Making the switch to working for yourself?

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Wallm0nkey

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Those of you that have done it just after some advice. Hopefully in the next year I'll be doing it so is it normal to set up a website etc so your out there whilst still employed? Seems sensible to me so I have a bit of online presence and would I form the business as such so I could quote and line jobs up for when I am ready to leave? I am totally clueless to all this but will be speaking to an accountant etc but a bit of early advice is always a bonus. I have a pretty good relationship with my boss so shall be speaking with him. Feel bad leaving but have sort of got as far as I will with them now and figure taking the leap now might be easier then later on.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!
 
You say you have a good relationship with your boss try you DID !the second you start talking about jumping ship he will make your life hell! You have a lot to learn in this game honesty is not always the best policy unless your a church goer lol.your only as good as your last job sorry to be blunt good luck flying solo leo sayer am a one man band!
 
Good luck with your new venture!

I sort of agree a bit regarding your employer - I know you have to give notice when leaving but you will actually be in competition with him when you go it alone, so he may not be too happy with you hanging with him until YOU are ready...

I think you have to be prepared for hard work whilst making the transition. It could be that you'll have to do evenings and weekends, whilst still employed to get some income coming in (unless you have some cash behind you already).

Don't be too premature with your marketing efforts - what if it attracts a lot of work and you are not ready? People won't want to wait necessarily.

Definitely speak with an accountant about the best time to register for self-employment, find out what your entitlements are, and liabilities (tax wise). have you sat down and worked out set up costs?

Once you're out there... be punctual, clean, tidy, honest, keep customer informed, don't be a cowboy! Get recommendations/ reviews (set up a Freeindex account and encourage folks to write how good you were). Word of mouth is always best.

Get busy with social media platforms - twitter (for you I'd say) but also you tube vids, G+ and pinterest for pictures and of course, facebook. @Danny can assist and advise re website stuff.

Again... best of luck :)
 
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Thanks for the pointers the bit about speaking with my employer was intended when I was ready to make the switch to limit anything to a short period! I feel like I've got the work side covered it's just the other bit thats new to me. I'm left to own devices on jobs past odd visits so end up having good relationships with the customers. Clean tidy sites are at the top of my list day to day!

I think you might be right about the marketing ideally I'd have one big job to start for the first few months and hopefully get something in that time. I have saved so I can cope if the worst happens and we have got our outgoings so we can cope if me or my wife were out of work. The main reason it seems like a good time to do it as if it did go belly up I could go on site and do ok with the prices locally now.

Still working out my costs for day to day running etc just to figure out what I need to be earning to make me better off then now.

I do have a lot of photos of jobs I've done so would need to sort it out a proper portfolio and get it online.

It's plenty to be thinking about!
 
Good luck mate :).
As a 1 man band, good recommendations can keep you busy for years
Beware of pricing your work too low just to stay busy or for any reason. That's how most individuals & firms hit the skids & will sicken you quickly when your bustin your 4rse for f'all money.
Oh & always carry an invoice!

Cheers
 
It's a natural progression for someone you've trained to want to go it alone at some point. I don't feel they are much competition. They don't have the customer base to compete
 
If they know where you get your work from what's to stop them trying to get a bit for themselves?
 
Chances are they are leaving due to there own weekend work is getting bigger which stems from customers who aren't yours anyway. Everyone has the potential to steal your customers!
 
Just updating as I have made the switch now! Slightly different direction as I've dropped onto some site work as the prices were good so haven't needed to look into advertising etc yet. With a good bunch of lads so will stick to the sites as long as the money's there.
My old boss didn't take it too badly and has asked if I'll do weekends for him so luckily no drama :)
 
Best of luck with it all :). Don;t forget to get yourself registered as self-employed (you have 3 months to do it) and get a UTR number, if you don't already have one.

I would think you'll be paid under CIS working on sites, so they will need the UTR otherwise you'll be paying 30% tax - unless they are paying you gross and you'll have your own tax bill at the end of the tax year.

DO make sure you keep all your receipts for travel costs and tools or even a small diary with postcode to postcode travel per day - makes life sooo much easier when filing a tax return.

And don't forget to ask us and use our services :) should you feel the need!
 
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