winnie&bezza Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 (edited) Evening all. Some may remember that I started a thread a quite while ago about going self employed etc and now I have decided to. I'm a carpenter and have worked for the same firm since leaving school (13 years). I Have been doing privates which have been growing in numbers gradually but actually having enough to go on my own was something else. I got a call from a couple 10 mins up the road from me to see if I would be interested in some work as someone had recommended me. I Turned up one evening and wow, what a house! A big listed 1840s flint built house which they are spending an absolute fortune on. I mean solid marble around two baths and window cills in bathrooms and solid oak flooring that they want to put down all throughout house. They are in the process of renovating it come down on weekends to stay to see progress. They have had carpenters in but they haven't made the best job so far and have since gone. I told them I can only do weekends and maybe the odd evening and they said they can give me the smaller jobs and try and get someone else to do big jobs. I worked there for the first time Saturday and I redid some of the work the previous chippys had done. The couple who are actually really down to earth and nice, loved what I did and said it's a shame I couldnt do the rest of the project which is months of work. I then said that one day I'd love to go on my own and this would be an amazing job as is right up my street. Two days later in the evening I received an email from them saying they were really happy with what I had done and then they dangled the biggest orange carrot ever! They said that if I decided to go self employed, they would give me all work with exclusion of anyone else, they were happy to commit to pay me a big sum of money for completion of all work which is up for discussion and even give me a months money upfront to help me out (I wouldn't take it though). I was stumped and of course, it lead to discussions with the missus. I decided that I won't get a ticket like this again as a starting off job so the decision was made. It's very daunting and scary I must say and now the advertising is going to be stepped up considerably. I haven't registered self employed yet as I'm still on the firm I work for. So to all self employed pw'ers, what pointers can you give? How do I sort a contract with the couple as I'm working there again Saturday and will be discussing all work and payments etc. Tips and tricks of going SE? Thanks in advance. Edited February 2, 2017 by winnie&bezza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 I know nowt about SE, but just want to wish you all the best in your new venture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wandringstar Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 just go for it, chippys are in demand. put a showboard outside every house you work at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 I know nowt about SE, but just want to wish you all the best in your new venture Thanks mate much appreciated :-) just go for it, chippys are in demand. put a showboard outside every house you work at. *****y hope so haha. Have to get one made up! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 just go for it, chippys are in demand. put a showboard outside every house you work at.but ask first some builders don't want subbies boards on their jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Good luck Mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobydog Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 1 pointer , don't leave tools in the van overnight, all the very best making a go of it. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Get on Facebook and start a page on there. It's a brilliant source of advertising for local work. We have a kitchen and a seperate joinery page and it's been crazy ever since. Deposits deposit deposit . We always have at least the materials cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 but ask first some builders don't want subbies boards on their jobs. Of course Good luck Mate. Cheers mate. 1 pointer , don't leave tools in the van overnight, all the very best making a go of it. So tempting to do but I'll make sure I don't haha. Thanks. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Although these people seem to be really nice you have to be really ruthless as regards to keeping ahead of the job in regards to the money. It's the ones that keep changing their minds and messing about are the worst ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 If you go to Gov.uk/working-for-yourself, all the details about your responsibilities of being Self employed are in one place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Get on Facebook and start a page on there. It's a brilliant source of advertising for local work. We have a kitchen and a seperate joinery page and it's been crazy ever since. Deposits deposit deposit . We always have at least the materials cost. I set up a standard Facebook page for my work in October last year but haven't had much. Need to setup a proper business one I suppose. Yes I'll make sure I'll do that mate. As I have a joinery company that I know and use, could i put carpentry/joinery behind my name? I've always wondered if you could or is that just making you someone your not? Although these people seem to be really nice you have to be really ruthless as regards to keeping ahead of the job in regards to the money. It's the ones that keep changing their minds and messing about are the worst ones. Yes I know what you mean. I've worked for clients on the firm I work for and that have been terrible for it but it never affected my pocket. Cheers If you go to Gov.uk/working-for-yourself, all the details about your responsibilities of being Self employed are in one place I've had a scout over that already but need to read it more carefully. