Starting a Handywoman Business

judd

Hi All,

I'm just about to embark on setting up my own business as a handywoman, painter and decorator, gardener. The website is being made and I have a nice business name with my first enquiry after putting an ad up on the internet.

I thought I should play to my strengths and start a business based on something that I very much enjoy and that I am also quite good at (ooh modesty!) rather than working a very low paid job that I have to travel miles to get to.

I was wondering, have I jumped in without thinking about the current climate properly or would people be interested in employing people to work on flats and houses in?

I'm kinda panicing at the moment!! But also optamistic about the future. I'm hoping that the first enquiry is going to lead to more!!

Does anyone know about business funding or grants?

Can I get some opinions on this please - I could do with some constructive advice and a bit of support!

Thank you!

Georgina

Anglea

Well done. Hope you do well.

There is that website MyHammer you could find jobs. Doesn't seem to be a shortage of people who want work done on their homes.

judd

Hi Angela,

I was aware of MyHammer - but there doesn't seem to be anything in my area, I'm in Manchester.

The closest jobs are miles away. I go for them, but I'm a bit dubious about quoting for jobs when I haven't seen said job.

Thanks for the nudge though, I had forgotten about the site - I will have to take a much closer look.

Cheers, I am rather excited, just need the jobs now!

Georgina

savemoney

I seem to recall a post on here informing people not to touch myhammer

MyHammer.com - anyone actually had any success from it?

My Hammer - Find Local Tradesmen for any Job (FREE) (1 2)

judd

Thanks for the link, just looked at MyBuilder there seem to be more jobs although you can't see whats been quoted!!

I need to look into this more...

Georgina

SailorSam

I think you should be able to make it pay. None of us like to have a stranger in our houses, particularly when you need to leave them alone in a different part of the house, and can't be sure what they're doing.
I think a lot of people especially women and maybe pensioners will feel more at ease when the workman is a workwoman.

monty29

Hi judd,

I'm also from manchester and went self employed as a tiler may last year and have been very busy ever since, but i must say It's gone a little quite now but hoping things will pick up..

Anyway heres a few free sites that i advertise and had jobs from,

Gumtree
Ebay (10p a month)
Vivastreet
My own FREE website through officelive.com
yell.com - free listing
thomsonlocal - free listing

Also I've had work through... (cheap advertising)

Local parish magazine (£55 a year)
5000 leaflets (£5o) Alot of leg work but gets work in


I hope this helps you and good luck

Obukit

Speaking to my friend Chris, who's been doing this for over thirty years, he says that at first you should offer yourself to a couple of local charities or similar - if you can do it as a "project" that you can get in the local paper even better. Most people hire, and are prepared to pay more, for someone they've heard of through word of mouth rather than searching online etc, as in the end they're trusting you in their homes to do a good job. He reckons apart from obviously doing good work, it pays for itself many times over and gives you a good start - which can be the hardest part after all the outlay on tools, etc. that end up sitting in your van.

The other thing he said was to buy the best tools you can afford, as it's much easier to do a better job.

Hope that helps . Good luck!

LittleTinker

judd wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm just about to embark on setting up my own business as a handywoman, painter and decorator, gardener. The website is being made and I have a nice business name with my first enquiry after putting an ad up on the internet.

I thought I should play to my strengths and start a business based on something that I very much enjoy and that I am also quite good at (ooh modesty!) rather than working a very low paid job that I have to travel miles to get to.

I was wondering, have I jumped in without thinking about the current climate properly or would people be interested in employing people to work on flats and houses in?

I'm kinda panicing at the moment!! But also optamistic about the future. I'm hoping that the first enquiry is going to lead to more!!

Does anyone know about business funding or grants?

Can I get some opinions on this please - I could do with some constructive advice and a bit of support!

Thank you!

Georgina

What are your qualifications?

What kind of insurance do you have?

Are you doing 'odd jobs' and why would someone employ you?

Do you have any recommendations?

gibboelli

You'll need some public liability insurance I should think, I'm a gardener and I have to have it. But I think the fact you're a woman will go in your favour, I've had lots of little old ladies who have said to me how much more reassuring they find it having a nice young lady come to do their garden. (Not sure about the nice part but there you are hehe )

judd

Hi Little Tinker and Gibboelli,

I have 15 years experience doing up my own properties, friends/family for favours and paid too. It was through this that I decided that I could do this as a living.

I can get recommendations from friends and family and I am starting City and Guilds courses in September in painting, decorating and plastering. I have an RHS qualifcation in gardening. Although I am good and don't really think qualifications are that important for this currently, BUT I do want to instill trust for my customers and hone my skills just incase I'm missing short cuts or making mistakes only a professional could see!

I also have public liability insurance.

I meant 'employ' in terms of customers employing me to do jobs on their homes.

The only thing I am having problems with at the moment is charging. I was thinking an hourly rate for small 'odd jobs', daily rate for larger jobs with materials on top, and a percentage of the item for flat pack furniture assembly.

I have been a bit disappointed in some of the quotes I have received from other handypeople and painter and decorators while researching recently. They seem to be cheaper than I expected.

Thank you, Im really hoping that this will work out! I just love decorating and interior design!

Georgina