subby or full time, what do you reckon?

[Steve Bullman]

Basically you need to still be able to make the same money, plus any kit/expenditure in the number of days work you can get.

 

So, if you can only get 3 days a week thats fine as long the pay is good enough so that is at least equal to what your on now. In fact I would say that self employed should roughly be earning the same in three days as employed would in a week, so then your fourth day is profit and your fifth is bonus and the six (if you have that much work) is your holiday money.

 

So look at how much you are on now, add some for expenses (I dont know what kit you have already ) and see if you could earn that much a year in 3 days of work a week? Calculate on the basis of working at least 50 days a year because if your only doing three days a week you wont affford a holiday. Then if you get more days a week then the number of whole weeks you work might come down abit.

 

So if the figure comes out at, lets say £150 a day (for three days a week to equal what your on now) then can you get three days a week at that rate?

 

If you think you can then go for it, and then yo can either move upto 4,5,6 days a week or you could afford to drop your rate to make up extra days. You just need that base of three days a week at a suitable rate to start with.

 

Of course if you have 4-5 days a week beign offered already then go for it.

 

Rupe put it better than me as usual

[jeanesy]

Basically you need to still be able to make the same money, plus any kit/expenditure in the number of days work you can get.

 

So, if you can only get 3 days a week thats fine as long the pay is good enough so that is at least equal to what your on now. In fact I would say that self employed should roughly be earning the same in three days as employed would in a week, so then your fourth day is profit and your fifth is bonus and the six (if you have that much work) is your holiday money.

 

So look at how much you are on now, add some for expenses (I dont know what kit you have already ) and see if you could earn that much a year in 3 days of work a week? Calculate on the basis of working at least 50 days a year because if your only doing three days a week you wont affford a holiday. Then if you get more days a week then the number of whole weeks you work might come down abit.

 

So if the figure comes out at, lets say £150 a day (for three days a week to equal what your on now) then can you get three days a week at that rate?

 

If you think you can then go for it, and then yo can either move upto 4,5,6 days a week or you could afford to drop your rate to make up extra days. You just need that base of three days a week at a suitable rate to start with.

 

Of course if you have 4-5 days a week beign offered already then go for it.

 

Quality post mate, cheers. I'll be honest, that was the sort of rate I was thinking and would be bang on with what 5 days pay would be now. Already have climbing kit and saws. Only thing would be fuel cost, as I don't have that now.

[jeanesy]

Rupe put it better than me as usual

 

Both make good sense mate. It's a pretty massive step into the unknown, especially with a mortgage and family plans. I'm pretty confident in my ability so I guess it's just getting that pool of contacts together.

[Steve Bullman]

Quality post mate, cheers. I'll be honest, that was the sort of rate I was thinking and would be bang on with what 5 days pay would be now. Already have climbing kit and saws. Only thing would be fuel cost, as I don't have that now.

 

Just remember that climbing kit and saws will need replacing. And as your sole position is going to be as a climber your saws better be reliable, in other words, best to take 2 climbing saws with you.

[Rupe]

The key then is, do you think you can get minimum 3 days a week at that rate?

 

Its ok to say thats what you would like to get, but getting it is a different story.

 

Theres what you want/need to earn and theres what your worth x the amount of work available. The latter two need to add up to more then the first two!

[Le Sanglier]

my advice would be to get yourself a transit type van and mix in subby climbing with your own work, say you get 160 a day for dismantling a big beech as a subby, you could double or triple that with your own work, even hedge work, as long as you have something to get the stuff away with. The only worthwhile money in this job is doing it for yourself.

[Rupe]

Hmmm, just noticed your in Evesham! pm me some more details, mini cv etc. (if cheltenham is not too far) maybe some references but I promise I wont take any up if they are your current employers and you dont want to rock the boat just yet!!!

 

And that PM, private message, I dont want to go into discussions here, thanks.

 

But, the reality is its groundies Im short of, not climbers.

[Steve Bullman]

my advice would be to get yourself a transit type van and mix in subby climbing with your own work, say you get 160 a day for dismantling a big beech as a subby, you could double or triple that with your own work, even hedge work, as long as you have something to get the stuff away with. The only worthwhile money in this job is doing it for yourself.

 

This didn't work for me personally. Taking into account the extra hassle, expenses, time quoting jobs etc, I probably earnt as much freelancing then doing my own jobs, and with zero headache.

[Rupe]

The last time I had any money and sanity was when I freelancing!

[Le Sanglier]

This didn't work for me personally. Taking into account the extra hassle, expenses, time quoting jobs etc, I probably earnt as much freelancing then doing my own jobs, and with zero headache.

 

Each to their own I suppose, it's just that when working for others earlier in the job and I saw cheques for 500 odd quid changing hands when I was getting a ton for the day I realised that if I wanted a piece of that action a little investment was required.

Running a small business is really very easy, stay under the VAT threshold and its child's play (in the UK anyway!)

I suppose a lot depends on how you price your own jobs. what's the max a climber would earn? 160? bit more at a pinch.

What happens when there is a breakdown in the most expensive and complex machine you have ie You, something simple like a sore wrist or bad back and you're grounded, earning diddly.