Starting up in which order?

[greensleeves]

Hi guys

been reading up as much as i can on here about various peoples starting up experiences. Ill start with a little brief about where i am at the moment in my life.

 

Basically im an all rounder groundsman who specialises in hedges etc and pretty much everything else other than climbing. im good at my job i believe and currently hold cs30/31 and rfs level 2.

 

im 31 now and have worked for the same company for 13 years and now feel the need to breakaway and work on my own. I have a good web of contacts in my area that i feel i could subby my services out for maybe 2-3 days a week and for the other 2-3 days of the week aim to do my own stuff. I have no truck, name or tools to my name yet but have 6-7 k at my finger tips as and when needed to make the break. I have a big firm that can sell me decent used kit ie saw hedge cutters etc. the question i am asking everybody is in your opinions do you think i should make up name-flyers-advertising and then pick up what i can as i go along and add tools as and when needed including truck whilst keeping it quiet from my current company i work for? or just buy the truck , tools etc and just break clean and scratch about trying to drum up business on my own?

 

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated and all taken on board. Any other questions feel free to ask, thanks guys.

[Matthew Storrs]

f you have worked for the same company for 13 years i wouldn't try and be too sneaky with regards starting on your own- it just causes bad relationships if they find out and you never know when you might need to call on them for a favour. If you believe you can get the work just be honest and make a clean break- unless they would be willing to still employ you part time?

[greensleeves]

no i would never be devious in my approach the only thing that im wary of is if i show my hand then in my experience i would be sacked there and then anyway. i would never nick jobs or anything like that but even after all this time i think i would need to approach with caution. thanks for replying.

[greensleeves]

but yeah in an ideal would he/they would be happy to give me a few days here and there but i would doubt it. if i knew they would i wouldnt even hesitate.

[Spruce Pirate]

I'd keep working for the firm your with, but try to find work on your own when you're not at work. Saturdays, days off etc. That way you'll be able to judge how much work there is about, how much hastle it is to find it, how much it actually puts in your pocket for the hours you do etc, at least get a taste for self-employed life before you jump in with both feet. If you find there's plenty of work and you really enjoy it then you can give up the job and go for it, but if there's not much work and you find its too much for you then you haven't burnt any bridges. Only my 2 cents, but self-employed isn't for everyone. Not trying to put you off, I think you should go for it, but would ease into it rather than diving straight into the deep end.

[greensleeves]

im technically a self employed subby anyway so the self employed thing makes no difference to me that way in regards to holidays etc. I pay for my own ppe etc and have my own accountant. If/when i am to leave which i will have to eventually anyway not a lot will change other than the guarenteed weekly wage coming in. so in your opinion do you think i should get a name/flyers, cards etc printed and ready to go now or get tools etc first?

[Matthew Storrs]

when i started i brought tools as and when i needed them, started with just landrover- then progressed to an ifor, then got asked to fell a 3ftdia ceder so got a big saw- few years later got a chipper and so on, i had the money there for when i needed to get equipment but doing it this way so can buy the tools you know you've got the work for.

Spend a bit on some quality advertising- parish magazines can be good. its a little bit catch 22, you really need to jump in at the deep end and concentrate your all your efforts into getting work but by doing this just at weekends your current company is bound to find out.

[greensleeves]

yeah your right it is a catch 22. Most people know each other around the area so it would be an all or nothing attempt. Like i said i could probably get a couple of days work a week just working for others, maybe more i wont know until i jump. Im just at the point now where i feel more than capable of leading by myself i can cope with anything other than climbing big trees. Most stuff around here is smaller stuff anyway and when big jobs come along i would have the contacts to source the bodies needed anyway so that wouldnt be a problem. i think my only worry is getting the work in the beginning. I do currently do a bit by myself as and when it comes in but not enough to pay the mortgage only really £150 here and there etc.

[Spruce Pirate]

If your a subby just now, where's the harm in your current company finding out? Are they going to stop using you as a subby because you're doing a bit for yourself as well? If they are then I'd be wanting to look for something else anyway. I agree, get tools and kit as and when you need it, that's the way I've always done it too. DRS is right, it is difficult to judge how you're going to do without jumping in two-footed, but it is a big step to take, especially if you don't have work rolling in to begin with. If you're right and you can get 2-3 days a week subbying (I forgot about that in my first reply) then at least that gives you some income. Start small would be my advice and get kit when you need it, no sense in laying out a lot of money only for it to sit in a shed not earning for you.

[greensleeves]

ok thanks for your input.