Part time income when off rotation
Discussion
Hi all. I work offshore and now have a permanent rotation where I can say for certain that I will be home for more than 6 months of the year and when that will be. As my kids are now a bit older I can see myself having more time on my hands and have been considering what can I do.
Be keen to hear if anyone else is in a similar position or if anyone has any ideas?
My first thoughts are car detailing, which I love doing anyway although I am not a "detailer". Looking at courses online there are a few options to gain more specific experience but it isn't cheap. Obviously something car related would be great as I don't feel as if I will struggle to motivate myself to get out and do it. But I imagine this is a hard market to crack and ultimately I can't afford to spend thousands on a van and equipment for it to be a total failure.
Other thoughts were vehicle transport, buy a covered trailer and look to transport luxury cars etc. Difficulty with this is getting regular work if I am away every three weeks. How do people in this market gain work? Just word of mouth or are there websites you can register with
Any other suggestions welcome, I'm at the thinking out loud stage and have done very little research just keen to hear other people ideas. Feel free to shoot me down as a buffoon 😂 Would rather be rold that my ideas are awful at this stage before I commit to anything.
Be keen to hear if anyone else is in a similar position or if anyone has any ideas?
My first thoughts are car detailing, which I love doing anyway although I am not a "detailer". Looking at courses online there are a few options to gain more specific experience but it isn't cheap. Obviously something car related would be great as I don't feel as if I will struggle to motivate myself to get out and do it. But I imagine this is a hard market to crack and ultimately I can't afford to spend thousands on a van and equipment for it to be a total failure.
Other thoughts were vehicle transport, buy a covered trailer and look to transport luxury cars etc. Difficulty with this is getting regular work if I am away every three weeks. How do people in this market gain work? Just word of mouth or are there websites you can register with
Any other suggestions welcome, I'm at the thinking out loud stage and have done very little research just keen to hear other people ideas. Feel free to shoot me down as a buffoon 😂 Would rather be rold that my ideas are awful at this stage before I commit to anything.
Both markets that will make you very little unless you’re at the top of your game.
Detailing - there’s hundreds out there, from the 18 year olds working from dads garage with Halfords tatt to the high end stuff. Difficult to build a brand and pitch yourself well.
Vehicle transport - again, you could register with the likes of shiply, but it’s a race to the bottom. Picking and choosing what you can do and when though would definitely be a benefit. After start up and ongoing costs I can’t see you retiring off the back of it.
I read the first bit of your post as 6 months on/6 off, but sounds more like three weeks on/three off further down? What time do you actually have available?
Detailing - there’s hundreds out there, from the 18 year olds working from dads garage with Halfords tatt to the high end stuff. Difficult to build a brand and pitch yourself well.
Vehicle transport - again, you could register with the likes of shiply, but it’s a race to the bottom. Picking and choosing what you can do and when though would definitely be a benefit. After start up and ongoing costs I can’t see you retiring off the back of it.
I read the first bit of your post as 6 months on/6 off, but sounds more like three weeks on/three off further down? What time do you actually have available?
I'd probably take the easy option and do Uber (or competitors).
Drover will hire you a registered, fully insured PCO car by the week (https://www.joindrover.com/private-hire/toyota/prius-excel/15465), you can offset these costs against any income received too. Can arrange the hire periods around when you want to work and it has no material up front capital commitment either. With an interest in cars you'd likely be one of the better drivers too!
Drover will hire you a registered, fully insured PCO car by the week (https://www.joindrover.com/private-hire/toyota/prius-excel/15465), you can offset these costs against any income received too. Can arrange the hire periods around when you want to work and it has no material up front capital commitment either. With an interest in cars you'd likely be one of the better drivers too!
jackofall84 said:
What is your actual skill/trade/profession from your main job - could you do something on shore closely related to what you do offshore?
I'm a marine engineer. I have thought very carefully about this actually. The set up costs involved for be to be able to do something in my industry make it a huge ask. There is a massive amount of ooling needed, and it would then need to be a full time job to pay for said tools and equipment. kiethton said:
I'd probably take the easy option and do Uber (or competitors).
Drover will hire you a registered, fully insured PCO car by the week (https://www.joindrover.com/private-hire/toyota/prius-excel/15465), you can offset these costs against any income received too. Can arrange the hire periods around when you want to work and it has no material up front capital commitment either. With an interest in cars you'd likely be one of the better drivers too!
Never considered Uber , certainly with a thought. Drover will hire you a registered, fully insured PCO car by the week (https://www.joindrover.com/private-hire/toyota/prius-excel/15465), you can offset these costs against any income received too. Can arrange the hire periods around when you want to work and it has no material up front capital commitment either. With an interest in cars you'd likely be one of the better drivers too!
Does your offshore contract allow you to hold other employment during your off rotation? Ours have a clause saying even on fixed rotations, employees are required to be available at short notice in case of extenuating circumstances. That might rule out you working for someone else; however I don't believe there is any issue with you working for yourself during those periods.
We had a few guys who were painter/landscapers prior to joining us to work offshore, and they carried on with p/t work when they were back on shore leave. A few times they got caught out because they had to leave jobs half-way through to go back offshore.
We had a few guys who were painter/landscapers prior to joining us to work offshore, and they carried on with p/t work when they were back on shore leave. A few times they got caught out because they had to leave jobs half-way through to go back offshore.
If I were in that kind of position I like to think I would get myself set up making things that I can then sell.
A friend of mine has set himself up with a small woodturning lathe and now makes custom pens, shaving kits, bowls, vases and so on from bits of wood, and now got good enough that he's selling at craft fairs and fetes etc, as well as bits going on Etsy. That way, you can control the amount you make and make it in time to suit yourself?
A friend of mine has set himself up with a small woodturning lathe and now makes custom pens, shaving kits, bowls, vases and so on from bits of wood, and now got good enough that he's selling at craft fairs and fetes etc, as well as bits going on Etsy. That way, you can control the amount you make and make it in time to suit yourself?
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