Im going to work for myself next year any advice?
Answer:
If you can start working for your self while you've still got a job, build up a client base, and then launch into the big wide world.
Take advantage of free adverts in the yellow pages, yell.com and thompson local, you'll be able to find all the details you need online.
Build yourself a website, even a basic one, and run searches on yahoo and google regularly clicking on your link will move it up the list. Get your friends and family to run the search too.
Offer a loyalty discount for repeat business or introducing a friend or relative, this will boost your custom.
Be flexible if a customer wants the work doing on a Sunday, do it on a Sunday, they remember the flexability and small gestures like sending flowers/chocolates to your first customer as these small gestures will do your reputation a world of good.
Offer a free consultation, where you go out and advise the customer on the work, let them know who understand where they are coming from and that you are professional.
Follow up free consultations, with quotes and a phone call after the work is complete to check on satisfaction.
Be 100% customer focused, they are not always right, but they always belive they are right, with your experience, you'll be able to guide them and empower them to choose you as their electrician.
After more than fours years of working for myself I'm still working more than 60 hours a week.
Being self employed is the best thing I ever did, but it is hard work, constantly adapting my services to meet my customers needs, marketing the business and the different aspects of the business to the different sectors we service, and then the paper-work and travelling time.
I hope that in four years time my business is even stronger than it is now and that my services are the first choice of a much wider audience.
Log onto www.sba.gov
Start early, don't be greedy, and don't take too many holidays.
Start now, if you work at weekends and start ti build up your customer base, you wont start off with zero.
The best advice is to not need ANY income from that job for 2 years. Lack of capital is what sinks businesses.
Only you and know one else can make it a success.
Good luck
Do not quit your job until you have done the following.
Work as an electrician in the evenings and on weekends, and build a list of satisfied customers while obtaining valuable experience.
When a job has been acknowledged by a customer to having been done well, ask them to write you a thank you letter, which you keep in a portfolio to show prospective customers.
At some point you will be earning a reputation and enough money to go full time.
House visit electrician,..i bet it will make you rich.Try to market your skill in upper residential.
Sell yourself to builders and local rental management firms. They, by far, represent a greater source for business than individual consumers.
Save as much money as you can between now and then.
Be aware of all the construction sites in your area. Make friends with contractors. Join as many social clubs as you are comfortable with, to get the world out. Contact Realtors for repair work. Never forget to mention you are in business for yourself.
Save money! Did I say save money?
Remember, we can't borrow ourself out of debt!
Advertising and gaining a good reputation will go a long way. Being friendly, polite and women friendly will help as well as woman are more likely to say "oh, you should try this guy" than lads are.
Get yourself properly certified (unless you already are) and have those to hand so people can see them if they ask.
In the US, I highly recommend you get your contractor's license. If you know your trade very well, this should not be difficult. Bit classes are usually required on learning the business end of things.
I also recommend you locate and start a business relationship with a good accountant. Even while your business is small, the acccountant can give you good advice on how to set up your financial records. When your business grows to a certain point, you will need to turn over this work for him to do it for you. You should do this only with someone you know and trust.
Don't try to undercut prices much, if at all. There is a fair market value established for most types of work in your area. This is what the job is worth and you should get paid for your efforts. Offering discounts is like taking money out of your pocket and giving it to your client. If your work is of high quality, you will earn word-of-mouth advertising.
Given the type of work you do, consider finding a medical insurance policy. Injuries are likely, so, best to be prepared. You can get group discounts, set up especially for self-employed contractors. Do a web search.
Be honest in all you dealings, and the future will come at you more smoothely. Good luck.
Yes, either you or your wife need to sell Arbonne. It's the best company out there right now for making money the easy way and becoming wealthy as all heck so give that a shot!
Check out the website @ www.arbonne.com and if you have any questions, email me @ kribble2002@yahoo.com.
Thanks!
make it profitable.
have a read up on NLP - Neuro Linguistic Programming - it will give you the communication tools for a successful marketing and sales strategy
start weekends and evenings and if that goes well go for it alone if at any time it goes a bit quiet you could either sub yourself out to firms or go to an agency good luck and don't do anything you cant handle
Don't let customers down or overcharge, if customers are happy with your work then it's usually word of mouth that gets you more work, keep a diary of appointments for work and if your good at your work you should have no problems
Yellow pages add, local newspaper, work hard, don't sell yourself too cheap or they will eat you alive, always be tidy during a rewire, good design sleek business cards, get a white van and use that big space for a decent logo and sign, get references from happy customers, always answer the phone even up to 10pm don't be just an answerphone cos people don't like leaving messages, if the missus cant take the daytime calls have them diverted to your mobile, avoid cowboys in other professions offering you cheap work, stay classy wear nice clean overalls with a logo, always carry a pen, remember to save all receipts, be punctual, if a rewire goes bad always be honest, he he Good Luck
Self motivation is critical in the first year especially if it's your first self-employment with lack of customer base and
capital. In the beginning you'll face lots of obstacles, hardships and self doubts. Always remember, "When the going get tough, the tough gets going". Good Luck.
Form a steady client base, stay tight with your budget,but most of all do a proffesional job at all times!my friend has the largest plumbing business in north wales.even though he sits back now and again he inspects EVERY job that goes through his books.There are lots of rip off merchants out there but if your good people will always come back!good luck
Maybe if you write to the companies you have worked for previously, telling them you will give a free quote, they may well take you on as a sub-contractor. Also write to local businesses and have business cards printed ready to hand to prospective clients. You may need public liability insurance if you set up on your own. You will need to know the ins and outs of the construction industry scheme for tax purposes (your accountant will explain this) the revenue do free courses to help you with CIS, I went on one of these when I expanded our building company and found it very helpful. Hope this helps & good luck!
try www.aatcheaptravel.com
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