Hob&Jill 258 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Hello . In a few months I will be going self employed, doing small scale grounds maintenance. Tree felling, hedge cutting, mowing etc. The last few months I have spent all my money on getting my tickets. Ive done my Pesticides pa1 and pa6, Chainsaw crosscutting, Tractor driving, and use of Strimmers and Brushcutters. I have my Tree felling course booked for feb. Is there anyone out there doing a similar thing? any general advice? Or just people who have gone self employed, any regrets or happy? The only thing that worrys me is my age, not sure if people will take me seriously. We will see :thumbs-up: Any advice much appreciated, HJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mad al 146 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 HJ, why the age thing? Al Quote Link to post Share on other sites
richie 1 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Hello . In a few months I will be going self employed, doing small scale grounds maintenance. Tree felling, hedge cutting, mowing etc. The last few months I have spent all my money on getting my tickets. Ive done my Pesticides pa1 and pa6, Chainsaw crosscutting, Tractor driving, and use of Strimmers and Brushcutters. I have my Tree felling course booked for feb. Is there anyone out there doing a similar thing? any general advice? Or just people who have gone self employed, any regrets or happy? The only thing that worrys me is my age, not sure if people will take me seriously. We will see :thumbs-up: Any advice much appreciated, HJ are you employed at the moment ? if so, what in ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hob&Jill 258 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 HJ, why the age thing? Al Well I am just thinking that I am only 18, People may just assume that I wont do a good job. I do actually have plently of experiance with machinery. My fulltime job is doing the grounds maintenance on a fishery. ATB, HJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spiderpig 39 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 Hello . In a few months I will be going self employed, doing small scale grounds maintenance. Tree felling, hedge cutting, mowing etc. The last few months I have spent all my money on getting my tickets. Ive done my Pesticides pa1 and pa6, Chainsaw crosscutting, Tractor driving, and use of Strimmers and Brushcutters. I have my Tree felling course booked for feb. Is there anyone out there doing a similar thing? any general advice? Or just people who have gone self employed, any regrets or happy? The only thing that worrys me is my age, not sure if people will take me seriously. We will see :thumbs-up: Any advice much appreciated, HJ bein self employed isnt easy for sure,not the easy option but def the best if you can make it are you employed at the moment ? if so, what in ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hob&Jill 258 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 (edited) my full time job is doing all the groundswork for a fishery. edit, plus forgot to say I also do abit of gardening 2-3 days a week after work. Edited November 23, 2008 by Hob&Jill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
richie 1 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 my one piece of advice would to stay in your current employment untill you can go at it alone & survive on your new income... especially at this time with all the "credit crunch" scare tactics, you want to be carefull to give up a fulltime job that brings in a steady income.. also the way i see things is that the profession that you are going to be doing isnt a major neccessity for a customer to call your services, if they dont have the money, they wont call you.. now if you are a plumber or a locksmith, which i use to do for 7 years, people will call you because they have to.. water coming through the ceiling or locked out, people find the money... just my personnal opinion... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kay 3,709 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 I cant see why anyone would think your not going to do a good job, i would rather have a young person do some gardening here than an old moaner who leans on the shovel all day If you have some photos of what work you have done that may help when your giving quotes etc & if your nice & neat in appearence when you go to see possible clients you cant loose really Give it a go & i am sure after a few satisfied customers you will have the clients for new jobs knocking your door down Go for it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ASME IX 1 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 going self employed was the best thing i ever did.i wouldnt worry bout your age,just be professional and safe with the way you work.always try to give the customer what they want (remember they are paying you). asme9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spiderpig 39 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 heres another tip as well.never shag your customers as when ya fall out bang goes your work and if you do pick the married ones as they wont say owt and will still pay you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ferret boy charlie 0 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 as long as your safe reliable and get the job done then you should be fine a niebours a landscape gardener whith his own bussiness ill ask him for some tips good luck Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hob&Jill 258 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 my one piece of advice would to stay in your current employment untill you can go at it alone & survive on your new income... especially at this time with all the "credit crunch" scare tactics, you want to be carefull to give up a fulltime job that brings in a steady income.. also the way i see things is that the profession that you are going to be doing isnt a major neccessity for a customer to call your services, if they dont have the money, they wont call you.. now if you are a plumber or a locksmith, which i use to do for 7 years, people will call you because they have to.. water coming through the ceiling or locked out, people find the money... just my personnal opinion... Thanks for the advice richie and kay. I see your points richie. The reason for me doing it now is that appart from money I dont really have much to lose. I dont have any comitments like kids, wife or mortgage etc so I am in a position that I can afford to risk it. My parents are willing to support me through it with a roof over my head. The way I see it is if I dont try it now then I never will. Again thanks alot. HJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hob&Jill 258 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 heres another tip as well.never shag your customers as when ya fall out bang goes your work and if you do pick the married ones as they wont say owt and will still pay you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kay 3,709 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 my one piece of advice would to stay in your current employment untill you can go at it alone & survive on your new income... especially at this time with all the "credit crunch" scare tactics, you want to be carefull to give up a fulltime job that brings in a steady income.. also the way i see things is that the profession that you are going to be doing isnt a major neccessity for a customer to call your services, if they dont have the money, they wont call you.. now if you are a plumber or a locksmith, which i use to do for 7 years, people will call you because they have to.. water coming through the ceiling or locked out, people find the money... just my personnal opinion... Thanks for the advice richie and kay. I see your points richie. The reason for me doing it now is that appart from money I dont really have much to lose. I dont have any comitments like kids, wife or mortgage etc so I am in a position that I can afford to risk it. My parents are willing to support me through it with a roof over my head. The way I see it is if I dont try it now then I never will. Again thanks alot. HJ In that case your an ideal candidate to give it a go , if its not for you & you go back as paye what have you lost , you will have gained plenty like book keeping etc dealing with an accountant etc not many can say that at say 20 , most at your are still trying to pull the lid off a pot noodle at 2pm in the afternoon Your wanting to better yourself i say give it a go & with an attitude like you have you cant loose Quote Link to post Share on other sites
richie 1 Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 my one piece of advice would to stay in your current employment untill you can go at it alone & survive on your new income... especially at this time with all the "credit crunch" scare tactics, you want to be carefull to give up a fulltime job that brings in a steady income.. also the way i see things is that the profession that you are going to be doing isnt a major neccessity for a customer to call your services, if they dont have the money, they wont call you.. now if you are a plumber or a locksmith, which i use to do for 7 years, people will call you because they have to.. water coming through the ceiling or locked out, people find the money... just my personnal opinion... Thanks for the advice richie and kay. I see your points richie. The reason for me doing it now is that appart from money I dont really have much to lose. I dont have any comitments like kids, wife or mortgage etc so I am in a position that I can afford to risk it. My parents are willing to support me through it with a roof over my head. The way I see it is if I dont try it now then I never will. Again thanks alot. HJ well, if you have no major financial commitments, then go for it, but i still wouldnt give up your current job.. maybe do that part time, & the rest of the time do your own work & concentrate on generating new business.. good luck in what ever you decide.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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