Jump ship or better the devil you know?!

[Xcore]

Hi chaps,

I’m currently working for a firm which Iv been with for 6 years roughly, I’m a gas safe engineer/plumber/toilet technician. I’m getting rather bored being employed and an ex colleague who left the firm 10 months ago to go on his own has offered me a position with him on a self employed basis to start.

Current firm pays just bellow the national average but provide a company van and the usual holiday pay etc. I’m looking at a 50% increase in day rate with guaranteed work for 8 months.

Obviously I’d need to invest In a van, but I currently have my own hand tools/power tools and I don’t mind spending abit on tools il use regularly.

What do we think chaps? Worth the risk? I’m 31 and have been in the industry for 10ish years now.

Ta

[bristolbaron]

It depends...

What’s he got that you haven’t? Within 10 months, your colleague has got himself into a position where he can guarantee two people 8 months worth of work. Look at the bigger picture and use the opportunity to be in his position in 8 months time. Take a business course and gain an understanding of what it is to be your own (and down the line other peoples) boss. If you’re not prepared to do that, stay put.

[anonymous-user]

Are you gas safe registered? If so you should be on way more money than that.

Maybe negotiate with your current employer. I would consider the new job but it's an uncertain World currently.

[Terminator X]

If you do nothing different (ever) you will always have what you have now. Worth a risk imho.

TX.

[Mojooo]

I think this is the classic problem most trades have - go it alone or work for someone else

Lots of videos on YT from people giving their perspectives and pros and cons. You may earn more but its loads of hassle. Need to weigh up if its for you.

the risk is as a SE contractor he can dump you at any stage.

[rog007]

Xcore said:

...offered me a position with him on a self employed basis...

Unless I’ve misunderstood, you can’t be ‘self employed’ and ‘working for someone else’. You can be self employed and someone else offers you the leads. You’ll still have to do your own books/tax return and provide enough tools to prove you’re self employed. What % does he take for providing you with the leads? If only he is providing you with leads, this may also not be viewed as self employed to HMRC (you may have to be getting leads from more than one source).

https://www.gov.uk/working-for-yourself

As other posters have intimated, stay (with a pay rise hopefully) or go it alone from day one with your own marketing may be options worth considering.

[Xcore]

Thanks for the replies chaps, the main concern is I’d be working his contracts and I don’t have any of my own at the moment. I will most likely make the jump to working on my own one day with my own customer base. Although I’m getting rather bored of domestic plumbing and heating in general.

Edited by Xcore on Friday 12th March 17:25

[happy fish]

It depends on your character if you are a go getter and hungry to do the work and extra, and can adapt with changes in technology, the economy etc go for it. Being self employed can be challenging,periods when work can be slow ,difficult , stroppy or non paying customers lots of possible headaches.
On the plus side the opportunity to make way more money, decide when and where and who you work for.
I have been self employed repairing appliance for over thirty five years and have been very successful in what I do and what I have achieved materially and with my family . It is hard graft go in to it with yours eyes open , network and treat your customers well, a happy customer will always use you again and recommend you .