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Hi Happy campers, I take exeption to your remark about plumbers ripping people off. I had my own plumbing/heating business for 26 years and NEVER knowingly ripped anyone off, I ended up when I sold my business with over 4000 regular customers, you do not do that ripping people off, I would add that there are many more like I was.
Don
Hi
Point taken - was trying to give an example to explain my idea. No offence meant. As a keen DIYer I do everything myself. My one and only encounter with a "professional" service - and it was quite obvious it was a GO SLOW event (@ 85ph) - including visits to his van when he sat on his mobile for long times; and considering I have a high pressure water system, and he changed the cylinder, he didn't even check the TPR valvues (which inclidently he f***d up fitting and failed 2 years later); left the tank thermostat on max (meaning when the boiler stat failed it caused me grief etc)., Anyway - bad example - I just wish I knew good local people!!! (FYI: When doing plumbing DIY I had excellent help from plumbers on newsgroups who did help out)
So group hug - and no offence meant.
______________________________________________________________ Ryan and Mel. Our website
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has all our details on with pics of our van and antics
NOTE: Everything I post is my opinion, may or may not be correct so please check before making decisions based upon it. Corrections welcome, afterall we´re all here to learn.
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OK - common theme with accountants So will heed that - and try and make a friend with one
Business link - good idea
As for the DIYing - that was just an example - and yes - the regs are coming in (Funny though - redid the lighting in our bedroom installed by an electician for the previous owner; and all teh cables (mains) were just twisted and covered in insulation tape. All replaced now of course, but funny how a DIYer puts in the correct junction boxes and a paid peron used insulation tape!
Liability insurance - that may be more the thing I need - as doing anythign (even, say, trying to fix a computer) can go wrong and even if innocent you can get blamed. (As an example, a user brought in their laptop with a minor issue, 10 mins here and the disk went bang! If that happened when doing personal work for someone, they may assume it was "my error" rather than bad luck/timing. So some insurance needed...
the business would be a group of small/simple offerings. one of which has been used by a few MHF members already All FoC whilst we're playing with ideas of course All I've asked is feedback after on would they pay/recommend/use again type thing. So simple is the buzzword.
(Sorry for not giving specifics - obvious reasons why not I am afraid)
______________________________________________________________ Ryan and Mel. Our website
Only registered users can see links on our Forum Join Now or Login
has all our details on with pics of our van and antics
NOTE: Everything I post is my opinion, may or may not be correct so please check before making decisions based upon it. Corrections welcome, afterall we´re all here to learn.
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(Sorry for not giving specifics - obvious reasons why not I am afraid)
Obvious to you, maybe
You're being a little obtuse, and although you may have your reasons, many people on here are very open about what they do, but it doesn't mean that others will suddenly try to take part of their business.
I'm afraid that without any details, you're restricting the quantity and quality of the help that you might receive.
Anyway, good luck with it (whatever it is )
Gerald
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(Sorry for not giving specifics - obvious reasons why not I am afraid)
Obvious to you, maybe
You're being a little obtuse, and although you may have your reasons, many people on here are very open about what they do, but it doesn't mean that others will suddenly try to take part of their business.
I'm afraid that without any details, you're restricting the quantity and quality of the help that you might receive.
Anyway, good luck with it (whatever it is )
Gerald
Never been called obtuse before!
The responses so far have pointed me in the right direction; and given me enough ideas, and for that I am greatful.
Unfortunately Internet forums are public, and publishing ideas to 20 people you know and 1000's you don't isn't really wise.
As this is a minimum of 12 months away, I'm happy to be obtuse for now and research the advice given so far, and if we go ahead we'll come back with full details. (Hey - the free advertising will be useful if nothing else! )
______________________________________________________________ Ryan and Mel. Our website
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has all our details on with pics of our van and antics
NOTE: Everything I post is my opinion, may or may not be correct so please check before making decisions based upon it. Corrections welcome, afterall we´re all here to learn.
The following members of MHF thanked ActiveCampers for this posting
Most small businesses thrive on relationships and I'm not sure if you'll find it easy to maintain these if you are only planning to work for such a limited period (IMHO).
An alternative you may like to consider is the concept of "Interim Management" where you can sell your skills/ services, on a short / medium term basis for discrete projects. This can be quite lucrative and give you the flexibility you are probably after.
One of the advantages of this is that most IM contracts (short term ones at least) are handled by agencies, who also handle insurance etc as well as having a pool of contracts to choose from.
For more info try
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DIYer puts in the correct junction boxes and a paid peron used insulation tape!
Hi I used to fit kitchens/bedrooms/bathrooms for people and you ought to have seen some of the DIY bodges I came across. One that comes to mind was sunken lights in the kitchen ceiling done with bell wire.
The people you used weren't tradesmen just bodgers.
Olley
Last edited by olley on Thu May 08, 2008 2:16 pm; edited 1 time in total ______________________________________________________________ If you have a problem you canīt fix its because your hammerīs not big enough
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I think I might be one of the MHF members to have used your services .
The first thing to decide on is whether you want to replace part or all of your income............
or
to create wealth.
If you are just looking to create part or all of your income then you probably do not need to look at accountants and other professional services.
There is neither any need to talk to local business services unless it is to network your services or find out what grants are available. These govn financed bodies will have you filling in all sorts of forms and if you are not careful you will forget what you are there for - to earn money.
Business plans are simple
1) Identify your product
2) Identify your target market
3) Work out how much you need to earn
4) Work out many hours you want to work
5) Divide item 3 by item 4 to work out your hourly rate
6) Add amount for tax (and Vat if you really want a hard time)
7) Contact your market and go for it
Spend an evening working out what you can claim
9) keep a track of your income and outgoings
Number one rule of business - P before T in other words chase profit not turnover
If you want to use an accountant interview them carefully to make sure they are upto date. One question you could ask them is what percentage of capital expenditure you are able to claim and if there are any planned changes to this percentage. Hopefully they will all know but I bet some don't
stew
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OK - common theme with accountants So will heed that - and try and make a friend with one
Business link - good idea
As for the DIYing - that was just an example - and yes - the regs are coming in (Funny though - redid the lighting in our bedroom installed by an electician for the previous owner; and all teh cables (mains) were just twisted and covered in insulation tape. All replaced now of course, but funny how a DIYer puts in the correct junction boxes and a paid peron used insulation tape!
Liability insurance - that may be more the thing I need - as doing anythign (even, say, trying to fix a computer) can go wrong and even if innocent you can get blamed. (As an example, a user brought in their laptop with a minor issue, 10 mins here and the disk went bang! If that happened when doing personal work for someone, they may assume it was "my error" rather than bad luck/timing. So some insurance needed...
the business would be a group of small/simple offerings. one of which has been used by a few MHF members already All FoC whilst we're playing with ideas of course All I've asked is feedback after on would they pay/recommend/use again type thing. So simple is the buzzword.
(Sorry for not giving specifics - obvious reasons why not I am afraid)
The following members of MHF thanked bandaid for this posting
Bookmarks
Watched Topics
So will heed that - and try and make a friend with one 
(Funny though - redid the lighting in our bedroom installed by an electician for the previous owner; and all teh cables (mains) were just twisted and covered in insulation tape. All replaced now of course, but funny how a DIYer puts in the correct junction boxes and a paid peron used insulation tape!
)
)
.
Spend an evening working out what you can claim
