The Grass isn't always greener....

[Old Mill Tree Care]

. So for you that are thinking about going back to employment think about it seriously as there are more perks being self employed.

 

I think that's tosh. Sorry.

Employment suits some and not others.

 

 

Sent with my iPhone from me, to you!

[Roger the shrubber]

I think that's tosh. Sorry.

Employment suits some and not others.

 

 

Sent with my iPhone from me, to you!

 

Same with self employed suits some and not others , i was employed from 16-19 and then set up company 19 years later still going strong, wouldn't have it any other way. If you set up business right the lack of sick pay and holiday pay are irrelevant due to a higher salary throughout rest of year.

[Quercus-90]

I started working for myself at 18, I'm 23 now. Most months I have a plenty of thoughts along the line of "just go get a job"! Normally following something like a job running over on time, kit getting broken... Difficult client etc.

But I know in reality I could never go back to employment now, running the show yourself is stressful, tiring and extremely tough most of the time. But when the job is done, everyone has worked well and the customer is happy, there is no better feeling!

 

 

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[Big T]

I started working for myself at 18, I'm 23 now. Most months I have a plenty of thoughts along the line of "just go get a job"! Normally following something like a job running over on time, kit getting broken... Difficult client etc.

But I know in reality I could never go back to employment now, running the show yourself is stressful, tiring and extremely tough most of the time. But when the job is done, everyone has worked well and the customer is happy, there is no better feeling!

 

 

Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

 

Couldnt agree more! Im having a bad time at the mo, being self employed and no work dosent pay the bills, that and the odd awkward customer does tend to get to you after a while but I dont think I could go back to working for someone else. I enjoy making my own decisions and reaping the rewards (few and far between at the mo!)

 

To the OP, I hope you get sorted soon, chin up! Its always bad this tome of year and easy to get down. Think positive..............

[Shane]

I think most of the hassles with being self employed are to do with the responsibilities of finding work, making sure it happens as and when it should, chasing the money, and maintaining the kit. Add the anxiety over 'risky' jobs where any error could have catastrophic consequences and there's a load of reasons why some very good arborists are happy to be employed.

 

They are not wrong for chosing to be employed - they just come to a different conclusion from the company owners, maybe don't have the money to start up.

 

When we finish my guys get in their cars and by the time they are 100 yards away they have forgotten all about the tree work. And rightly so.

 

When I spend 4 hours doing the quote rounds on a Sunday morning (8 lots today) then go to the workshop to service the machinery I do wonder why I do it.

 

BUT if I was employed then as soon as the work dried up a bit they would 'let me go'.

I feel just as secure being self employed and I know I could never work for a big company again, sitting through those motivational lectures and enduring all that corporate bo11ox.

 

At the moment I am knackered from squeezing in the extra wind-blown jobs, catching up on the rained-off jobs and shuffling mrs Miggins to fit in sometime where we can trim her bush without upsetting the nesting dickies.

BUT it's a satisfied sort of knackered - knowing we are booked solid into May.

Maybe time to put the prices up, but at least it's all up to me.

 

Can't go back to employment - I know I'd be too stroppy to last 10 minutes.

[D A Tree Surgeons]

I think most of the hassles with being self employed are to do with the responsibilities of finding work, making sure it happens as and when it should, chasing the money, and maintaining the kit. Add the anxiety over 'risky' jobs where any error could have catastrophic consequences and there's a load of reasons why some very good arborists are happy to be employed.

 

They are not wrong for chosing to be employed - they just come to a different conclusion from the company owners, maybe don't have the money to start up.

 

When we finish my guys get in their cars and by the time they are 100 yards away they have forgotten all about the tree work. And rightly so.

 

When I spend 4 hours doing the quote rounds on a Sunday morning (8 lots today) then go to the workshop to service the machinery I do wonder why I do it.

 

BUT if I was employed then as soon as the work dried up a bit they would 'let me go'.

I feel just as secure being self employed and I know I could never work for a big company again, sitting through those motivational lectures and enduring all that corporate bo11ox.

 

At the moment I am knackered from squeezing in the extra wind-blown jobs, catching up on the rained-off jobs and shuffling mrs Miggins to fit in sometime where we can trim her bush without upsetting the nesting dickies.

BUT it's a satisfied sort of knackered - knowing we are booked solid into May.

Maybe time to put the prices up, but at least it's all up to me.

 

Can't go back to employment - I know I'd be too stroppy to last 10 minutes.

 

Good post shane

i share your views and am doing quotes at the mo:thumbup:

[Shane]

Good post shane

i share your views and am doing quotes at the mo:thumbup:

 

Yup, just typed up my last one 10 minutes ago.

Now to spend a few hours scanning ebay for my next arb truck:thumbup:

[theflyingscotsman]

Yup, just typed up my last one 10 minutes ago.

Now to spend a few hours scanning ebay for my next arb truck:thumbup:

 

Yup agreed, good posts. it's nice to know I'm not alone...now tipper, crewcab, new ranger...ehh..

[Old Mill Tree Care]

I think most of the hassles with being self employed are to do with the responsibilities of finding work, making sure it happens as and when it should, chasing the money, and maintaining the kit. Add the anxiety over 'risky' jobs where any error could have catastrophic consequences and there's a load of reasons why some very good arborists are happy to be employed.

 

They are not wrong for chosing to be employed - they just come to a different conclusion from the company owners, maybe don't have the money to start up.

 

When we finish my guys get in their cars and by the time they are 100 yards away they have forgotten all about the tree work. And rightly so.

 

When I spend 4 hours doing the quote rounds on a Sunday morning (8 lots today) then go to the workshop to service the machinery I do wonder why I do it.

 

BUT if I was employed then as soon as the work dried up a bit they would 'let me go'.

I feel just as secure being self employed and I know I could never work for a big company again, sitting through those motivational lectures and enduring all that corporate bo11ox.

 

At the moment I am knackered from squeezing in the extra wind-blown jobs, catching up on the rained-off jobs and shuffling mrs Miggins to fit in sometime where we can trim her bush without upsetting the nesting dickies.

BUT it's a satisfied sort of knackered - knowing we are booked solid into May.

Maybe time to put the prices up, but at least it's all up to me.

 

Can't go back to employment - I know I'd be too stroppy to last 10 minutes.

 

That's the only intelligent post on this thread. Mine was the stupidest, nearly.

 

 

Sent with my iPhone from me, to you!

[doobin]

OP, what do you mean, you took a job 'out of respect for the wife cuz she works full time'?

 

Were you struggling to match her income when self employed? Surely not. I think you mean she felt you were dossing around S/E whilst she was working 9-5 for the man. Which is not your problem- she's free to start her own business.

 

Anyway, the answer to your predicament is simple. Use your experience gained to your advantage. Look back over your old books, remember all your old jobs. What made you the most money for least hassle? For me it would be strimming. From whole gardens at a tenner a go to day rate for local nature reserves, £150 a day for a bloke on his own with a brushcutter is easily achievable. For you it may be hedgecutting, I don't know.

 

Do whatever it takes to borrow or buy that bit of kit to get you started. Then use your weekends to get out there and start doing that again- make the contacts, find the jobs and nail them. You have to be dedicated, cuz you'll only have the two days to begin with. It sounds like you are keeping your head above water but only just- an extra £200 every other weekend (one weekend advertising, one weekend doing the job) would make all the difference? Then take it from there, you know what to do! :thumbup!:

Edited February 3, 2014 by doobin