something else recently and you can get 12 quid an hour doing hgv 1 trunking work on a back shift add a few plumbing jobs in before you go and you can do ok. I got out of that game 10 years ago because there was no cash in it how times turn

 

[tamz]

It is a shame when long time established guys have to rap it up due to the stupid competition that cannot be competed with.
Some people - not all but most - have unrealistic expectations of what it should cost to get work done which definitely has been worsened by the internet and there is always some numpty willing to do it for less than wages.
I hope your project goes well. It will certainly be less stressful.

 

[tackleburger]

Thanks man. I'll keep you updated. I know of two or three others who feel the same I am lucky in a way as I can do something else. I know one guy who couldn't get work after working for others for 10 years so he bought a van etc now he is out of business after 6 months real shame as he is a damn good plumber

 

[Phil]

I hope it goes well tackleberger, the only advice I can give is try and avoid pre war houses from the era of asbestos artex and lime motar etc.

Some of those houses are held together by dust and asbestos.