Self Employed info

[axel132132]

Hi all

I have just qualified in January of this year, i was working for a company that has now gone under. This is the 3rd company i have worked for that has gone bust recently.

I am wondering if anyone has been self employed and whether going self employed is a good idea, obviously the pro's are working for self being own boss etc.

What is the best way of getting work do you think? Would it be advertising in yellow pages or posting leaflets out or what ways do you find most successful. I have my own website Unicorn Electrical

The other issue is with just qualifying i've never had to design anything before, im going to buy NICEIC Domestic Installer so that i am part P.

Im new to all of this so any info would be greatly appreciated

Kind Regards
Dave

 

[Guitarist]

What do you mean by "qualified"? What qualifications do you currently hold?

 

[axel132132]

4 year apprenticeship NVQ C&G
AM1 + AM2

 

[Guitarist]

4 year apprenticeship NVQ C&G
AM1 + AM2

Depends what type of work you want to do really. If you want to do non-notifiable domestic work then as long as you are competent then go for it. If you would like to start out on your own and be able to sign-off your own notifiable work then you will need the 17th edition C&G qualification too. Once you gain that, you can apply to join a part P scheme. You will also need a calibrated MFT or separates, £2 million public liability, a suitable job to show the part P scheme assessor, along with tools you may not possess etc.
Pros of being self-employed.... you set your work hours, charge what you think is acceptable and you answer to yourself.
Cons.... No guarantee of income, lots of grief, sorting out your own Tax (or finding an accountant to do it for you), phone can ring at any time, NO clocking out and forgetting about work

 

[axel132132]

Whats the best way people find of getting the work?

 

[topquark]

Other trades, local builders, friends/family referals (none of them cost you, well friends/family might a bit ).

 

[telectrix]

well, it's not yellow pages for sure. shed load of cash paid out for zilch return. better ... local advertising, word of mouth, flyers into every letter box within 5 miles.

 

[Darkwood]

Just a little note! .... the firms that are going bust that you have worked for may be giving you clues as to the wor climate, what could you offer that is going to be different to these firms and is the buiness out there for you to pick up... i went self 3yrs ago but i have a niche in industrial, machinery etc and as the domestic market collapsed i wasn't hit as hard, with the euro issues looming and the cost for the banks to borrow money thus less to lend out or higher interest rates lends to a difficult time to set up.
Personally id give it a few years till it picks up in the building trade before making that leap, unless you have a different angle or a skill thats sort that makes you different from other sparkies. This is just my opinion but not all about advertising it about the global economy, the bank interest rates, goverment policies etc all have a large effect when the country in a recession for the second time.

 

[axel132132]

The other issue im finding atm is getting another job to be fair, no one is taking on but i could always charge less than companies but still make enough money an average of like £400 / month would be good enough really

 

[Mr Magoo]

If i was you i would consider adding a landline number to your website and address,just a mobile can look suss,as for going self employed good luck with that,been there got the the t shirt as they say,in current climate its a mugs game.Good luck with it.