I’m looking for balanced opinion and any real life experiences from those that have recently completed tile training courses and gone on to work self employed. I have decided after 20 years in the same industry to get out and learn a new discipline. My intention is to complete the 2 week training course at NETT followed by the 4 day plumbing course.
I accept that my first year will be thin, my earnings will be down (drastically) and things will be a bit raw. My father in law has a cab business so driving on my days where there are no walls/floors to tile will provide a support income. I also have significant savings I can use as a parachute. Previously I had my own company for 9 years so I understand the mechanics of running a business and what it takes to be successful - graft!
I live just outside of Gleneagles which is surrounded by towns and villages, there are, as you would expect a core of trades based locally, all of which seem busy most if not all of the time.
Thoughts?

do your research well have a look around forum some interesting posts

Hello and good luck to ya,sounds good with the back up from taxiing and savings

Yes thanks, Ive read everything from guys that are stacked to guys that are on suicide watch. Im slightly fortunate that my mortgage is not depandant on me getting 5 jobs a week (well not at the moment anyway) Theres enough in the tank to support me for at least 1 to 2 years. At the end of the day I will put in all the effort required to get this opportunity started, long days have never been a problem.

Im curious to here from others.

There are a lot of threads (both positive and negative) on this forum so take your time to have a good look around.

Putting the financials and success / fail aside, you should take the time to research what the physical implications may be. I'm guessing that you are approaching middle age and experiencing (much the same as I did) a mild mid-life crisis. You do need to be physically flexible and fit as you will find yourself carrying a lot of heavy loads, bending and contorting into positions that would make a yoga expert scream. There are many mornings when I climb out of bed wondering why every muscle in my body hurts .

Good luck, do your research and identify your potential market but don't just consider the financial side as there are many other implications that will have an influence in your success and enjoyment.

Originally Posted by Captain Slow

There are a lot of threads (both positive and negative) on this forum so take your time to have a good look around.

Putting the financials and success / fail aside, you should take the time to research what the physical implications may be. I'm guessing that you are approaching middle age and experiencing (much the same as I did) a mild mid-life crisis. You do need to be physically flexible and fit as you will find yourself carrying a lot of heavy loads, bending and contorting into positions that would make a yoga expert scream. There are many mornings when I climb out of bed wondering why every muscle in my body hurts .

Good luck, do your research and identify your potential market but don't just consider the financial side as there are many other implications that will have an influence in your success and enjoyment.

Thanks for the post, fitness wise Im in my prime you might say. Ive enjoyed my career up until the last two years, Im now utterly disillusioned. I believe I will find it rewarding - Im hope Im right...

I did my training at nett and it is a great place to learn. Not only does Darren teach you how to tile but does the 'Getting work in the tiling industry' too.
You will learn all you need to know and multi skilling with the plumbing is a great idea. If you can afford it, also do the plastering course there. It has brought me loads of work and is a super course. Do all three and advertise like mad.
Good luck mate.

Try and start out part-time.

It worked for me...........and at least in the quieter times you have some money coming n to pay the bills.............your back up savings won't last forever.

Buy reasonbly decent gear that will last and do the job.........but don't go mad, second hand can be as good.

Don't expect to retire soon

Get decent knee pads

It all worked for me.............and I've never had any training

Whas like us? Were aw jock tamsons bairns .

Brians Pi55ed

Originally Posted by CJ

Try and start out part-time.

It worked for me...........and at least in the quieter times you have some money coming n to pay the bills.............your back up savings won't last forever.

Buy reasonbly decent gear that will last and do the job.........but don't go mad, second hand can be as good.

Don't expect to retire soon

Get decent knee pads

It all worked for me.............and I've never had any training

On call is how Im likely to do things, I can drive on the days/weeks theres no work and tile when something comes up. At least this way Im active and earning. My fatherlaw takes in about £800 - £1k a week on the cabs so it sounds like I'll be able to mix it around, well heres hoping. From what Ive read the courses seem to give you a solid grounding (theres no substitute for experience) With things hopefully picking up during 2010 following the big slowdown Im optimistic. Keep your thoughts coming.

Originally Posted by Dale44

I did my training at nett and it is a great place to learn. Not only does Darren teach you how to tile but does the 'Getting work in the tiling industry' too.
You will learn all you need to know and multi skilling with the plumbing is a great idea. If you can afford it, also do the plastering course there. It has brought me loads of work and is a super course. Do all three and advertise like mad.
Good luck mate.

Thanks for the tip, how have you found things since you started out (feel free to pm me if you prefer) Im taking a risk jacking in what Im doing at the moment but need a fresh start at something I can feel satisfied in.

Good Luck, I set up afte a Nett course, but did a more intensive plumbing course but a 'bathroom' type will suffice to get you started. Have you any mates who do similar because it's always nice to 'bounce' ideas off somebody else if not thats what the forums forums for.
Pm any time.

Originally Posted by rtm

Thanks for the tip, how have you found things since you started out (feel free to pm me if you prefer) Im taking a risk jacking in what Im doing at the moment but need a fresh start at something I can feel satisfied in.

I am working permanent morning shift at my regular job and Tiling-Plastering-Plumbing at evenings and weekends.
I have all the work I need for now but will have no time for my regular job soon. That's when I will go it alone.
Many people have started full time self employment after doing their training and made a success of their business.
It's really about self belief and getting the contacts.

