New Business on a Budget!

[Muse2k8]

Hi all,

The time has come for me to take the step from employed (wasn't really a choice tbh) and to live the dream and start my own company.

I've decided to start small, just me and the van and build up the company as I go. First by getting a pal on board in a few months time and then hopefully building up from there.

Now my first issue is that I have little start up funds been a hard few months and as I stand I have all of my own tools for the plumbing side of the business minus one or two little things, and the following power tools; 14v cordless drill (Bosch), 18v cordless combo drill (Bosch), SDS 240v Makita and a circular saw.

Obviously I will be needing a few more tools so that when the first job comes in Im not having to go out and buy everything from a deposit but again I wont need to buy everything as the non essentials can be baught from that first deposit (or subsequent jobs as and when needed).

So other than tools I will need a van (maybe signwriting, very powerful but can I forego it for a few months?), van insurance and PLL insurance.

My budget is a maximum of £1000 (less would always be prefered as backup). Insurances I would look to ideally pay in installments (can you do this with PLL?). What tools SHOULD I get?

What van style/size would you reccomend?

All help, offers of items for sale, what items should I get to start with... I want my first job to go smoothly so that I can pile in the profits to get up to scratch fully.

ps. All online and marketing has been separately handled so is not a required issue for this post

Thanks guys and gals

[Muse2k8]

Or even anything else you can think of?

[Phil Hobson]

Hi mate and are you a tiler?

[Muse2k8]

I'm a plumber with tiling experience going to be doing a highly reccomended course here in edinburgh though to boost my tiling knowledge up and give me some practice before I get out there for more hands on. Hopefully this way I can go out with more knowledge and be able to do the job well. Then over the years Ill get the experience of tiling too! But none of my previous tiling has been more than basic stuff. The boss had tilers on the payroll anyway...

[doug boardley]

Hi mate and are you a tiler?

here you go Phil...Alreet :)

[Phil Hobson]

Thanks Doug, sorry Muse 2k8.

[365drills]

Well obviously we are going to push our tile drilling system capable of putting all the right holes into them tiles that you need
The bathroom fitters kit is online at £49.99 and forum members get a hefty discount - Just Ask for it!


Ideal for those on a budget

[Mike]

welcome is that a £1000 total budget to include a van too?

[Muse2k8]

Lol no worries Phil



image-2775239028.jpg

You mean these bad boys? This is my third pack. I love them great product. Tbh it was probably while lurking on these forums I had learnt of them

Aw a discount I'll have to remember that in future!

[Muse2k8]

welcome is that a £1000 total budget to include a van too?

Yeah unfortunately but I'm open to the option of vehicle finance or hire purchase.

[Bri]

Here's one thread with a bit of tool info in it When first starting out there is a better one somewhere, I'll have a look for it and get back to you!

[Mike]

that's not much unfortunately, can't see you getting much for that, but you could buy cheap and upgrade when you can afford to. i would try avoid hp (or any debts if possible) i pay for my pl insurance monthly (around £12) but that doesn't cover hot work, blow torches etc which of course you will use. good luck with it and you're in the right place for advice

[365drills]

Heeyyyyyy nice one.... Looks like you are holding one of the new look packs too.
A recent purchase!

[Muse2k8]

Yeah that one is

[Muse2k8]

that's not much unfortunately, can't see you getting much for that, but you could buy cheap and upgrade when you can afford to. i would try avoid hp (or any debts if possible) i pay for my pl insurance monthly (around £12) but that doesn't cover hot work, blow torches etc which of course you will use. good luck with it and you're in the right place for advice

Yeah I will be doing hot work too so that unfortunately bumps up the cost think the best quote I have had was £360 but Lloyds say they will beat that for me! That is for cover to 2mil and includes tool cover and *ahem*left in van*ahem* :whistle:

Im trying to look into grants too. Scotland seem to have a fair few options kicking about so always worth a look into it. Shame my dad has 5 years till he retires otherwise I would have been sorted

Other than that it will be buy basic to get me through a few months till the money starts to trickle in...

[Muse2k8]

What about some of the stuff on this page? Seems to be good enough to graft out for a few months on it. Im a bit weary of the wet saw, only really used bigger ones but has anybody had any experience with it?

Tradetiler Tilers Starter Tool List

[Mike]

beg steal and borrow but avoid loans if possible. i had a grant for a grand for tools a few years ago but that was with a 'want to work' scheme. i think that's just available here in wales.

[Muse2k8]

Yeah with you there. Short of renting a van for jobs though which could be costly I'm not sure what other option would be available.

[Mike]

as for some tools, the vitrex 750 you seen in trade tiler is a good cutter for the price, i have had a couple of them. i've read on here several posts that the big clinker (manual cutter) is a good cutter, available from b & q

[Phil Hobson]

As Mike on the vitrex 750, good machine for the money. I have the dewalt 24000, but that is to expensive for a start up, to be honest my vitrex gets a lot more use than the dewalt, unless I am on a big job, the vitrex will handle most situations. Good luck.

[Muse2k8]

Thanks guys

[Muse2k8]

Right to update, I have a good collection of tools and bits and bobs which now leaves me £400 towards the rest. Any ideas?

Van wise I don't know if I'll be better hiring one for the first few jobs, finance or HP?

[Mike]

what items do you have and what do you need? if you do need to borrow money for a van, borrow as little as possible and i'd prefer a bank loan rather than hire purchase

[MSB Tiling]

If your going to buy an oldish van try and check it out as much as you can, get a mechanic if you can. I started up a exactly a year ago, bought a Citroen Berlingo for £1000, i had it 9 months and head gasket blew, in total id spent £3000 on the van and that didnt include getting the head gasket fixed. In the end ive got a new Nissan Primastar but at a cost on finance.

Its a difficult desision, buying a van outright means you obviously dont have any outgoings, which is good for 1st few months until you pick up more work, but it can go wrong at any point.

Although it cost me £3000 in 9 months I couldnt afford a new van when I first started so although its a lot it did work out better for me.

So all i can say is take you time looking for a van, dont rush as i did.

Mark

[Muse2k8]

what items do you have and what do you need? if you do need to borrow money for a van, borrow as little as possible and i'd prefer a bank loan rather than hire purchase

Why a bank loan over hp?

Already had plumbing stuff (being a plumber) so spent up £600 on tiling tools! Always made sure I don't buy too cheap but at the same time I don't have the funds to go too expensive. Don't really need anything else tool wise just yet.

Leaves me £400 towards insurances, vehicle and bits. Can get a vauxhall combo for £99 deposit and £100 a month from Peter vardy or a vivaro for £190 a month but that's hp. Monthly payments won't be an issue cos the missus earns well so if it's a quiet start as I've planned I won't struggle.

[Mike]

I just prefer a bank loan as the van is then mine. I'd also look at the overall price of the van not just the repayments.

tapatalk on my HTC

[Muse2k8]

That's a fair point.

[Mike]

i got my used van from van monster, there may be a branch near you, there's 6 months tax and warranty with each van which is handy. i had good after sales service too

[Muse2k8]

I'll check them out thanks

[Muse2k8]

Cool I'll check them out thanks just spied a Vito for £3,900 with 92k on the clock. It's an 05 plate and seems to be running well but someone has reserved it. Was shown a transit connect but my god it's an ugly van...