Any sparky's out there?

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

I have made the phone call, the course I looked into only caters for people that are interested in being self employed ... the tutor stated there is no point in doing apprenticeships these days... no one wants to be an apprentice when you don't need to be ... you reach the end of the course and you are a fully trained and certified sparky!!

As for can't charge ?60/h as a noob, and require repeat work ...

I might know nothing bout being an electrician, but I do understand simple economics ... Supply and demand ... supply and demand

You don't need to hedge for repeat work either, there is so much of it out there ... and someone who is desperate enough will pay ?60/h, even for a noob ...

So in all fairness, I could probably charge ?120/h and still get trade!! Who cares if only a select few/the really desperate will pay that much ... You only need a days work a fortnight and you are still on ~?25k/year ... ?25k/year for working 2 days a MONTH or 24 days a YEAR if you like ... I'd take that!!

I think you're right on the apprenticeship thing, i'm already self employed and working in the trade.

I didn't say you couldn't charge ?60 p/h but it may be worth charging a bit less to start with just to get some jobs in and your name about and then gradually increase your rates up as you get the business in, that's what i've been doing over the past year or so. There are some jobs that i've done on the cheap (or even free for a couple of peeps off here). I have charged ?100 p/h in the past when they were desperate for a plumber.

Originally Posted by dirtydog

I have charged ?100 p/h in the past when they were desperate for a plumber.

Point is if you can charge ?100/h and there is a constant supply of desperate people needing work done (as there appears to be for sparkys) then why bother doing jobs for any less, now unless you really love doing it, that really would be ludicrous!!

Hiya Blue,

I used to be a Sparky but quit and went back to Uni to get some qualifications to do something else other than sparkying.

I like your figures but it's not as simple as that I am afraid. You need to be able to guarantee 60 quid per hour and that's fine while we're suffering this dearth of tradesmen but sooner or later (given the present climate) there will be too many and you will find rates dropping or its not so easy to get work.

If you're self employed with your own business you'll get better money but there are considerations such as van, tools, paying for materials either up front or getting yourself an account with a wholesaler. You need to pay an accountant to sort your books, VAT, tax, NI etc and lastly indemnity insurance. If you burn someones house down or injure someone seriously.. you'd better have this. Not sure how much it is but it wasn't cheap when I left the game ages ago.

Don't want to put the mockers on it mate, because I am all for people giving it ago, just wanted to make you aware of some of the things to consider.

I got into it in the last 80's when (for those of us old enough to remember, there was a shortage of Plasterer's) and it was the time of 'loadsamoney'. Did apprenticeship.. 3 years day release at college plus time served.

I did a mixture of both domestic and commercial. Commercial is where the cash is but obviously they're usually big jobs which takes more than one and you will need to buy the materials. Which on a factory job can run into V serious cash.

As for the reason I got out, got laid off twice in two years in the last housing crash (early 90's) and thought I'm not qualified to do anything else so went to Uni and got a degree.

Hope that helps, don't want to come across as negative, just offering a little advice from someone who used to be in the trade. I am sure there are people on here who have a more up-to-date perspective.

Originally Posted by sparkywalker

Hiya Blue,

I used to be a Sparky but quit and went back to Uni to get some qualifications to do something else other than sparkying.

I like your figures but it's not as simple as that I am afraid. You need to be able to guarantee 60 quid per hour and that's fine while we're suffering this dearth of tradesmen but sooner or later (given the present climate) there will be too many and you will find rates dropping or its not so easy to get work.

If you're self employed with your own business you'll get better money but there are considerations such as van, tools, paying for materials either up front or getting yourself an account with a wholesaler. You need to pay an accountant to sort your books, VAT, tax, NI etc and lastly indemnity insurance. If you burn someones house down or injure someone seriously.. you'd better have this. Not sure how much it is but it wasn't cheap when I left the game ages ago.

Don't want to put the mockers on it mate, because I am all for people giving it ago, just wanted to make you aware of some of the things to consider.

I got into it in the last 80's when (for those of us old enough to remember, there was a shortage of Plasterer's) and it was the time of 'loadsamoney'. Did apprenticeship.. 3 years day release at college plus time served.

