Starting a Handywoman Business

countrybum

I live in Doncaster and have been able to access (hopefully) a fund to help start up new businesses. There is £500 available to help get you going or to overcome obstacles in your way such as advertising, purchase of tools etc. Its a scheme called Success Doncaster and is run in conjunction with the local Council. There may be something similar in your area. I would suggest getting in touch with your Council and also Business Link who offer advice/run courses etc - they may know of other grants available. Your local Chamber of Commerce may also be able to help. I'm sure there are grants available for women in business.
Good luck

judd

Hi Country Bum,

I have a meeting tomorrow with Train2000. Sounds kinda similar, a hand with tools purchasing and funding for courses would be great. Some quick courses are about £3000!! I know, I nearly fainted. They all seemed to think that there was no funding available for anyone.

I've just come out of working in education and found it amazing that the courses I wanted to do were either over subscribed or not available in my locality. I have to wait til September, travel miles with no promise that I am on the courses at all. Its frustraiting and annoying as I really want to do it as soon as possible. I thought there would be at least some night classes starting in January! How wrong I was!

Well done on getting your funding for your own business - what is it you do?

Georgina

countrybum

Hi Georgina
hope it goes well tomorrow. I'm in the middle of my application at the moment which I seem to have been putting off for ages! Must do it!
It sounds daft but I'm starting to sell logs for wood burners - everyone seems to have them! I'm not expecting to make a fortune as I work full time as it is - I just wanted to make a little bit extra to help towards and extension I'd like to have done.
Good luck tomorrow - in my experience they are very helpful. I think your business idea is great, women would definetly feel more trusting having a woman coming in to their home.

kessik

Hi Georgina

We run a small general builders. I have men working for me and I have found that paying for their basic CRB checks was a good investment - clients are happier to go to work and leave the men in the house when I tell them about this so you might want to have one yourself (CRB check that is). I think we paid about £20 each. Our council runs a scheme that recommends tradespeople to vulnerable clients, eg old folk, and if your local council has something similar you could apply to go on that. You will probably need a CRB check to do so. As far as qualifications go I don't think anyone has ever asked about my guys' qualifications - if you can get some of your ex-clients to write a testimonial and be willing for it to go on your website that would be good. Also any 'before and after' photographs - we have a book that we show clients when we go round to quote for work.
We have found that websites like MyBuilder are full of people who are just testing the water - many jobs have lots of quotes against them but no record of any of them actually being taken up. Also, it's a very recent thing the not showing other quotes for jobs. We thought that some of the quotes were so low as to be stupid and unworkable and the tradesman clearly hadn't gone to see the job. I think clients sometimes have an unreasonable idea of how cheap a job will cost. Does that make sense? I mean, a lot of people want the job doing for peanuts. Times are hard but not so hard that you have to do a job at a loss. There is always a place for good work at a fair price.
Finally, find out whether there is any networking in your area, especially any all-female networking (eg Townswomens Guild). This can be great for getting jobs.
HTH

judd

Thanks CB,

Let me know how it goes. I reckon you could be on to a nice little earner there. I know so many people who are converting to wood burning stoves!! Great idea!

Cheers Kessik,

I definately thought about getting a CRB check. I have to have one anyway as my Mum is a childminder and all the family have to have one - I wonder if I am covered under this?

I have a few photos before and after, but I am notoriously bad at remebering my camera. I have sent the word out to more friends to consider me for work at the cost of the materials only just purely for photos and their testamonials.

There is a local Townswoman's Guild - I'll get in touch, that's a great idea, but I can imagin that there are lots of handywomen in it! Tee hee, will be interesting to find out.

judd

Sorry I pressed the wrong key and it posted half of what I was going to say!!

So........

I think I'm just going to design some nice female friendly flyers and post them in lovely areas. I'd like to work for men too, but as a start up I feel there are some safety issues that I need address myself first.

I am not really impressed with mybuilder. I know what you mean, it just seems that people are outpricing eachother but I think with the inclusion of photos and testamonials in adverts and websites you are immediately proving your skills. I must not forget for next time!

Thanks again

Georgina