When you were starting out.......???

**ipanderson83** · 25-09-2008

When you were starting out on your own, what kind of hurdles did you come up against and is there anything you would have done differently looking back?

Reason I ask, I want to be fully aware of all pro's and con's of starting up on my own.
I will have additional income, not 'solely reliant' on the business to take over the South East from day 1...

Cheers peeps,

**nickj** · 26-09-2008

TBH mate theres a ton and i only just started, its hard work which i love but realistically it's not a great time to be starting any business or at least thats my impression atm. i have work dribbling through but i know a lot of experienced builders/plumbers/tilers etc who have no work lined up and are scratching around for more.

Yet, get

**ipanderson83** · 26-09-2008

What area's are we talking about here?
I'm not easily put off... i'm looking at this longterm and understand that things maybe turbulent out there.

I also believe that people are renovating as opposed to moving, therfore jobs need doing!
I plan to look for work and get my name out there, not wait for it to come to me..

**graham31** · 26-09-2008

Originally Posted by ipanderson83

I plan to look for work and get my name out there, not wait for it to come to me..

Fink every newbie has the same attitude(get my name out there advertise)but realistically it's not going to be that easy.I'm in the same boat as yourself maybe a bit further on and at the mo it's laying out money after money it soon tallies up so i'd say make sure you have a wee pot of gold sitting their to start off way.

**ipanderson83** · 26-09-2008

How much we talking?

**grumpygrouter** · 26-09-2008

Originally Posted by ipanderson83

How much we talking?

One thing you really need to do if you are at the planning stage is to produce a business plan. Part of this plan should include a "survival income" section where you work out the absolute minimum income that you need to live. Once you have this you then produce the rest of your plan and see if you will acheive you Survival Income level. If not then then you really need to think again.

As you currently have income, and I assume you are not giving it up to become a tiler, then this makes life a little easier.

One thing I will say, don't rush into anything. Think very carefully about what you want to do and how to go about it. Then build you Plan and take it from there.