looking at doing jobs on the side
looking at doing jobs on the side
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Discussion

jamie128

Original Poster:

1,604 posts

199 months

Saturday 15th June 2013
quotequote all
Im looking to cut down my hours at my current job (physiotherapy) and do a course so i can do diy jobs for other people for money.

I have a few questions.

Will i need the full qualifications to do jobs for people or will the short 5 day courses suffice??

Also what would be the best basic course to do, bare in mind im only looking to do the 5 day course, plastering, tiling or electrical?

Am i maybe being stupid expecting to do a cheap short beginners course and expecting to find work?

WhereamI

6,887 posts

246 months

Saturday 15th June 2013
quotequote all
Some things like plastering and tiling you can do without qualifications, others like electrical you can't.

Personally I'd not employ you to do a job for me fresh off a five day course, if I'm paying a plasterer I want someone who is experienced. But if you are cheap or hide your inexperience well you might get away with it but you are likely to be slower, messier and less skilled than a professional. Insurance could be an issue as well.

jamie128

Original Poster:

1,604 posts

199 months

Saturday 15th June 2013
quotequote all
What trade would be worth doing the whole course in? It would cost me 3000 so i need to know itll pay off for me, whats in demand?

Silver993tt

9,064 posts

268 months

Saturday 15th June 2013
quotequote all
As a customer of yours I would also want a VAT receipt for all work done.

randlemarcus

13,646 posts

260 months

Saturday 15th June 2013
quotequote all
Lawn restoration? biggrin

Is there no demand for sports physio type stuff local to you? Seems to me that a qualified physio could earn better money than a not hugely motivated barely qualified plasterer or sparky.

rog007

5,829 posts

253 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
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randlemarcus said:
Lawn restoration? biggrin

Is there no demand for sports physio type stuff local to you? Seems to me that a qualified physio could earn better money than a not hugely motivated barely qualified plasterer or sparky.
There is a supply and demand issue with physiotherapists (to many have been trained) driving down wages and reducing opportunity, which has not gone away:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4470226.stm
http://www.csp.org.uk/frontline/article/anger-over...

WhereamI

6,887 posts

246 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
jamie128 said:
What trade would be worth doing the whole course in? It would cost me 3000 so i need to know itll pay off for me, whats in demand?
That depends on where you are and what is available locally.

I'd have said that your best bet is to be a general handyman, the sort of person who would do any minor job for people, that sort of thing is much easier to fit into another job and it is much less likely that anyone will expect qualifications at all. It just requires you to be an around DIY person which, I assume, you are if you are looking to do this sort of thing.

paulrockliffe

16,557 posts

256 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
Silver993tt said:
As a customer of yours I would also want a VAT receipt for all work done.
He doesn't need to be VAT registered, so he doesn't need to charge you VAT, so you don't need a VAT receipt and he can't legally issue you with one. Unless he registers for VAT of course, which has nothing to do with the customer.

Eric Mc

125,607 posts

294 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
Tradesman should produce an invoice for the work they do - whether they are VAT registered or not.

Once upon a time, anyone holding themselves out to be bricklayers, plasters, plumbers, electricians etc would have needed to have undertaken an apprenticeship of some sort which would have entailed at least three years of theoretical and practical training.

It is preposterous that some people think that they are capable of doing any sort of work of this nature after only five days training. In some cases, electrical and gas work for instance, it might even be illegal.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

32,000 posts

264 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
Don't forget to get yourself the correct insurances.

jamie128

Original Poster:

1,604 posts

199 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Don't forget to get yourself the correct insurances.
??

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

32,000 posts

264 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
jamie128 said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Don't forget to get yourself the correct insurances.
??
Can you imagine how much bother you'd be in if something went wrong & you ended up with, say, £1m damages against you for injury? (Or even just £30k if you damaged a water pipe & flooded a property.)




jamie128

Original Poster:

1,604 posts

199 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Don't forget to get yourself the correct insurances.
Having never done this type of work im confused what you mean by insurance??

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

32,000 posts

264 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
jamie128 said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Don't forget to get yourself the correct insurances.
Having never done this type of work im confused what you mean by insurance??
Google public liability & contractors all risk.

Eric Mc

125,607 posts

294 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
Anyone who embarks on any sort of business venture would be a fool not to be insured for the various risks associated with running your own business. In some trades and professions, it will be compulsory.

jamie128

Original Poster:

1,604 posts

199 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Anyone who embarks on any sort of business venture would be a fool not to be insured for the various risks associated with running your own business. In some trades and professions, it will be compulsory.
Ah yes i understand now

RichUK

1,334 posts

276 months

Sunday 16th June 2013
quotequote all
Jamie, having seen the myriad of threads that you start in the Homes, Gardens and DIY section, can I suggest that with the greatest of respect an supplementary career in DIY might not be for you.

What other skills do you have that you might be able to put to use to earn money from?