self employed

[Littletree]

HI the tools are expensive if you are still employed then try to gradually build your tools before you do it so it may take you a year of grafting to get them but you will never look back doing it this way . I worked employed for a while with a company and crammed as many days overtime in as i could do so it enabled me to buy most of my tools before I said good by.

 

There is different opions but mine is If you can say away from finance and hire contracts you will be glad you did as at least you don't have to worry when things go up or down, keep your direct debits to a min the more you have the bigger the money drain each month the more you have to earn to just stay in the black .

 

To start with you don't need chippers or big trucks just a small van big enough for your tools is all you need . 99 percent of my customers are happy to burn or keep there brash only the odd smaller job i have to dispose of it for them.

 

Keep all your receipts for any new tools you start to buy even if you are still employed at the time as you can use them later in your tax return as they are tools for your new business so they all count.

 

Be perpaired to do all the little jobs that look rubbish these will earn you good money they ivy covered trees ,houses the cutting back ,the nettles and brambles do these jobs on a day rate so then you are on a winner as quite a lot of time these jobs look smaller then they really are so on a day rate you cannot loose out .

 

The blower was one of the best bits of kit I ever brought it makes its money everyday .

 

Got to go to work now

All the best

Littltree:thumbup:

[grumpydavesmith]

Hi

 

Spend a bit of time with your customer on quotes etc, i spent an hour with a guy yesterday just chewing the fat, I find the more they know about you etc the better chance you have of getting the job. Also be honest with them!! In the last 2 months every quote i have done has got me the job. this i believe is cos of that extra time i spent with the customer.

 

But above all remain positive whatever happens and you will succeed!!!

 

Good luck

 

Dave

[MattyF]

Go employed then self employed once you have got the experience would be my advice, if you already have 5 years climbing behind you and can see your self taking on any tree then go self employed,personally i dont use subbies unless i compleatly over load myself,last subbie I used was dead wooding oak tree's for me ,I would say thats rare as when i was subbying most of my work was the huge reductions and take downs the boss or his crew did not fancy doing them self's or needed to get done fast and with no damage.

[Mark Bolam]

There's always a place for skilled, productive self employed guys.

 

Whilst I can do the climbing I sub guys like Rich and Ross in for, they can do it quicker than me while I ground for them, so I make more money, but can often charge the client less because the job takes less time.

 

They win, I win, customer wins.