Starting a new company advice

[ritchiehulse]

Been toying with the idea of starting my own company for a while now, im already self employed but always sub for companys as opposed to getting my own work. How did people who have started there own company go about getting work? Did you advertise? Did work just keep finding you?

I am mainly based in the commercial and industrial sector which i enjoy more than domestic but i understand these jobs would be harder to come by so i assume it would be easier to start with more domestic work with a view to branch out.

Any advise on how you started would be much appreciated.

I would obviously get my NIEEIC etc before starting and i have start up money, its more finding the work as the company i currently work for require 5 days a week so would be reluctant to allow me to sub 2-3 day a week and do my own thing for the other 2.

Once again any advise would be appreciated both good and bad experiences

 

[telectrix]

if you're reasonably happy where you are, stick with it. the domestic sector is a race to the bottom with so many Electrical Trainee's competing for the same work, prices have hit bottom, customers have no respect for us and want to pay us half what they pay kitchen fitters, wood butchers, paint sloppers and wet-pants.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Been toying with the idea of starting my own company for a while now, im already self employed but always sub for companys as opposed to getting my own work. How did people who have started there own company go about getting work? Did you advertise? Did work just keep finding you?

I am mainly based in the commercial and industrial sector which i enjoy more than domestic but i understand these jobs would be harder to come by so i assume it would be easier to start with more domestic work with a view to branch out.

Any advise on how you started would be much appreciated.

I would obviously get my NIEEIC etc before starting and i have start up money, its more finding the work as the company i currently work for require 5 days a week so would be reluctant to allow me to sub 2-3 day a week and do my own thing for the other 2.

Once again any advise would be appreciated both good and bad experiences

I would say start as you mean to go on. If you enjoy commercial and industrial work more then this is where you should focus your efforts on finding work.

 

[Pete999]

Been toying with the idea of starting my own company for a while now, im already self employed but always sub for companys as opposed to getting my own work. How did people who have started there own company go about getting work? Did you advertise? Did work just keep finding you?

I am mainly based in the commercial and industrial sector which i enjoy more than domestic but i understand these jobs would be harder to come by so i assume it would be easier to start with more domestic work with a view to branch out.

Any advise on how you started would be much appreciated.

I would obviously get my NIEEIC etc before starting and i have start up money, its more finding the work as the company i currently work for require 5 days a week so would be reluctant to allow me to sub 2-3 day a week and do my own thing for the other 2.

Once again any advise would be appreciated both good and bad experiences

Why NICEIC? why not one of the other scams, NICEIC aren't the B all and end all you know

 

[Leesparkykent]

Why NICEIC? why not one of the other scams, NICEIC aren't the B all and end all you know

IMO they Pretty much are Pete when it comes to commercial/light industrial. Although there wouldn't be a need to be registered in these sectors but in my experience most want you to be an NICEIC approved contractor however right or wrong that is.

 

[Pete999]

IMO they Pretty much are Pete when it comes to commercial/light industrial. Although there wouldn't be a need to be registered in these sectors but in my experience most want you to be an NICEIC approved contractor however right or wrong that is.

Well there are others to consider, ELECSA, STROMA , NAPIT etc but I suppose your mind is made up, just saying there are other options, bur good luck in your endeavors.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Well there are others to consider, ELECSA, STROMA , NAPIT etc but I suppose your mind is made up, just saying there are other options, bur good luck in your endeavors.

Not me Pete I'm already a NICEIC AC

 

[Pete999]

Not me Pete I'm already a NICEIC AC

Fair enough

 

[Dave OCD]

Has Pete been on the wine ? :drunk:

 

[Pete999]

Has Pete been on the wine ? :drunk:

Yes most deffo, M&S Mature Red most pleasant, a rare aroma of fruit and whatever, just watch out for July 11th got some good malt for my birthday I hope, could be fun, quite expensive from all accounts, and before you ask how I know, I bloody paid for it.

 

[Dave OCD]

Good idea buying your own present, as least you know you'll like it. :laugh3:

 

[Pete999]

Good idea buying your own present, as least you know you'll like it. :laugh3:

Yes but not £67 quid ffs

 

[ritchiehulse]

if you're reasonably happy where you are, stick with it. the domestic sector is a race to the bottom with so many Electrical Trainee's competing for the same work, prices have hit bottom, customers have no respect for us and want to pay us half what they pay kitchen fitters, wood butchers, paint sloppers and wet-pants.

Yep I do understand this but I get rang up a lot to do domestic jobs where other sparks have messed people about and been unreliable. It's seems people are willing to pay decent money for a reliable and competent spark.

 

[ritchiehulse]

I would say start as you mean to go on. If you enjoy commercial and industrial work more then this is where you should focus your efforts on finding work.

This would be my aim but I seem to get rang up to do domestic work for people, but never from a office to say move floor boxes. Just wondering how you would find the work in commercial

 

[Risteard]

Well there are others to consider, ELECSA

I thought it was domestic only?

 

[ritchiehulse]

Why NICEIC? why not one of the other scams, NICEIC aren't the B all and end all you know

Yep subbed for company's using various ones pal and fully agree, IMO niceic are not the best it's just what people have heard of and trust, I believe people who are not in the electrical business believe niceic is the equivalent of what gas safe is. Of course this is my opinion of what I have found and most schools and large company's specify only niceic company's. It would make its money back in not losing jobs imo

 

[Leesparkykent]

This would be my aim but I seem to get rang up to do domestic work for people, but never from a office to say move floor boxes. Just wondering how you would find the work in commercial

BNI meetings, British chamber of commerce, local business network groups, actively canvassing office interior specialists, shop fitting firms, partition and grid ceiling firms, air con firms and so on. It all depends on how much leg work you are willing to put in really....once you get your foot in the door and do the job to a good standard and at a reasonable price, on time, budget and so on then jobs should start coming in through word of mouth. It wont happen over night and you may have to do a bit of networking which isn't to everyone's taste but unless your lucky most things don't just fall on your lap.

 

[Midwest]

Yep I do understand this but I get rang up a lot to do domestic jobs where other sparks have messed people about and been unreliable. It's seems people are willing to pay decent money for a reliable and competent spark.

I only do domestic work, and get a small amount of work from local advertising etc, but probably not enough to survive on (not knowing your personal circumstances). My main income is from word of mouth advertising and big chunk from other trades, builders, kitchens & bathroom fitters.

So to concentrate in one field, starting up for yourself, might be problematic. Subbying for others, might put you in good stead early on, before you build up your own business.

Good advice from the other guys about domestic work, people want to skin a fart nowadays. 'I'll buy all the materials from Screwfix/B&Q, if you just provide the labour', is a phrase I often hear. So finding a niche in the commercial/industrial field, might make life easier.

I read here how others have kept a day time job, as well as being self employed, building up a business. Difficult balancing act I would expect.

That said, having worked for various employers, very much like being self employed sole trader (apart from talking to yourself all day!). Good luck.