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 I set up a standard Facebook page for my work in October last year but haven't had much. Need to setup a proper business one I suppose. Yes I'll make sure I'll do that mate. As I have a joinery company that I know and use, could i put carpentry/joinery behind my name? I've always wondered if you could or is that just making you someone your not? Yes I know what you mean. I've worked for clients on the firm I work for and that have been terrible for it but it never affected my pocket. Cheers I've had a scout over that already but need to read it more carefully. Thanks. Loads of people advertise joinery that don't make it . I call myself the joinery stig lol as I make everyone else's by us. We have 3 joinery shops here but I supply at least 7 company's with it on their vans. The trick with face book is to join a spotted group. Spotted Lichfield , spotted Tamworth etc and people ask for tradesmen on them . Just drop a friendly message or link to your site. I've had to stop as we can't cope anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 ****! Ive had my new cards made already without the joinery bit haha. I suppose I can provide joinery so why not put it on. Oh right, I'll have to look it all up! Hopefully I get to that stage. Cheers pal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Good luck mate. Builders Talk Group on Facebook is a good site, 45,000 members and there's often work offered on there. As has been said your tools are like your hands - you can't work without them. In every night is the only 100% solution. You will pick work up through word of mouth, build a decent relationship with suppliers etc. All help toward a profitable and rewarding work life. Lastly, make sure you switch off occasionally- phone off, paperwork away and chill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Good luck mate. Builders Talk Group on Facebook is a good site, 45,000 members and there's often work offered on there. As has been said your tools are like your hands - you can't work without them. In every night is the only 100% solution. You will pick work up through word of mouth, build a decent relationship with suppliers etc. All help toward a profitable and rewarding work life. Lastly, make sure you switch off occasionally- phone off, paperwork away and chill. Thanks mate. Will have a look at that then. So true and will deffo do it. Yep word of mouth is the best advert there is. I hope so mate! Oh yes definitely. I can see how you can get entrenched with work but will still put little one first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypaint Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Go for it, I've been self employed 16 years, best thing I ever did. You'll get contacts and future work afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny long shanks Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Firstly good luck! Don't forget to keep all of your receipts and although you can do the dreaded tax return yourself, a good accountant should have plenty of tricks up his sleeve that you may not be aware of. My work all tends to be on site and so a valid cscs card is essential. You may already have one but hopefully you can stick to domestic projects as the health and safety is just getting a bit silly now. As previously mentioned a good deposit is important although a carefully worded quote with lots of small print is essential. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Go for it, I've been self employed 16 years, best thing I ever did. You'll get contacts and future work afterwards. Everyone I've spoke to has said it's the best thing they did. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuffy Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Good luck , word of mouth will keep you going once you get going ! Get yourself a good accountant and follow his/her advice on the tax malarkey . Hmrc will screw you if you give them a chance . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Firstly good luck! Don't forget to keep all of your receipts and although you can do the dreaded tax return yourself, a good accountant should have plenty of tricks up his sleeve that you may not be aware of. My work all tends to be on site and so a valid cscs card is essential. You may already have one but hopefully you can stick to domestic projects as the health and safety is just getting a bit silly now. As previously mentioned a good deposit is important although a carefully worded quote with lots of small print is essential. :-) Cheers! Yep they will all be kept safe and I'll try and keep on top of it through the year. I've never done site work so have never needed a cscs. Would prefer to stay domestic but if need to then I'll have to do site work. Yep and will have to learn how to write a 'proper' quote. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 ****! Ive had my new cards made already without the joinery bit haha. I suppose I can provide joinery so why not put it on. Oh right, I'll have to look it all up! Hopefully I get to that stage. Cheers pal Just carve a small wooden plaque, and nail it to the business card Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted February 2, 2017 Report Share Posted February 2, 2017 Don't forget to list the exact job on the quote We list door disposal at £10 each , list if painted or not, We fitted a kitchen the once where she expected the ceiling painting really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2017 Just carve a small wooden plaque, and nail it to the business card That's the one ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie&bezza Posted February 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2017 Don't forget to list the exact job on the quote We list door disposal at £10 each , list if painted or not, We fitted a kitchen the once where she expected the ceiling painting really. Will do mate. I'll learn as I go on hopefully. Ha some people really take the **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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