my first questions!

[dappanumber1]

hi everyone, i introduced myself yesterday in the newbies section,

here

hello everyone!

well i've got a few questions.

i've got my business cards, letterheads etc and my dad is helping me with my books using quickbooks, which seems really good, dont know if anyone else uses it? what are your opinions on it?

my website is getting there aswell, does anyone else use a website for pics, info, aftercare etc? if so what advantages (or disadvantages) do you think it has? do you offer paypal? i think this would be good, as some people will want to use a credit card, either to spread it over the year etc, or because they will use it for everything and not worry about it till the bill comes!!


what places would you/do you get trade accounts at?
i've registered at topps, i know the people there thru my tiler mate, and been out with them on the beer and what not, so it makes sense. i also like BAL products, and i dont know where else sells them (im in leicestershire).

i've also registered at howdens and gonna get an account at plumb centre, but is there anywhere else worth registering at?

also has anyone got anyone a kitchen (for example) from howdens then made money on it just for getting it? ie not fitting it just providing it? as i understand the quote goes to you not the customer, so you could make a few hundred not lifting a finger. or is there more to this?

anyway, thanks in advance, i'm sure there will be more questions as i'm just getting started, so all help is much appreciated! you never know, in a few years, it might be me giving advice!!

cheers, adam.

[enduro]

Hi Adam, it sounds like you are doing everything right, but supplying kitchen, bathrooms etc i wouldnt run before you can walk mate. How long have you been tiling?

[faithhealer]

Adam, you haven't mentioned the most important thing of all, Advertising! (don't class website as advertising,) You gotta get the work before you go anywhere.

Supplying is a pain in the wotsit! Sometimes help old folks out but let the customer do the running about not you.

Stuff paying paypal, cheque or cash as soon as the jobs done. Never take full payment in advance either, sounds good but only take a slice because you will find it hard to motivate yourself to finish the job/

[dappanumber1]

thanks for the quick replies,

enduro, ive been tiling on and off for about a year, helping out a friend, i did a course, and one job on my own so far.
i've gone into more detail in the introduce yourself link. i do see your point though, about supplying just thought i'd ask, it does seem like a bit of a ballache though, one step at a time i think!

faithhealer,
the quotes i have done so far have been through an intranet system at police force (my dad works there as a civilian). its only been on once (last week) and i had 5 calls and 2 quotes from that on first day. it does need to be updated though, as it will slip off system. my friend once did a job for a policeman, was put on there (by the customer) and had about 5 jobs from it after being recommended again by others. that has stopped now though, as he is no longer on it.

dont know if any of you have had this happen before or not? but at least its getting my name round.
i've also had a few calls through word of mouth, but no quotes from that as yet. i've only been on my own for about 3 weeks, so gotta steadily build it up.

i've done 2 quotes for work collegues as well, and my mates mum needs bathroom wall and floor doing as well as kitchen tiling, so fingers crossed for that.

i.m enlisting the help of my tiler mate and going half and half for first few jobs, just for a bit of a confidence boost really, but considering i'm only 3 weeks in, i dont think thats too bad on the quote front!

what would you recommend for advertising? i dont know about local paper as i prefer word of mouth really, but i suppose you cant do word of mouth forever!

[faithhealer]

what would you recommend for advertising? i don't know about local paper as i prefer word of mouth really, but i suppose you cant do word of mouth forever!

When you say word of mouth you are talking about friends and relatives but when you do good jobs for people and they tell other people and so on, that is word of mouth. 80-90% of my work is recommendation (word of mouth)