Starting a business(tradesman)

jsmoke · 18 May 2021 at 16:49

Let's say you changed career, you did some training like carpentry, locksmith, chimney sweep or one of the many trades out there.

One you register your company and set up your webpage is it just a case of sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring?

How do you know if there's a space in the market, you could go through all the work and never get any business etc?

jsmoke · 18 May 2021 at 17:05

BF-Bert said:
Assuming you've just had the training I'd say work in the trade for a while before setting out on your own. Your learning the trade hasn't really begun yet.

I get what your saying, I'd rather avoid that stage though if entirely possible though it's probably not for most trades.

But if you did go from training to self employed ....?

jsmoke · 18 May 2021 at 23:32

peterwalkley said:
How about doing some research first before spending time and money on the training.

That's what I'm doing here for starters.

jsmoke · 19 May 2021 at 14:59

Basher said:
Why would you want to avoid that stage? What are your goals? What is it that you're hoping to achieve?

To have my own small business. As for avoiding, I was never good at being told what to do or working in a group so I always try and avoid that if at all possible.

I'd like a self employed business I can enjoy doing and make a decent living. Anything from carpenter to locksmith. I see loads of tradesmen all the time in their vans with their own business. I'm wondering how long they've had to train before they got to this stage.

jsmoke · 19 May 2021 at 18:31

BF-Bert said:
It's not an avoidable stage. If you consider an old style apprenticeship for a trade was 4 years on the job experience how does your "training" stack up? Is it full-time for 6 months? classroom based or on site? real life scenarios or just theory?

Training without experience is not going to make you competent at your trade.

Ofc your right. So I'd really be looking at doing a 4 year modern apprenticeship. Obviously that's a long time, could you set yourself up as self employed after that or would you still need further work experience after the 4 years?

How many people go back and train for 4 years in their 40s, what do you think?

At end of day time is so short maybe just go for it. I've always been too caught up in age rules.