Advice on new business sought

[tim0409]

Hi there,

A few months ago I set up a property maintenance business and through word of mouth have already picked up some good contracts (serviced offices/restaurants etc) - my original idea/branding included the strap line "professional handyman service" as I carry out a range of jobs from plumbing/painting/siliconing etc, all of which I can do to a high standard. I focus on the smaller jobs that others don't tend to want to get involved with.

I am thinking ahead, and can foresee that it will be difficult to employ somebody with a wide skill set, coupled with concern that people conceive "handyman" to be relatively unskilled (and expect to pay accordingly). I am getting some more branding done, and I am thinking of changing to "Property Maintenance" instead of handyman (underneath the business name), and then detail the range of services on the website etc. Whilst at the moment I am doing commercial/managed property I would like to do more of the domestic market when I start to advertise.

I would welcome any thoughts.

Thanks

Tim

Edited by tim0409 on Saturday 26th August 15:14

[Qcarchoo]

I speak from experience and unfortunately your biggest problem is that there are not enough hours in the day.
You will find that it's easy to get work, particularly if you are personable and good at your job. People are crying out for people like you.
There is however, a ceiling on your earning potential.

Years ago I made the mistake of thinking that it was simply a case of employing people and expanding.
Your business is only as good as the staff you employ and finding skilled tradespeople with your work ethic is very difficult.
Fifty years ago, before it was 'de rigeur' to be self employed, there was a good pool of trades who'd worked their way through their apprenticeships
and would often have a job for life with their employer.

In my view, nowadays, the demise of apprenticeships and the rise of self-employment has demolished the trades pool which enabled companies like yours to expand.

You could use sub-contractors but you'll find that they're expensive and organising them will take you away from your job - I remember working it out that I would need to have eleven people working for me before I could 'come off the tools' and pay myself a wage. Before you reach that stage you'll find that you're working harder for less.
You'll find that sub-contractors will quite often pick up any peripheral work that's offered to them when they're on your job. Before you know it, they'll be poaching your work.
I could go on but but I'm afraid I can't give you advice on how to make it work - I can only point out the pitfalls which I've met.
My experience led me to scale back, concentrate and develop my own skills to their best advantage. It's the old adage of working smart, not hard

[Quattromaster]

^^^^^This man speak sense, lots of it, great post, spot on, I know, I'm doing it myself^^^^^

[VEX]

I agree with what has been said, I got to that sort of point early last year and spent 2016 chasing my tail and running a few extra contractors.

Useless. One job has refused to pay because of the problems contractor caused (she is a nut job as well which doesn't help). Other jobs over ran or were not to our usual standard so needed revisiting. So I would guess I lost £5-10k over what I could have done myself.

This year, totally refocused, put our day rates up and just stuck with the core team and workload.

Have said no to a number of projects, but it has meant we can focus better on the ones we like and have turned them well.

Lots of flightie installers coming into the business at the moment, but that in itself generates work to fix their poor installs as well.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Agree with posts so far also agree to change to property maintainence over handyman

Get on check a trade and similiar websites as they will get you referrals

Big gap in market everyone always asks me for referrals for Basic plumbing and property jobs lots of the trades I use are booked up for months even for simple stuff .

[TwistingMyMelon]

Agree with posts so far also agree to change to property maintainence over handyman

Get on check a trade and similiar websites as they will get you referrals

Big gap in market everyone always asks me for referrals for Basic plumbing and property jobs lots of the trades I use are booked up for months even for simple stuff .

[tim0409]

Many thanks for all the really helpful responses. I've found that the key selling point so far has been me (without blowing my own trumpet!) as I have quite a unique skill set in that I have gained experience in a number of areas, and that I am "professional" in my approach. As others have said, the chances of recruiting people with the same ethos/skills would be a real headache.

I'm currently typing this in a Starbucks whilst I wait for my van to have it's sign writing altered from handyman to property services, and this definitely feels like the correct thing to do. Will keep the thread updated on process/direction.

[red_slr]

Something we did is find a slightly smaller company who is looking to expand a little, ideally someone who you have worked with and then bring them in for some jobs. We are a supplies company and never really offered installation services. We started by working with one of our main customers 3 years ago on a trial basis. It grew from there. We now have equipment and tools and its growing all the time plus we have the stock 24/7.

Don't get me wrong its not cheap and it needs a bit more arranging but it works both ways too and we get work from them in the form of sales.

It needs trust and its something we have built up over time but its now at the point where we (the 2 companies) are working together on an almost daily basis under our brand. We are looking to bring a 3rd team in over the winter. Its looking like we might pass 30% of our turn over in this avenue this year. Given 3 years ago it was nothing that's not bad going.