willbones

Just wondering, has anyone on here done a course and then gone straight into self emploment with just the skills learnt on the course? Anyone managed to make a success of it? What about people who do a course and then cant find work? Or wat about people who do a course and then start work for someone else?

Just trying to get a better picture of where we are all coming from. I know there are some people who will use this as an opportunity to slate tilers with limited experience, but please resist.

Will

Concept PHT

I did some tiling in my own time when doing refurbs of property I bought. I then started doing it for friends and family etc. Then I did a course at Chase Tiling after giving up my career (as I hated it) and loved the refurb work.

I have since been back to college to do my C & G plumbing, I have done a plastering course, bricklaying and kitchen fitting.

I am now booked in to do my Part P electrics next month and I am doing my NVQ in tile fixing.

My foot is flat to the floor mate, no joke. You will not look back

Leatherface

I admire you mate - have always wondered whether to continue specialising in tiling or diversify as you have done. As I have a young child & work long hours I worry about the extra time needed to study. My hours already put a strain on the relationship, I need to work to pay the mortgage as my wife only works part time. Think the extra hours at college may be too much. Would never see my wife and son.
Hey ho, maybe for the future. As it stands at the mo I am busy enough with tiling.
Anyway good luck ( sounds like you don't need it )

Dan

That's all opinion mate. If you want to be a tiler, doing a course is a small part of it. I know good tilers that just have read enough and practised enough to be equal to those who slate new tilers. There are actually enough tech specs and guides around in the UK product-wise to probably make a good start without a course. All a course does is give you a good push. I know people who have gone college and then still felt that a course would help them.

You want to get a good feel for it before you do anything. So get some tiles and tile something at home, even if it's just some MDF in the garage. Then if you think you are up for it. Do a course, get your name around your family and they'll jump at the chance for some trade-priced tiles and free tiling work somewhere.

As for the business side of things. The skill of tiling is a small part of actually running a reputable tiling firm, even if there's only yourself as the employee. Accountants can help with the books, banks can help with finance, there's funds available for some new businesses, and things like business-link or business-initiative are government funded organisation that provide all sorts of backup for your business.

The hardest thing to do is get customers. And it's pretty much only this problem that will finish your company. So start right at the beginning. Tell everybody that you're doing a course, stick an ad in the local rag as soon as you can and get some calls coming in. The course will help you with a format for quoting and visiting customers etc. Get cards in your local shops, call related tradesmen like plumbers etc and tell them you'll send them plumbing work if they send you the tiling, and do so. (that's I think Leatherface's trump card, not my own )

If you've done a course and you advertise and then you seem to be sitting by the phone waiting, you're probably not going to run too well. It isn't just a course and an advert and you're away, far from it.

There are people on here who will tell you that they have done really well, and there are some that will say it sucks, but the difference usually isn't the area they are in, or the route they took to get there, it's normally just the type of person you are.

You need to think of unique ways to get the business coming in, and make your services slightly different to your competition, and try to make the customer choose you for a reason that is NOT just price and speed and whatever.

Short answer: It can be done, but you need to get your head stuck in it, like with anything.

Apparently, a businesses first year isn't usually profitable, but if it survives that year, you're laughing. Now I know guys that have done a course (but had a bit of experience perhaps) and have made profit from their first job to their current. But I also know guys that have just seen estimated wages in their heads and have just gone for it for the cash and have ended up stuck in a rut with the mortgage to pay etc etc.

Good luck, stick around, there are guys on here that can and will help. Just shout if you get stuck with ANY aspect of your tiling life and we'll do what we can to help mate.

Dan

Concept PHT

Best advice following on from Dan:

NEVER go into business with a whole heap of debts following you, like loans, credit cards etc. Minimise your outgoings and live like a pauper for the first year of business.

I have seen to many guys plan their life on the bubble dream of earning a minimum of 1200 a month, each month. This is acheivable of course, and you can earn a lot more. But the fools spend the money straight away and when it comes to the quiet times of year, they have nothing to fall on to.

And then they find themselves bust and back in the factory.

Dan

Too true mate.

Many need more cash as a living and jump in to tiling to try and help them out a bit, and it isn't always possible to do so. You put lots of strain on your business when you need to make X amount a day more just due to your living costs.

Dan

willbones

Concept - I already have plastering under my belt. Im currently a secondary science teacher but before that I used to work around sites as a general scivy (Sp?). My brother and I are looking at setting some sort of business up relating to home improvment - he's a joiner. I am doing a tiling course at NE in July including Natural Stone, I'd love to get on a college course to do plumbing, but places are incredibly hard to get - especially, it seems if you already have what is deemed to be a good job. I would love to be able to offer plumbing, tiling, electrics, joinery and general building work. Thanks for your advice, and hopefully one day I will have as many strings to my Bow as you.

Take it easy,


Will

Concept PHT

Get a plan together and stick to it - you will not look back. Gone are the days when I have to worry about meeting targets, **** management and OFSTED inspections. I won't even start on the pupils behaviour....

Varley

You have the right idea m8, as well as having done my tiling course i am also in the middle of my C & G plumbing, and can't wait to get it finished, and have plans to do plastering courses etc. The way i see it, the more skills you have, the more markets you can target. I am desperate to go self employed.

Concept PHT

Its the way forward mate, I really can't emphasise how busy I am and the satisfaction I get from it all.

Good Luck

Leatherface

To add to Concept & Dans posts, they are spot on.
There is plenty of work out there - you just need the right attitude & focus to try and find the work. Don't give up - there are tile shops, bathroom shops , kitchen companies, plumbers, builders - all who have tiilng work available. Put yourself out there, do a good job, put in long hours if necessary. Your hard work will pay dividends in the end.

alberttrotter1

Willbones,
Great thread,
As a newbie myself and 100% willing to do this full time, but as many other members will know and surely agree - Bills have to be paid. The way i'm looking at it, is that i'll stick to the security work for the time being and steadily take on jobs that i can fit in and gain experience. I'm currently not breaking my balls for work but i would like to wait until i am booked up at least 6 weeks in advance before sacking off the full time job.
I think i'm in a great position though because my wife is a physcologist and is getting some private work and she (being as great as she is) has suggested that with her extra money coming in, i will be able to give up the security job and concerntrate on the tiling.
Best of luck and remember "Slowly, slowly catchy monkey" a wise man once said.