Putting the business 'on hold'

[Rockingit]

This kind of links with the gaining business thread;

It's increasingly looking like I might be disappearing back off to warmer climes next month with 'the old job' and probably through to Crimbo. Now, I'm happy and keen to do this as there's not a lot else in the diary and to be frank it's good guaranteed money with no hassle, materials, vans.... etc. You all know what I mean.

But, I'm not sure what I do back in this business for that time - do I keep advertising and simply be 'fully booked' for weeks on end with Mrs Rockingit playing secretary? Do I find someone else to sub stuff to (given that I don't know another sparks in this area that I'd trust enough to do that - either stealing the business or meeting my work standards)? Or do I just shut up shop, save a bit on insurance/scams/etc and have the agro of trying to re-start/launch when I get back in Jan and there's 2' of snow on the ground?

Anyone else ever had this dilemna?

 

[malcolmsanford]

Well I was the same as you mate and I was lucky enough have been able to do option 2. The sparks that trained me still likes to "keep his hand in" and so I pay for the scheme for him the yearly calibration, and he pays the insurances and runs his little van about.

To be honest if I wasn't on such good money here it would not be worth my time to pay the scheme membership and the calibration . Bless the old lad but he does not want hard graft and so is very selective, if he does 10 notifiable jobs in a year it is rare.

We don't advertise, but that is something that I would start up again, we do put an advert in parish councils and such, but being from a small area that was predominately mining, everyone knows us and the families and he gets a lot of calls from referrals and such. To be honest I expect that he spends more time running things to a dump for people and errands than actual electrical work.

It most likely costs me a few hundred pounds a year to do this. But it keeps my scheme membership and it sort of keeps my profile going, though perhaps that is dwindling, but importantly for me it keeps a guy that I respect and truly admire from feeling useless, and he feels that he is doing me a favour by "carrying on"

My case it's been 3 years now here and so I have become well less known, and will find it harder to get back into things, as your is just a few months I would if you could afford it go with keeping your profile up, get Mrs RI to do a good PR job for you.

 

[mayfair]

One thing i wouldnt do is let someone else do your work m8 , you know what will happen. Just get the Mrs to tell folk your involved in a huge project that you cant get away from. gives them something to think about.

 

[sambotc]

I would be honest with you customers. Get your misses to explain that you have secured a large contract which means you are working away from home and are not in a position take on any further work. Apologise and suggest a time that you'll be available if it is of any use.

At least your customers won't think your struggling if you shut shop, and you won't get caught out with a nice tan when you come back! I think customers will appreciate the honesty and most will understand you've got a good contract somewhere nice and warm = success rather than failure

 

[malcolmsanford]

One thing i wouldnt do is let someone else do your work m8 , you know what will happen. Just get the Mrs to tell folk your involved in a huge project that you cant get away from. gives them something to think about.

Though the like was for the post ................it was also for nice to see you back on mate how are things in "Chilly" Spain

 

[Mark_Burgess]

Ahem, whats err your errrm missus like? Maybe one of us could errrm 'cough', fill your boots for a while as a favour for you?

 

[Rockingit]

Mrs R says she's not fussy when she can't have the best, so you might be in with a chance.

 

[oldtimer]

I was on the other side of this problem a guy I had worked with for years had to go off twice due to ill health and he did the same as me ie small electrical repairs for a letting agent and the general public. So I stepped in for him only on the understanding that when he was fit he would step back in nothing in black and white as I am old fashioned ie my word is my bond stuff. Anyway worked ok but he made a rod for my back as he was cheap so his letting agent was giving me hell anyway he came back and i told him that I was surprised he made money but he did have a healthy pension so no probs there.

He then says I am chucking this and he implied that i may be overcharging hence why his letting agent was not sending me work then 4 months later they sent me 6 jobs in 2 weeks and never said boo about the cost

 

[mayfair]

42 deg today so not bad really probably cooler than where you are LOL

Though the like was for the post ................it was also for nice to see you back on mate how are things in "Chilly" Spain

 

[Rockingit]

Cheers chaps, you've all been really helpful with this. I was thinking towards what you've all said - keep the public face running and just be too busy for a while. I trade on quality, and my work ethic is a very very high pride in workmanship, I take the time to get things right, not cut corners and it's what my customers comment on most. That's a very hard thing to entrust to even the couple of very good lads that I have as casuals.

 

[baldelectrician]

I would do as others suggest

I use a company called TTNC and they can route the calls to any number - even abroad at set times or all the time.

I don't have a business landline, but do have a landline number (the same number I used to have on the business telephone line at my home)

The point of mentioning this is that you can divert all incoming calls to a mobile where you leave a voicemail that says you are away. If you use an orange mobile you can set it up so it makes an announcement but stops people leaving messages.


With TTNC you can buy a number for £30 and have any voicemails sent to you via email
You then set this message up and pick up the voicemails from abroad and respond via email or internet phone.

If you have internet where you are you can buy a ATA (analouge telephone adaptor) an use this as a UK number from abroad

Hope this is as clear as mud- ask for more info if needed

 

[oldtimer]

I think thats the bind of being self employed yes the freedom is great and I can testify to that as I dont know if I could go back to employment funny thing is my speciality is HVAC/BMS controls and I have never gave it a second thought