My first private job

[hiluxstihl]

well local chap,tree surgeon firewood supplier wanted 350 euro just to knock a tree, nothing technical, an ash tree with diamater at stump height of around 3 feet, in a ditch i tink weve went well off topic from op but still wish him and anyone who trys the best!

[Pedroski]

 

For instance, mow 4 lawns a day at £25.00 each, or service 4 lawnmowers at £75.00 each.

 

Just a thought, not a critisism.

 

I'd happily service 4 mowers a day at £75 each, but the problem is that I doubt there would be 4 mowers a day, every day, every week. At least with mowing during the grass season there are plenty of lawns. Sometimes it's best to have several strings to the bow, and be in a position to do lots of different things to fill days.

 

The problem with specialising in one area too much - i.e. getting known as a grass cutter - is that it's easy for a customer to overlook you for other work. Whereas if you let customers know you can mow, you can do trees, you can turf, you can service mowers, you have contacts who can do big tree works etc, then the customer is more likely to consider you for all sorts. The firm I work with started off years and years ago principally as a garden maintenance/grass cutting firm, but built up experience in hard landscaping, brickwork, flintwork, dry stone walling, tree work etc etc, and now we find we get all sorts of jobs that bring in more money than just cutting grass and weeding.

[Rich2484]

Rich2484. Well done for having a go at working for yourself. Get it right, and you will not look back.

 

You have been posting on here for some time now and most of us will have formed an idea about what you do, but I bet that none of us are sure.

 

One minute you are a tractor driver, then a groundie, then a grass cutter, then a mechanic and so on.

 

Please dont get me wrong, this is not a bad thing,not many people are so versatile, but in the same way that I dont know what it is you really do, then neither will prospective customers.

 

It may be better to try to specialise in one aspect so that you build up a name for that type of work. Maybe choose the best skills you have and the ones that pay the highest return.

 

For instance, mow 4 lawns a day at £25.00 each, or service 4 lawnmowers at £75.00 each.

 

Just a thought, not a critisism.

 

 

I'm a bit do everything, the mechanics side is not really a route I would like to take, I do the fixes for my current boss apron his saws, trucks, mowers, chipper, etc. I also do a few for people around the local area, I've been told several times that I have a bit of a flair for it, my old man taught me a lot when I was younger.

 

But it's not a route I want to take, i enjoy it a bit, nothing like getting an engine that won't run and fixing it then hearing it fire up knowing I done that..

 

But I would not be able to compete with the local dealers, so the mechanics will stay as a bit of a hobby type thing.

 

The tractor driving was from working on a farm for about 5 years and I still do some driving now and again, when harvest arrives I will probably be doing some again.

 

The digger, dozer, cpcs stuff was from work ing on a few building sites for a few years, this work started from the farm work getting a forklift ticket then 360 ticket. All I had to get was cscs and I was set for building sites. This will probably stay as I have a few contacts still and would still be able to work on them, plus I love using a 15+ ton machine.

 

So the rest is what I will be working on, I will still have loyaltys to the arborist I work with now and if he needs me then I will work, he is very good and has been very flexible with my other jobs and has in the past moved things around so I can do my other work, as I have moved my jobs around for tree work.

 

Hope this clears a few things up for you mate, it's a bit confusing to me but I can do many jobs, and have done many jobs.

 

Im very versatile in what I can do and it doesn't take me long to pick up on new skills, I learnt to climb by watching and copying. Then I would find what works best for me personally and adapt to it.

 

So if I post on other subjects it's because I'm interested in it or had it before, but like sooooo many I'm always learning and hope I will stay learning.

[GardenKit]

Rich, sorry, my post was not meant as any form of criticism. Its just that I feel that anyone setting off on their own needs a very clear idea of the type of work they intend to do.

Once they have this, they can plan their marketing around this. Its very difficult to market yourself as a 'general allrounder' as many potential customers will be suspicious of this as 'jack of all trades, master of none'.

 

But as Pedroski rightly says, it is great to be able to turn your hand to any task,and once you have established yourself with a customer in your advertised capacity, you will be able to offer varied services to a trusting customer who will then percieve you as 'able to turn your hand to anything'.

 

The problem with having contacts who offer you, for example, driving work is that while you are doing that your core business could be being neglected.

 

I apologise for patronising you if you already have that clearly defined view, or if your ideas differ from mine. Different methods work for different people.

[Rich2484]

I do see what you are saying as I'm always laughing at vans that have no job too small, or have so many types of jobs sign written your not really sure what hey actually do.

 

I will be going for hedge cutting and small tree removal, leaving the bigger stuff for bigger companies or passing on details of other companies that could do them.

 

Grass cutting will be good aswell, domestic only at first.

 

This is the outline for what I will be doing. But this type of work is really seasonal so during winter I will be working for the arborist, and driving machines.

 

This is the main outline but watch this space as it could all change.

 

I'm not looking at anyone's post as a criticism post, all information is gladly received and give food for thought.

 

I know it's all going to be a big mess until I get going, but I like a good challenge and I like to challenge myself now and again.

 

Thanks for all the posts by the way.

[GardenKit]

I wish you good luck in your new venture then:thumbup:

[KingoftheRing]

Rich2484: Can I ask what vehicle you have or are planning on using? The reason I ask is that I'm planning to do the same thing and am looking out for a pick up. Just curious what you will use/go for.

[Rich2484]

At the moment I've got a discovery, I will be using a trailer first. Yes I know it looks piekie ish. But that's all I've got.

 

Want to upgrade to a crewcab hilux or similar. But a trailer with ramp tail gate is all I will need first. Should get mowers, rubbish and anything else in it for now.

[KingoftheRing]

That's cool. Nothing wrong with that in my opinion. Pretty much the same set up I'm aiming to have. Looking for a pick up, possible a Ford Ranger due to the price, and I still have a 14 year old 1 ton trailer. The back of the trailer drops and acts as a ramp, perfect for getting the mower on.

 

Like I said earlier, plenty of room for everyone, so I'm happy to do the small stuff while I get myself sorted and others with more kit can do the big jobs.

 

I'm sure you'll do well mate.

[Rich2484]

So do I mate.

 

All I have to now is sort some advertising out and I'm away. Want mostly word of mouth so monday will be a good start.