Starting a business at 21?

[woody paul]

6 minutes ago, Joe Newton said:

Fair point though. A crap tree surgeon with a well written quote stands a much better chance of getting the work than a decent lad who doesn't present his business well. 

Yes true, but good work stands out and will always get you work.

[Rich Rule]

42 minutes ago, woody paul said:

Yes true, but good work stands out and will always get you work.

gotta get to the dor tho 1st?

 

It isn’t hard to use these tools, proof read, proof read again and send offers that are grammatically correct.

 

You are not texting your friends.

[Botty Cough]

£20k won't get you a chipper and tipper or pay insurance and a groundie so you will need a lot more than that if you are going to hit the ground running rather than with a splat.

Agreed on the toff tho,they can be the worst for payment.

I find the skint looking old buggers with labradors quite honestly the worst.

I still give customers 2 weeks as it's polite and asking for immediate payments is rude in my book.

I send reminders after 7 days and 9 out of 10 pay within a few days now what with bank transfers etc.

Avoid cash payments if you can while you get going as it keeps the tax account steady. 

Stand your ground on quotes and always add a bit to allow for discount if they are really pushy and you want the job.

Agreed with working abroad, I went into the European mountains and did forestry at altitude along with a few stupid jobs repairing cable cars etc to get a head for business.

Not really many big trees left in the UK now....

[Mark Bolam]

Why is asking for immediate payment rude?

 

It’s business, not a cocktail party.

 

You explain the terms at quotation stage.

If they want credit they can go elsewhere, it’s their choice.

[5thelement]

My payment terms are simple, cash, cheque or bank transfer on completion of the job.

Clearly outline your payment terms when you send the quote, if they don’t agree they haven’t got the funds so walk away.

Avoid debt you can’t afford, a decent 6” chipper with a reliable transit tipper and you are away. Good luck.

[5thelement]

45 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

Why is asking for immediate payment rude?

 

It’s business, not a cocktail party.

 

You explain the terms at quotation stage.

If they want credit they can go elsewhere, it’s their choice.

This is where you have been going wrong all along Mark. 

What you want to do is:-

a) complete the work to spec

b) wait 10-14 days

c) chase up the non payment

d) return and dump chip and logs in the drive at night blocking the neighbours from leaving their homes. 
 

You will then find yourself forced to gain employment with another company because your own has failed miserably.

 

Top advice 👍

[GarethM]

Ooh a business opportunity, for a ARB specific debt recovery service.

 

A 2-3 ton concrete block shaped like a tree trunk in pink with debtor emblazoned.

[Botty Cough]

10 hours ago, 5thelement said:

This is where you have been going wrong all along Mark. 

What you want to do is:-

a) complete the work to spec

b) wait 10-14 days

c) chase up the non payment

d) return and dump chip and logs in the drive at night blocking the neighbours from leaving their homes. 
 

You will then find yourself forced to gain employment with another company because your own has failed miserably.

 

Top advice 👍

Why would dumping chip and logs on a non paying customers driveway block neighbours from leaving their homes..?

Do you live in a commune?😂😂😂

[Botty Cough]

11 hours ago, Mark Bolam said:

Why is asking for immediate payment rude?

 

It’s business, not a cocktail party.

 

You explain the terms at quotation stage.

If they want credit they can go elsewhere, it’s their choice.

It suggests you don't trust the customer asking for payment straight away along with that you are skint and desperate.

So trusting customers to pay is the basis of a good relationship with them ,then they return...

[Steven P]

Payment... easy if the job goes to plan, quote is this, charge is the same. They had warning at quote stage what the cost was going to be and can have the cash / cheque / transfer all ready to go.

 

Some customers - in all business - "can you just do that while you are here" - might be shift a pile of logs from a previous job, could be "take down that small bush" - or even "Spend another week and do that small forest"  - adds time and cost to the job - and so needs an invoice amended or created, cannot give them the bill on the day.

 

Other customers - again in all business - "can you leave out that part of the job" - perhaps "just do that one tree, not both", or "We can keep the logs, save you going to the tip" - something that makes the job quicker and easier - and again a new invoice needs raised.

 

Happens to all companies and it is up to the owner what to do.

 

 

I'd say domestic customers are more easy going, pay on the day. Companies... raise an invoice with them, submit it, wait till it filters to accounts, and then the next payment run, could easily be 2 weeks