I did a mixture of both domestic and commercial. Commercial is where the cash is but obviously they're usually big jobs which takes more than one and you will need to buy the materials. Which on a factory job can run into V serious cash.

As for the reason I got out, got laid off twice in two years in the last housing crash (early 90's) and thought I'm not qualified to do anything else so went to Uni and got a degree.

Hope that helps, don't want to come across as negative, just offering a little advice from someone who used to be in the trade. I am sure there are people on here who have a more up-to-date perspective.

Thanks for the reply .. and yes, I realise that again with economics this shortage won't last forever ... but lets face it, it seems temping, no almost rude not to cash-in whilst I could!! I wouldn't want to be a sparky forever anyway, so it only needs to last until my next hair-brain idea!! All I know is I am piddled off of working to fill someone else's pocket!! ... that and Gordon Browns!! ... being self employed you can write a lot off to tax .. that and most of the work is cash in hand

Oh and my buy-to-let mate actually used to be an accountant, so I am sure some sort of 'barter' system could be made there

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

Point is if you can charge ?100/h and there is a constant supply of desperate people needing work done (as there appears to be for sparkys) then why bother doing jobs for any less, now unless you really love doing it, that really would be ludicrous!!

But it's finding that constant supply of people that are desperate for your trade.

The way I have been working for the past year is starting cheap and doing bathroom refits for £600 now i'll charge upto £1000 for what is basically a weeks work. But by doing things cheaper than others or the smaller jobs that other plumbers don't want to waste time on i've got a fair bit of business and then when those people have an emergency or whatever they call me, you see what i'm getting at? Here's an example for you, (bearing in mind I do a bit of general maintenance as well, decorating that sort of thing) I put up a curtain rail for someone at short notice (hte next morning after they called me) and did it fairly cheap as i was only there about 20 mins but from that 1 little job that i did on the cheap i've had probably about £7k of work in the last year from them

Originally Posted by dirtydog

...

That is indeed how to run a long-term business ... very wise ...

My idea is to go in there, pick on the lame and make a fast killing ... so what if I have exhausted my supply in 2 years ... I'll just do summin else .. but in the mean time I have made a killing (or at least a living) for very little work!!!

I'll then look for the next big hole in the demand market to make my next attack on that!!

Perhaps I could start making toupee's

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

That is indeed how to run a long-term business ... very wise ...

My idea is to go in there, pick on the lame and make a fast killing ... so what if I have exhausted my supply in 2 years ... I'll just do summin else .. but in the mean time I have made a killing (or at least a living) for very little work!!!

I'll then look for the next big hole in the demand market to make my next attack on that!!

Fair enough mate

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Fair enough mate

To be fair I am at a 'pivotal' point in my career ... I am not dismissing anything yet ..

I really like the idea of only working say 2 days a week and still making a reasonable living ... the only way I am gonna do that is if I start my own business ...

I have put my CV out there for 'normal' jobs too, so again, it is not like I am dismissing anything and to be honest, although the concept seems really attractive, I am unlikely to truly follow up any of my hair-brain ideas and just get another 9-5 if truth be known ... but you never know!!!!

[tigersaw]

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

Anyway, how long did it take you to get hold of that sparky? If it is like my two friends have lead me to believe, it is hard work, so if you got them quick, you were lucky!!

Oh and @£35/h £225 is ~6.5hrs work ... at my rate of £120 that is £780 ... my point is some people that are desperate enough might well pay that sort of cash

Rung them up last week and arranged the work for today.
The £225 included parts (conduit, sockets, breakers etc) and certification.

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

To be fair I am at a 'pivotal' point in my career ... I am not dismissing anything yet ..

I really like the idea of only working say 2 days a week and still making a reasonable living ... the only way I am gonna do that is if I start my own business ...

I have put my CV out there for 'normal' jobs too, so again, it is not like I am dismissing anything and to be honest, although the concept seems really attractive, I am unlikely to truly follow up any of my hair-brain ideas and just get another 9-5 if truth be known ... but you never know!!!!

Blue if it was that easy there wouldn't be the need for electricians. If you've got the money behind you to be able to try it then good luck (And give me your mates phone number-I can start straight away ).