Originally Posted by faithhealer

Good Luck, I set up afte a Nett course, but did a more intensive plumbing course but a 'bathroom' type will suffice to get you started. Have you any mates who do similar because it's always nice to 'bounce' ideas off somebody else if not thats what the forums forums for.
Pm any time.

Thanks for the reply, no mates unfortunately. I'll rephrase that, i do have mates but not in the trade. Im fairly switched on, I previously built a business up from scratch before selling out in 2007. Im doing my research and scouring the web, its useful to hear from people who have started from scratch to understand the challenges. I'll keep a hold of your details and will know doubt PM you in the future. I work for a company in Dubai at the moment so Im getting everything primed mentally and financialy for the switch over. Its a big move given what Im doing and earning at the moment.

2 weeks sounds abit short, i done 8 weeks, and still learning new basic things on here. ive just started out on my own and work is hard to get, i dont know if its the times or just hard to get into, maybe its a bit of both. but i believe if i stick with it, it will stick with me and get easier.

Originally Posted by Aqua Tiling

2 weeks sounds abit short, i done 8 weeks, and still learning new basic things on here. ive just started out on my own and work is hard to get, i dont know if its the times or just hard to get into, maybe its a bit of both. but i believe if i stick with it, it will stick with me and get easier.

The two week course at NETT (Newcastle) with 10 hour long days seems to feature best in the reviews and feed back. I dont think anyone would become fully proficient in that time, its down to a number of factors I guess. Im expecting weeks of nothing for a while, networking hard, and spending accordingly to ensure the business is properly marketed creating name awareness. Location is equally important, I live in quite an affluent area and there appears to be only two tilers listed locally servicing the immediate and surrounding area. Im pleased to here your focussed and staying resolute in what your doing. Stay in touch!

will do, any way i can help i will, and hopefully the other way round. i suppose any course only teaches you the basics, and you learn most on the job. ive got to jobs this month and not even a sniff at any thing else.

im lucky in a way as for 6 yrs i worked for my uncle, god rest his soul, for his building company, so i know loads of chippies, plumbers, plasterers ect.but there all in london. but the best thing i did was go to the pub and get talking to the builders in there, as i live in a quiet area, i need all the contacts i can get.

Good luck RTM, I started up after doing a 8 week long course. That was nearly three years ago. Things have been good. There have been a couple of dry spells, but on the whole it has been the best thing I ever did. I can't say much more than whats already been posted. Best bit of advise I can give is to get in with as many trades as possible. Easyer said than done I know. If you ever get stuck I'm sure some one on the forum will be able to help. Best of luck mate.

Originally Posted by wacker

Good luck RTM, I started up after doing a 8 week long course. That was nearly three years ago. Things have been good. There have been a couple of dry spells, but on the whole it has been the best thing I ever did. I can't say much more than whats already been posted. Best bit of advise I can give is to get in with as many trades as possible. Easyer said than done I know. If you ever get stuck I'm sure some one on the forum will be able to help. Best of luck mate.

Thanks for that, Im not just on the forum to hear the good stuff but posts like this sure help. I doesnt matter how many new starts you speak to, some will have had a break or two and got of to a good start, others will be questioning their own sanity.

Not the best time to start from scratch. But I wish you good luck

To be honest I'm at least 4 months away +, I've got a 3 month notice period, a course to do and all that goes with it. When this happens I won't have gone into it blindly. Hopefuly by then the Market will have improved for everyone and there'sore money washing about.

I did the NETT course this time last year after being made redundant. The course is really intense but you feel confident after, just dont think you know it all when you leave because thats when the real learning and graft starts! I feel like i had a good year considering it was my first ever, i did do alot of advertising though, business cards, leaflet drops, local shops, internet alot of others aswell. I also did the rounds going to all the tile shops, kitchen and bathroom fitters also. Started doing family and friends jobs and other customers aswell building up a portfolio as i went. Its up and down though, i've had times when i've been booked up 4 weeks in advance and times when i've had no work for 2 weeks. Its just paying the bills though which is what matters. By the end of the year i was really busy, i managed to get work from a kitchen company close by and do subby work for a housing renervation company, with my own private jobs to i was working solid till xmas eve. It was a tough year though, you'll find jobs take you longer than expected till you realise your speed, you'll prob miss quote jobs too, but as long as you enjoy it, like i do, you'll do well (especially with your own business background). I've started this year slow though, had no work last week but busy with stuff till end of jan hopefully, the weather isnt helping! I use any spare time to post flyers which work well for me, some people on here think there a waste of time but when your starting out just getting your name out there is the most important thing. Hope this helps you a bit, i use this forum for advice all the time, infact i dont think i'd still be tiling now if it wasn't here! Good luck and keep us all informed how you get on!

That's a good honest email, with regard to marketing I had my own print company for 9 years and my friend owns a large design agency so having a web site produced with the necessary collateral should be ok, I agree with what you are saying completely interns of creating name awareness, the work won't find you if your fresh on the scene. I have a wee while before I can makey break, hearing the good and bad now will leave me better placed when the time comes. I'm glad to hear your making more than a fist of it!!