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[Frank skimmer]

Hi all,

New to this forum so please go easy on me, I'm looking for your professional advice/ opinions on my situation.

I have many years exp in the building trade and did a 5 year apprenticeship and then went on to work for several different company's. Cutting a long story short I was forced to set up on my own during the recession and wasn't really prepared for it. I couldn't afford to advertise, Got odd job coming in but no where near enough to keep me going So I decided to take a job with an electrical generation company working in the control room. I earn 25k a year but miss the building trade and using the skills I was trained in. I'm thinking of setting up again this year doing bathrooms, kitchens, tiling and plastering but I'm worried i won't earn the same as I am doing now, I have a young family and a mortgage to consider so any help on this subject would be much appreciated.

Kind regards,


Danny

 

[AlexGas]

If you have enough hands, doing bathrooms, kitchens, tiling and plastering, you’ll be smashing it, Danny! Where abouts are you?

 

[SimonG]

Cant afford not to advertise when you start up.

 

[lame plumber]

what is going to be different this time, apart from the fact you have a family to support? That is the question you need to ask yourself if you want to make a go of it this time!

 

[Frank skimmer]

Thanks for all replies,

I'm in the Midlands area, one thing that will be different this time is that I'm in a better financial position than before. I can choose when to go for it and make sure I'm prepared as before the industry dictated to me. I'm in an office all day pretty much chained to a desk for 12 hour shifts and miss the building trade. I don't get job satisfaction as I did in the building trade, having said that it's not bad money for what I do but just wanted opinions on What the market is like out there at the minute and if my ambitions are realistic. It's more about job satisfaction than a money move but would like to think I could earn what I'm earning now. What you guys think?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

if i was you i would keep the 25k a year job

 

[Chalked]

Nothing like having a family and mortgage to sharpen the mind!

Build up some contacts with bathroom showrooms. Swap your own bathroom, or downstairs loo and use it to show customers what you can do.
I say have a go. When you leave your job, do it as amicably as possible. Just in case you need it again.
Far better to try and fail. Rather than failing to try!

 

[Frank skimmer]

What makes you say that, am I being unrealistic with earning the same or is the market not great at min?

 

[Frank skimmer]

Excuse my incompetence, not sure where to reply yet so apologies if you receive about 6 posts saying the same thing lol


i appreciate all your replies by the way,

my my heart is saying have a go don't have any regrets in your life. My head is saying stick with what pays the mortgage and supports family. I miss having job satisfaction and the pride I took in doing each and every job. What I'm going now is just a dead end job and will never be truly satisfied even tho it pays bills. Am I being unrealistic in my ambitions, could I earn same or no?

 

[jtsplumbing]

Stick with what your doing, You know what the building trade is like, never guarantee the amount of work that you can get, remember there will be no holiday pay/sick pay, then you have the start up costs, think hard & long B4 you give up a secure job, once you leave never much chance of going back, self employed is not a fun job, Stick to what your doing, do the other stuff at weekends.

 

[PhoenixServices]

Depends what you want out of life. I went self employed because I wanted flexible working to spend time with the missus and little un.
Doesn't always work out that way but I love the flexibility and the money's not so bad.
I dropped from £40k working for a firm to go self employed.

 

[Frank skimmer]

To be fair that's one of the reasons I'm considering it. I start work early and finish late and building trade hours would better suit my family. The thought of setting up will always be in the back of my mind, it's just the fear of the unknown and worry holding me back at the minute.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Only you know what you need to get by, could you manage if you had to take a 10 to 15K loss in earnings, don't for get you will be competing against established firms, and your going to have to beat there prices, no good saying it not about the money, its always about the money, if you have savings you will be surprised how quick that will go, you need to be planning ahead all of the time, chasing work & payments.

 

[Frank skimmer]

I know what your saying mate, we could just about get by on one wage until things picked up although it would be a massive drop in earnings. Abit of inspiration comes from 2 brothers I know who only started fitting bathrooms 2 years ago and now turn over 180k a year. The job I'm in now is a dead ender, it pays ok but I'm prepared to take the initial fall if I stand taller when I get up. You guys are living it day in day out and know the market better than me at minute. What's it like out there am I being realistic if I work hard at it.

 

[tucker.c]

good luck to you frank I hope it all go well for you

 

[jtsplumbing]

Don't be led by the £180K turnover, doing bathrooms, its what wage they are getting out of it they may only getting £10K each at the end of year

 

[Frank skimmer]

Judging by what they have I think around 80k of it will be materials, but I know what you mean with turnover it means nothing.