Own Business e.g. Painting & Decorating

blondy24

Hi All,

I am wanting peoples views on whether to start your own business is a good idea in the current climate. I have been thinking of starting painting & decorating or general handyperson jobs either part time whilst having another part time job or at the weekends and get a full time job for the week. I was just wondering if anyone has carried this out or if anyone has any views please...

Thanks

david29dpo

Try it part time first and dont give up the day job.....yet.
I have found its takes a while to get your name known so advertise as much as possible. In my case i get nearly all my work from recommendation. A good place to put your cards is local post offices and shops etc. Dont expect a rush of work at first. Your reputation will be the most important thing to get. There is work out there!

Zazen999

One word - at the moment lots of construction workers are at a loose end, so will be going into the handyperson market. These will be experienced and skilled people.

Are you qualified and carded [NVQ/CSCS]?

honeypop

Also bear in mind that people probably won't want to be paying someone else to do work on improving their home when the majority of people have very little spare money at the moment. I know some people physically can't do this sort of thing themselves and need someone to do it for them, but not many people would be frivolous enough to pay someone to come and paint their room or put some shelves up etc in these times, they are not necessities.

A number of DH's friends are in this line of work and have practically nothing for the next few months when normally they have a lot of future bookings, people are dropping out saying they can't really justify spending the money on painting, decorating or handywork right now.

You definitely would need a full time job as well I reckon, otherwise you won't survive (as well as needing to be be qualified, insured etc...)

poker_face

blondy24 wrote: »

Hi All,

I am wanting peoples views on whether to start your own business is a good idea in the current climate. I have been thinking of starting painting & decorating or general handyperson jobs either part time whilst having another part time job or at the weekends and get a full time job for the week. I was just wondering if anyone has carried this out or if anyone has any views please...

Thanks

It really depends on your overheads. If you cant get a job then working for yourself is appealing, but if you have to spend alot of money to get started you could end up in real trouble.

Poet49

This isn't the easiest time for starting such a venture Blondy, I did a bit in the last recession as I'd been made redundant, so fell back on my Carpentry training to try and make a living.
It's OK if you have enough customers to keep you busy most of the time, and who pay on time.
Sadly in a recession people tend to hang on to every penny and hold back on home improvements until times get better.