How much experience needed to go freelance?

[MattyF]

being hard working and eager can be better than lots of experince the two combined evan better!

my mate had a years experience went free lance and had regular work well to much ! from about 6 companys in the end he got made an offer to stay at one that was too good to refuse! though he tells me he wished he hadnt and stayed freelance but atleast he doesnt have to do his own tax now.

[Yorkshireman]

personally Cvs are okay ishReferences could be falsified or bigged up

the level of your ability will be the key,

speed isnt everything, a climber who looks at the whole picture, is way better, precision & skill a good all round ability & take the time to talk through the job especially if you havent worked with that crew b4

a speed freak who makes a crows nest at foot of the tree comes down & wants to sit in the van

will piss the groundies off they in turn will slag the subbie off to the gaffer & thus wont be back.

as for insurance depends on the end client we carry 5 mil as standard

I'd get on the phone & talk to co's set your rate & if you cant do what you say you can, do it for half,

if you can they'll call you

Ps be aware that all subbie climbers get the Shity jobs every time !!!!

[telhol]

I been doing this a little over 4 years and your ready to go out when you are comfortable in any tree. Shaping skill comes with time and like some one said it wud be embarrasing if you turned up to a job and lost your bottle.

 

Gud luk must get insured it comes off ur yearly bill dont sweat the price to much as for employee liability dont employ people sub contract the ground work out always loop holes.

[Steve Bullman]

you should still have employers liability if you are using sub contractors.

[Peter]

You still need employers liability insurance even if you only use subcontract ground staff.

[Peter]

you should still have employers liability if you are using sub contractors.

 

 

Snap!

[Lee Winger]

As an employer of both self employed, PAYE, and sub contract staff , I can tell you the contractor you are working for is responsable for all insurances period!

 

As for experience, this is how I judge anyone freelance or whatever, if you tell me you want top doller because you can do this that and the other, then you turn up on a job and it turns out you're not all that I won't hire you again, obviously if you can do the walk and the talk you're in!

 

If you're honest with me and tell me your limitations and don't demand the prices of the top climbers, i'll respect that and allocate you jobs you're competant to do safely...

 

Honesty is the best policy, best of luck going freelance..

 

One other thing never let an employer push you beyond your capabilitys!

[bill]

ive always been self employed. be honest, at the end of the day if you dont fancy it, dont do it. the worst thing that can happen is they wont have you back.

[Steve Bullman]

but thats the very reason you should be able to tackle anything(thats safe), if you start getting to jobs and back out, not only are you going to lose customers, you're also not going to get paid. if thats happening on a regular basis, financially it would be unsustainable

[Paul Barton]

I am a subbie but wouldn't claim to be able to tackle anything - I just charge less than the top whack that more experienced climbers ask for at the moment.

 

I have done that ever since I did my NC and it has worked well - as long as you are honest with whoever is hiring you.