hi im a window fitter and roofer and have been thinking about working for myself for a while now but not sure how to go about it any tis or ideas i know this is probally the worst time to start all this with the ression and finicial state

my work is bassed on windows, doors facias and soffits, guttering, tiled canopes, flat roofs and conservertries and most home matienince

 

I think you've hit the nail on the head mate, this is a terrible time to think about starting a business of any kind, but one relating to housing I would have thought would be a nightmare.

 

First off......put your name about so people know that you are going to be doing work for yourself.....then when you have enough work ready, take the plundge

BUT be warned, it is hard out there at the moment, i am a Plumber and have my own business......its not looking great at the moment

 

as above im a self employed roofer and getting no enquiries at all at the mo its all a bit grim.Best of luck if you do it tho mate.

 

So the training courses saying "UK needs 375 new plumbers a month for years" are a bunch of lying cunts

 

Yer

 

agreed times are not great at the moment.

also if you use your pc to do your invoices make sure you click on spell check first

anyway good luck if you do take the plunge i`ve not looked back after 17 years

 

got my final interview with the YEDL on the 12th to move onto over head lines hopefully ive just got out of house bashing at the right time

 

its shit out there but there is no other work going and this is my only other option as i might be out of a job anyway

 

i think there is lots of work out there for house/building type people, its just that he majority of them are a bunch of lazy cunts

ive employed many builders/fitters in the last year on one project alone and sacked them all, the project is now 1 year over due because of the lack of reliable people in the trade.

good luck, if your a hard dedicated worker that turns up on time, does a great job, with no bullshit then you will not struggle for work.

 

theres still plenty work in the housebuilding but the majority is now social housing for councils and associations

 

you have the skills mate, so you really just need to get your name about. Business mostly comes from word of mouth in many trades - and this only happens when you get known.

If possible you will need to work some of your days off, do a few cheapish jobs on weekends and make then a top job, whilst on a job, drop a few flyers up and down the street (maybe write a note on the back saying "working on number x , happy to do a free quote while I am in the street")

If the job you do is good and the cost was attractive, then the person getting the work done will sing your praises to family and friends, the neighbours have confidence in you as they have seen your work, and even if they don't want anything, someone in their family may do!!

Ideally but not always possible is to start cutting back at work and doing more private work till your turning work away, not always possible and you may just get to a point where you have 5 or 6 jobs lined up and just take the plunge.

Every job is different so after the first few, start to bring your prices up to what they will need to be to sustain you full time, hopefully by this time people are picking you for the recomendation factor.

Not the best time but if your likely to get the push, it may be worth a go.

 

where are you based?

 

lancashire

 

im not lazy i work very hard and always make sure the work is at a good standard but unfortunatly im only 21 so people look at my age 1st although i been doin it for 5 years now and was the top fitter at my last job plus everyone is looking for work i got to wait for companys to sort through all the shit guys before they will give me a chance

 

Times are grim but as I've had it put to me at work "the good lads will always have work" . Im self employed now but still work for a company i was on the books for a year or so with, and they've got rid of employed people because they are useless and kept the good lads, self-employed or not.

Im a joiner and I was in your position around August time when i decided to go self employed, ive just done as above working my days off on my own jobs and takin a few days off to fit my own work in.

Im still trying trying to juggle subbying to a company and running my own business too, which is stressful but its the only way to go right now. Im only 23 and just bought my first house so i obviously have alot of comitments so need alot of work to keep me going.

 

i wouldn't even consider it now tbh mate, im self employed and use to have about 5 BIG companys i use to sub contract for but over the past year they've all started losing contracts left right and centre, im down to the last company who has work now and they'll be laying people off soon too which i think will see me out of work due to having a broken wrist.

the other month my foreman put an add in a paper for a chippy and had around 500 calls in 3 days thats how bad it is, i wouldn't even consider it mate.

 

build up what you can as jobs on the side to do in your spare time/weekends then once you have to much work to handle then consider going it alone.

 

trust me fuzzy there is not plenty out there,things always seem fine when you are working,its not till you have nothing that you find out how quiet it is.

not only did i get regular calls for work that have more or less stopped but the other companys i do work for that always seemed to need us no longer do!

by the way fuzzy thanks for the rply to my pm mate
i got a job to do that should last about 6 months,,the second day i started i had two calls to do other full time only jobs


oh and to the original poster,i would't start a buisness at the moment if it can be helped.

 

was that a sarcastic thanks for the reply to your pm? i cant remember now if i replied or not.
ive got a memory like a fucking sieve.

 

no mate,you did reply,lol