New Plumbing Business Knowledge

[Russel124]

I've recently been putting some serious thought into creating my own plumbing business, something which I've wanted to do for a while. I'm doing some research into start-ups as I'm pretty clueless about the process.

I've tried searching around the net and managed to find a guide that thomsonlocal provides (I couldn't post the URL but 'thomson guide to starting a plumbing business' brings it up if you Google search). I found this moderately helpful and am looking for more things like it.

I'd really appreciate any knowledge or personal stories you could share about starting up a plumbing business and if you have know anything similar to the thomson guide i'd love to see it.

Cheers,

Russel

 

[jtsplumbing]

Hi Russel, I take it you are a plumber with some experience ? If you are you will know now is not a good time to start anything, unless you have been offered some sort of long term work, if you are only going to be doing basic plumbing then you will struggle big time, it will also depend on were you are and how meny other plumbers are in your area, Have a look in your Thompson Local and see how meny are in that then look in Yellow Pages, you only have to read through this site to see how meny are finding it hard and some giving it up altogether , if you are in full time employment , hang on to your job, at least you get paid each week.

 

[Russel124]

Thanks for the reply! I am aware of how difficult it is, which is the main reason I wanted to gather as much information as possible and just see if it's feasible. I certainly won't be throwing my job away to start something I know will fail, so don't worry there 🙂

I'll have a look and see just how many there are in my area, I presume quite a few.

 

[SimonG]

So you are a plumber?

 

[lame plumber]

If he was a plumber he would already know the trade and be able to answer his own question, as it is, my advice would be too stick at being employed, you wont hack it in the real world.

 

[Russel124]

Yes I am an experienced plumber.

 

[Russel124]

If he was a plumber he would already know the trade and be able to answer his own question, as it is, my advice would be too stick at being employed, you wont hack it in the real world.

Don't think being rude or personal is necessary, but thanks for the constructive response anyway.

 

[SimonG]

Don't think being rude or personal is necessary, but thanks for the constructive response anyway.

If you think that's rude and personal then definitely stay employed. It's a big bad world out there.

 

[chris watkins]

If you think that's rude and personal then definitely stay employed. It's a big bad world out there.

Perhaps Russel124 might have expected not to meet the big bad world in here, for just asking a simple question !!

I think it would be wise to refrain from posting unless you have something constructive to say, rather than assuming you have an insight into someones personal circumstances.

 

[SimonG]

Perhaps Russel124 might have expected not to meet the big bad world in here, for just asking a simple question !!

I think it would be wise to re-frame from posting unless you have something constructive to say, rather than assuming you have a insight into someones personal circumstances.

I would refrain, but it was constructive. He comes across a little too naïve and delicate to be going on his own. I would imagine an experienced plumber with a little bit more know how. jtsplumbing hit the nail on the head.

I'd rather tell somebody how it is rather than what they want to hear.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Perhaps Russel124 might have expected not to meet the big bad world in here, for just asking a simple question !!

I think it would be wise to re-frame from posting unless you have something constructive to say, rather than assuming you have a insight into someones personal circumstances.

I see your point Chris, their are more & more people coming on here asking advise on changing their job and only getting sarcastic reply's , some treat it as a joke, please if you are going to reply to them then try to be a little more understanding, and don't take the P--- Think how you would feel in their position.

 

[dancinplumba]

Haven't read anything that is rude or sarcastic in this thread

 

[jtsplumbing]

Haven't read anything that is rude or sarcastic in this thread

No your probably like me Thick Skinned ! need to be in this game, but lets just say the new generation are a little less understanding.

 

[chris watkins]

No your probably like me Thick Skinned ! need to be in this game, but lets just say the new generation are a little less understanding.

Or it takes a while for the thickness to build up.

 

[mfgs]

Its not an ideal time to be starting up on your own, you will certainly need to be proactive in marketing and networking etc. You will find a lot of people will just sit indoors and moan about not having any work, if you are one of these, then don't become self employed. I am a firm believer that if you want it enough then you stand a good chance of making it work.

 

[bcp]

what advice specifically are you looking for or need help with?

 

[dontknowitall]

Most towns have short business courses on being self employed (via Business Link). They're usually part time courses lasting an afternoon or so for about 10 weeks and are often free of charge (or for a nominal sum).

They won't teach you a thing about plumbing but about marketing, accounting, more marketing, sales technique, more marketing, cashflow, etc. (Oh - and more marketing!) Unless you market yourself/your business you won't have customers and this is why these courses concentrate on this aspect. Advertising is one tiny part of this marketing lark.

 

[lame plumber]

I find it stunning to come onto a website and ask a general question of how do I go about becoming a self employed tradesman and expecting an answer of any use. If anyone is seriously wanting to change their ability to earn a living surely they would undertake some serious research and look for help from people who can offer proper considered advice, ie bank manager, other local plumbers or tradesmen, your own boss etc.

common sense would tell me to look at how much it costs me to live now based on outgoings, list the lot work out an expenditure sheet and see what can be cut to pruduce a minimum income level to survive. then produce another spreadsheet of potential income based on some preliminary costings and work out what could be a potential income based on basic ideas of earnings, adding in costs to run the business, then see if there is the potential to make a profit a survive.

In other words build a business plan based on worst cost scenarios and worst income scenarios and see if you could survive on minimal income and any savings you have. If you cant survive, keep on as an employee.

then if you want a bit of advice on line, inform the forum of your current experience and worklife, tell them of your ideas to move to se, tell them how you intend to boost your earning potential and ask for ideas on how to improve on what you have proposed, then you might get some sensible answers and assistance and support,

Theres too many out there who pop up and say I want to be this, how do I do it? and expect a sensible response, sorry but if thats what you appear to be, dont expect anything but a harsh response, I wouldnt want to give anyone the idea its easy out there! Being nice could only cause misery to somones family as they havent thought things through and planned and prepared themselves properly for a major change in their lives.

 

[Hybrid]

About 3 years back I helped a guy get his NVQ evidence sorted, he wasn't too bad. Bumped into him today when he served me in a petrol station.

 

[PatrykA]

I find it stunning to come onto a website and ask a general question of how do I go about becoming a self employed tradesman and expecting an answer of any use. If anyone is seriously wanting to change their ability to earn a living surely they would undertake some serious research and look for help from people who can offer proper considered advice, ie bank manager, other local plumbers or tradesmen, your own boss etc.

common sense would tell me to look at how much it costs me to live now based on outgoings, list the lot work out an expenditure sheet and see what can be cut to pruduce a minimum income level to survive. then produce another spreadsheet of potential income based on some preliminary costings and work out what could be a potential income based on basic ideas of earnings, adding in costs to run the business, then see if there is the potential to make a profit a survive.

In other words build a business plan based on worst cost scenarios and worst income scenarios and see if you could survive on minimal income and any savings you have. If you cant survive, keep on as an employee.

then if you want a bit of advice on line, inform the forum of your current experience and worklife, tell them of your ideas to move to se, tell them how you intend to boost your earning potential and ask for ideas on how to improve on what you have proposed, then you might get some sensible answers and assistance and support,

Theres too many out there who pop up and say I want to be this, how do I do it? and expect a sensible response, sorry but if thats what you appear to be, dont expect anything but a harsh response, I wouldnt want to give anyone the idea its easy out there! Being nice could only cause misery to somones family as they havent thought things through and planned and prepared themselves properly for a major change in their lives.

Ive been lurking and reading a lot of threads on this site and I always thought that Lame was arrogant but their is no need to take any business course after reading what he just said. Well said Lame and I have nothing but respect for you.