Setting up own business as sole trader

Fallon1982 · May 7, 2015

Hello all,

First post on this forum and looking for some advice setting up my own plumbing business (apologies if this type of post has been posted thousands of times before!)...

I've been in the game 13-14 years now in total but mainly working for companies on the cards. I have wanted to go alone for years but have never taken the plunge. Now is the time so wondered if any of you kind chaps could give me perhaps a list of things I need to do in terms of setting up my company, buy/lease a van, marketing, setting up company name, HMRC stuff etc...

My first task has been designing some business cards and leaflets so planning on getting them distributed locally to try and gauge the level of interest in my area. I am going to also get a website designed and get an ad on Facebook, Twitter etc...

As much advice and tips would be great so cheers in advance guys.

All the best.

joni os · May 7, 2015

Find a local housing development, built in last ten years, with plastic pipes used for central heating and you will have continuous employment.

Fallon1982 · May 7, 2015

joni os said:
Find a local housing development, built in last ten years, with plastic pipes used for central heating and you will have continuous employment.

Plenty of them round my way mate! ... I probably did the plumbing in a lot of them!! haha

joni os · May 7, 2015

Marketing properties you've worked on is good at lest you have an idea where the pipe runs should be. Buy van, don't lease, if you go back on cards you can sell and are not locked into lease agreement. Make your accounting year May 2015- May 2016 that way your first tax year will be to April 2017 and accounts submitted by 31 January 2018 with 50% of tax due.
Avoid untargeted marketing or you will get time wasters wanting 5 quotes to change a tap washer, but recently sold properties are good for plumbing in appliances, sorting problems and making changes for new owners.
Be adaptable to customer's needs. Be prepared to turn out 24/7 and after a couple of years you will have a loyal customer base with many referrals.