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Post by bodger on Feb 3, 2018 16:19:10 GMT
Generally - charge a low rate and you'll get crap bodge work from people with no money. ahh, so if I charge £40/hr I will be able to change my username. I wondered where I was going wrong. ......................... PS: one man's bodge is fit for purpose for another man.
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Post by naughtyfox on Feb 3, 2018 16:39:50 GMT
(oops - edited - trying to stay on track as this is Faffer's column)
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Post by bargemast on Feb 4, 2018 11:36:47 GMT
Advertising your work is very important, as people have to know that you are there to do work for them that they can't-or don't want to do themselfs, but they'll have to know what you can do.
So you'll have to make clear what you can do, like : woodwork, GRP work, mechanical jobs, electricity, plumbing etc.
There are also quite a few people that have been a bit (to say the least) over-optimistic while having bought an empty shell for self fit-out, with the idea of doing that in a couple of months and then finally realising that there are too many things they can't do, or haven't got the time for anymore, if you could get them to know that you would be THE MAN to help them out, you would have more work than you can do in a day, week, month, year, life, you'll never know what will come out of this.
I'll finish off with wishing you lots of success if you make this big step, and your idea of doing it first next to your actal work sounds like the best idea to check out if there's a need for what you're offering, and I'm sure there is.
Peter.
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Post by lollygagger on Feb 4, 2018 14:40:12 GMT
One of my businesses leapt ahead when a website graphic designer customer redesigned my website unasked as he thought the one I made was terrible, which it was. That was when I put my rate up from £15 to £40.
Sell the dream, show finished things that look good and pretty pictures of sunny waterways. Be up front with charging - personally I skip past anyone who isn't and says "phone to discuss", they loose me at the point when I'm broadly considering who to use and don't want someone on the phone trying to say the right thing to gain the business. Once you start, ask every happy customer to provide a quote for your website, I found them delighted to have been asked.
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Post by thebfg on Feb 5, 2018 12:25:36 GMT
Advertising your work is very important you'll never know what will come out of this. Peter. The first line is very important to start with. I once worked a few years building swimming pools for a small family run business. He never advertises anywhere. Yet we were lined up with jobs constantly. He was lucky enough to build a few pools for some doctors at Winchester hospital after that the phone would not stop ringing. Word of mouth spread the word very fast and to this day is still providing work. I will add that whilst people will give out your name to others if you have done good work more people will give your name to others as one to avoid if you have done rubbish work. People are very quick to put bad stories on social media but how many good experiences to you read about. Good luck. I hope you plan this through and go ahead.
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Post by faffer on Feb 5, 2018 17:27:17 GMT
Well, do your homework, don't rush it. Don't be too enthusiastic, but also get your arse in gear. The main issue is are you capable, and if so, then the technicalities will just be 'noise in the background'. If it doesn't work out, or you find you don't like it, there are plenty of driving jobs as a safeguard. All i can say to that is that i am capable of doing what i have done to Faffer. More besides aswell. Prepared to do it at weekends for know to see if it works and if it doesnt i am fairly sure the place i am at now driving would take me back on. Which is why I like to drive a bus and just sit there and be a stupid lump. Someone else does all the office work, arranges the servicing and replacement vehicle. I am free to think of other things. The money rolls in for little effort. Thats just it, i have been driving now for so long its a tedious and to easy a job. I itch to get home to do some real work. Always have for years and always fancied working for myself to try and earn some good money with out doing all the hours god sends and having the P taken by the employer.. Which is why I like to drive a bus and just sit there and be a stupid lump. Someone else does all the office work, arranges the servicing and replacement vehicle. I am free to think of other things. The money rolls in for little effort. But it's the same every day, being told what to do by the man, who profits from your efforts. It's good of you to keep him in luxury. It may well be a woman, mind you, like the rich bitch Ann wotsit, who owns Stagecoach, made a fortune with predatory practices, driving small bus companies off the road. ^^^^^^ Foxy, we get the message, but faffer is looking for advice on setting up his own business. You on the other hand are doing a great job at derailing his thread. I probably should keep my mouth shut being an outsider n all that, but your input on this one isn't any help to the lad. Oh yes i am usd to it, gets frustrating at times as they go so far off topic i give up. Thanks though for the help I was talking to a chap this morning who can't find anyone to do some glass fibre work on his boat. Generally - charge a low rate and you'll get crap bodge work from people with no money. Charge a high rate and you get people with money. I once put my rate up from £15/hour to £40/hour and went from struggling for work to being overwhelmed. Charge too little and people assume you're crap at it seems to be the message. One thing i am stuck with, but after loads of advice i think the in between will be £25ph, and some jobs priced as a job. I was talking to a chap this morning who can't find anyone to do some glass fibre work on his boat. Generally - charge a low rate and you'll get crap bodge work from people with no money. Charge a high rate and you get people with money. I once put my rate up from £15/hour to £40/hour and went from struggling for work to being overwhelmed. Charge too little and people assume you're crap at it seems to be the message. Isn't this the truth, if you don't value what you do others won't. But for a start Id suggest somewhere between £12-15 per hour for you plus materials and other expenses. See how it goes, I'm sure you'd do well because there are always people looking for jobs to get done. I value my work but its what others think that scares me but i know i would do a better job for others than i have for myself. I read through that a few times and found it interesting until i thought, he is in London and well prices are ridiculous for a start to live down there. So in a way its no surprise now that he earns that. We called a plumber to come to the house a few years ago and he wanted £75ph and the rest were the same give or take. And well goes to show rip off prices from plumbers but if folk are willing and need the job done then thats how it goes. So to summarise I am not going to jump into this but am keen as hell to do it. First thing is to finish faffer off and get it launched then sort a car out as T said i can use hers for the weekends but i will just ruin it with all the tools and mess. Looking at a cheap Fiat Doblo, cheap to run and good size in the back. Not going to get a van as insurance will kill me as i have no NCB on either car or commercial. Sort some new tools out as they are getting worn now but the main i will buy as i go as no need to buy them until needed. So over the next so long i will work out the business plan of some sort or another a sin PA pay hourly charge rate as i will do some by the hour. Have a look and see what Insurance there is for third party. And a name to go with, cant just have `Waynes World of Faffing with Boats Service` I am sure there is more but i have a few months to go to loo at it all. And thanks guys for the encouragement, helps a lot Just need to get myself more confident in doing it, i used to do bits now and then on houses like plastering/rendering and decorating etc, garden work and all that was good and happy customers so i dont know why i am so worried. Thanks all the replies, inc the derail`s lol
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Post by sandk on Feb 11, 2018 17:33:55 GMT
Did I read on here that you are a driver for a living? If so you might be able to get NCB transferred from work vehicle to your own property insurance..
