starting up by my self any advice?

[smeg]

iv been tiling for 4 years now with a friend but have been putting off setting up by myself because of the way my friend runs his business, iv seen him have real bad patches with no work and his general attitude does not help him much.

what is the best way to set up my own business and can i make a living from it?

[LM Ceramics]

defintley a very difficult time to set up now i wouldnt like to be in your shoes but all i can suggest is try advertising speak to other trades and see if there is any work around

[Dave]

Hello smeg and welcome........Don't rely on others...if he doesn't run his business very well then you won't make pennies if your quiete....
Contacts is what you need and determination to succeed.

[grumpygrouter]

Hello smeg and welcome........Don't rely on others...if he doesn't run his business very well then you won't make pennies if your quiete....
Contacts is what you need and determination to succeed.

This is the most important requirement to succeed.......along with quality work of course.

Go for it but go in with your eyes open.

Good luck.

[cornish_crofter]

I find that I get a lot of work from people who want to have a whole bathroom fitted, or packages of work done, rather than just tiling.

To that end if you can get build up a network of plumbers and other builders, you could come in on the back of them, and get work that way.

If a customer likes your work and your attitude is right then you may find that chatting to the client when she brings you your tea gets you more recommendations, then you can go in as a tiler and concentrate on that.

I never cease to be amazed at how people hear about me. I'm doing a job for someone who's colleague recommended me, after doing his job some 4 years ago!

A friend of mine used to work in a 'team' of about 3 people. He was a carpenter, but he also networked with a plumber and another tradesman. Between them they got jobs and shared the work out.

I've had a decorator pass my number onto a client, after I passed his number onto a client who wanted some tiling and decorating done. I did the tiling but referred him to my mate WRT the decrating, who did a good job. Now this young woman apparently wants a whole bathroom doing including decorating. She wants one person to do the whole lot, but if I do hear from her I may suggest that I subcontact the decorating back to my mate - I hate decorating, and with everything else, I don't have room for those tools in the van.