Problems and issues this industry faces and how to deal with them.

[dumper]

Vat there’s a hole new problem who to charge and who not !

[eggsarascal]

4 minutes ago, dumper said:

I’m a subbie you pay me gross no deductions, main contractors check with hmrc as to wether you get deductions or not keep up with your tax pay on time good books = no 20 % paid invoices in full 

You are working for companies that are CIS and not getting deductions?

[dumper]

Yes 

[Mick Dempsey]

Trying (perhaps in vain) to steer it back to arb.

 

The VAT threshold in the UK is 85k sterling.

In France it’s €36k I think.

 

This means that nearly every firm charge it, so clients expect it.

If they don’t want to pay it, well….you know.

 

I often see posts by firms fretting over making the leap to VAT registered, worrying that their regular clients won’t swallow the extra and get someone else.

Its alright saying just move on to commercial clients, but it’s easier said than done.

 

Solution. Lower the VAT threshold.

 

[dumper]

Yes why have a threshold accounts programmes are simple now all business should charge vat simple. quick to level playing field, also no cash just card or bank transfer you will never deal with the caravan community but would make life more difficult 

[Retired Climber]

The VAT threshold is a bit of a red herring. I've said this before, bit anyone trading under the threshold is just playing at running a business. If you, as a proper business, don't know how to differentiate your offering from those who are under the threshold, you have a fundamental flaw in your marketing strategy. 

 

[Mike Hill]

The real problem is that most UK tree work is pretty easy and is not very kit intensive. Therefore alot of people can enter the indusry as sole traders who eat the icing off the cake.

[Rich Rule]

25 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Trying (perhaps in vain) to steer it back to arb.

 

The VAT threshold in the UK is 85k sterling.

In France it’s €36k I think.

 

This means that nearly every firm charge it, so clients expect it.

If they don’t want to pay it, well….you know.

 

I often see posts by firms fretting over making the leap to VAT registered, worrying that their regular clients won’t swallow the extra and get someone else.

Its alright saying just move on to commercial clients, but it’s easier said than done.

 

Solution. Lower the VAT threshold.

 

It is 50000 Nok here in Norway.  4307 of your finest Great British Pounds.

 

Having such a low threshold mean that a person can do one or two little jobs away from their regular employment.  BUT if they decide to ‘play’ at another role in life they have to play properly.

 

Seems to work as everyone has to Charge VAT, that and the penalties for tax evasion are high (you would get longer in jail here for dodging tax than being a paedophile), means there is very little ‘off the books’ money.

 

At least that is what I have experienced in the time I have lived here.

[Mick Dempsey]

2 hours ago, Retired Climber said:

In this country, all the trades and manual jobs are seen as ' what the thick kids do'. I wasn't a thick kid, actually, I was one of the cleverest kids in the school. I competed for the top spot at school with people who are now oncologists, surgeons, and very good barristers. Numerous times I'd be asked why I was doing tree work, with the presumption that life had obviously gone very wrong for me. I did it because I wanted to, not because I didn't have options.

 

I retired from climbing when I was in my mid 30's, and now have a career that's much more acceptable to my peers. Most people who have known me for less than 10 years would be amazed that I actually used to be a proficient climber. Most people who do what I do now couldn't use a pair of secateurs enthusiasticly without giving themselves a nose bleed. 

 

Arb and manual work generally is frowned upon because a lot of people need to bolster their fragile egos by trying to convince themselves that what they do is ' better' because they sit in an office and wear a shirt and tie. 

 

All I can say to this is….so what?

 

Who is frowning on us? Why should I care? 

When I work for people like barristers or people with high paying, powerful jobs, I’m not after their respect, I am after their money, it’s a transaction. 
If I was emptying their cesspit I’d feel the same way.

 

It is nice if they show an interest or compliment me, but it’s nicer when the chèque clears and/or they call me back next year.

 

Edited August 21, 2022 by Mick Dempsey

[Retired Climber]

Just now, Mick Dempsey said:

All I can say to this is….so what?

 

Who is frowning on us? Why should I care? 

When I work for people like barristers or people with high paying, powerful jobs, I’m not after their respect, I am after their money, it’s a transaction. 
If I was emptying their cesspit I’d feel the same way.

 

It is nice if they show an interest or compliment me, but it’s nicer when the chèque clears and or they call me back next year.

 

 

4 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

All I can say to this is….so what?

 

Who is frowning on us? Why should I care? 

When I work for people like barristers or people with high paying, powerful jobs, I’m not after their respect, I am after their money, it’s a transaction. 
If I was emptying their cesspit I’d feel the same way.

 

It is nice if they show an interest or compliment me, but it’s nicer when the chèque clears and or they call me back next year.

 

It's one of the reasons that employed arb salaries are so low. This has a detrimental effect on the industry, who wants to work within it, and who wants to try to make a career out of it. 

 

We can call ourselves skilled professionals all we like, but it's the market's perception that largely dictates rates of pay. If an industry has the ' thick kid's job' image, it's hard to drag the pay out of the gutter.