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Post by faffer on Feb 11, 2018 18:47:46 GMT
Did I read on here that you are a driver for a living? If so you might be able to get NCB transferred from work vehicle to your own property insurance.. Yes i am a driver and I have tried over the years but unable to find a company that will take it. I ave more NCB than i remember now which is annoying when i do 95k miles a year and average do 10k a week. I hope to get some Liabilty quotes in this week now. Not to high i hope due the the odd business it could well be though.
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Post by sandk on Feb 12, 2018 1:08:54 GMT
Where property came into my last post, I've no idea, I meant vehicle.
I had the same problem when I got my first van. I hadn't got any NCB because I'd had a company van, and the Mrs had a company car that I could drive, hadn't owned a car for years. I rang every number I could find, no joy. In the end I used a broker, he found some company that accepted my NCB. Should have called him before I wasted hours ringing insurance companies.
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Post by faffer on Feb 12, 2018 17:04:10 GMT
Where property came into my last post, I've no idea, I meant vehicle. I had the same problem when I got my first van. I hadn't got any NCB because I'd had a company van, and the Mrs had a company car that I could drive, hadn't owned a car for years. I rang every number I could find, no joy. In the end I used a broker, he found some company that accepted my NCB. Should have called him before I wasted hours ringing insurance companies. I know what you meat, i got the jist of it lol. Still i have still to find a compnay to take the NCB i have. I will have a go and see if i can find anyone. No problem a si will just get a car for now, infact a Fiat Doblo diesel, will do the trick, cheap to buy and run and loads of space.
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Post by faffer on Feb 19, 2018 19:04:27 GMT
Just and update on whats happening. Good an dbad, bad first i priced a job up and under priced myself and i realised once i left, but just a small job and not at a big loss. atleast i have learnt soon enough. A few more obs have come in, and i got a car today for it an old 2005 citroen berlingo 1.9d, very clean and great runner ready to go Insurance is found now, not to bad at £510, a reat old faff getting that done due to odd trade they say. I have a few more quotes coming in this week. I am now just trying to work n a website but my bro used to deal with them a few yeasr back and he said be careful what to et ad what the fees are overall a sthey can ask for more money at a later date or something. Facebook page will have to wait as i dont want work to find out and there are some blabber mouths in the place. Soo its all go. And Faffer is still being worked so i am not being distracted
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Post by faffer on Feb 19, 2018 19:30:21 GMT
Well done! Remember to make room for having a sit down and a rest. Taking photos of jobs you have completed is good for future orders. It sounds a lot i am doing but the business will be slow going to set of, i think anyway. And if i dont try then it will just another regret onto the pile i have. I like pictures as you will have seen on my build
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Post by JohnV on Feb 19, 2018 19:30:55 GMT
Well done! Remember to make room for having a sit down and a rest. Taking photos of jobs you have completed is good for future orders.and keeps the nosy b'strds on here happy as well
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Post by faffer on Feb 20, 2018 18:38:55 GMT
I need a name, i am trying to sort a facebook page out.
I have got
`Helm to Keel` maintenance `Cabin to Keel` maintenance `Boat Smith` `Boatfixer` `Boat Man`
doing my head in, its all i think about lol.
come on guys n gal you al have good wit ;0:)
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Post by bargemast on Feb 20, 2018 19:35:21 GMT
I need a name, i am trying to sort a facebook page out. I have got `Helm to Keel` maintenance `Cabin to Keel` maintenance `Boat Smith` `Boatfixer` `Boat Man` doing my head in, its all i think about lol. come on guys n gal you al have good wit ;0:) Of the 5 names you listed "Boatfixer" sounds the best, but there will be better names to come. It's good that the underpriced job is only a small job, as long as they don't tell other people how cheap you are, or if that's the case, just tell the new ones that you made a mistake. Peter.
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