Small Businesses

[blenkie1]

Was at that time but had no overheads did everything in his sheds, used his electric. Was still working in a full time job then it was him that made up my mind to take the jump promised me work every year. Still comes with a list every year and presents for the kids at Christmas. He got me my first mig. Just done some dog kennels for him not too long ago. First jobs it just experience you need to work things out. Still have no real big overheads. Do a lot of work for a forestry company most of the time boy is that easier go in do the work charge my rate and that's it.

 

[blenkie1]

Your a pretty lucky guy to find a wife like that haha I hope one day mine will be the same

Yeah she is a good un! But she knew the score I was sick what I was doing and was keen for me to start up for myself. Her hands used to be rougher than mine!

 

[dannyp]

gates are really easy makeing. std gates you canf fire them out that fast without really even trying.

calving gates get a bit moe intresting think i'm soposed to be makeing a few shortly i'll have to chuck some photos up

 

[IrishDave]

Depends, welded onsite, off site, is it orefabbed bolt together?

Welded on site and off site 5 hours on site my uncle did all the ramp though and post creted it all I did was weld the joints up

 

[blenkie1]

gates are really easy makeing. std gates you canf fire them out that fast without really even trying.

calving gates get a bit moe intresting think i'm soposed to be makeing a few shortly i'll have to chuck some photos up

It's nothing to make them if you are half decent with a welder there's no need to clean the welds like you say they can be knocked up in no time. Started making creep gates after my first gates, then feed barriers, and some self locking yolks all easy stuff to make and get out. Make one and you can make a load.

 

[Bear]

Sounds like a right ****! I have people popping in all the time to see if any jobs are going but you can see before they even stop walking up to you if they have the minerals or not. I'd love someone to be as passionate about my business as I am, it would only benefit them in the long run as I'd be more inclined to pay more or give bonuses more often

I would love to take u up on this F.J. but sadly my skills are not up to scratch yet

 

[Kent]

£150 for a 12 foot gate? your hourly rate must be low?

the thing to learn for many as you will already know fj is there is a real difference between turnover, margin, gross profit and net profit. Drawings and return on investment then comes into it.
I think something like 80% of small businesses fail in the first 18 months - mostly to do with understanding the above

 

[Kent]

How much would you guys have charged for this my first job finished it last weekend. Took me close to 20 hours to complete making and fitting

20 hours labour if I didn't price it up previous. plus the stuff with a little margin on the stuff ( if you don't then your actually not making as much as you might think hourly). To be fair I am personally going towards all priced work now as customers cant except that its rough with the smooth
hourly rate does not equate to drawings most small business owners forget this and when the van needs servicing, welder blows up, public liability needs paying etc etc etc

 

[Kent]

If you buy machines when you are not VAT registered, then subsequently go VAT registered you can 'back-claim' the VAT. Up to a certain time limit - a year or so IIRC.

I did this.

yes you can but that don't help cash flow through that initial period when you will be spending as much or even greater than you bring in. I am not 100% on the period of time it used to be a quarter but my wife being an accountant I just concern myself with bringing in the business and getting the work done

 

[Welderpaul]

yes you can but that don't help cash flow through that initial period when you will be spending as much or even greater than you bring in.

Indeed, but if you need to buy the kit to do your job, then you need to buy it.

 

[Kent]

Indeed, but if you need to buy the kit to do your job, then you need to buy it.

of course, trying to get my head around a hidden meaning in that refers to what I posted. You can also buy stuff personally as your personal asset then rent or sell it the business if its a registere company, there are advantages to this for some.

hey lots of ways, whatever suits just best to know them all as there are upsides and downsides to them all to balance. Working for farms it makes no matter if you have to charge vat as they all tend to be registered so you gain nothing not having your own vat number

 

[Welderpaul]

How much would you guys have charged for this my first job finished it last weekend. Took me close to 20 hours to complete making and fitting

I'll bore your ar£e off here, but if your a 'proper' business you need to be aware of stuff like this - balustrades that form edge protection need to be designed to a specific line load. 0.36kN/m, 0.74kN/m, 1.5kN/m, 3.0kN/m. If it fails under load and you hurt someone, you're in court. I can see from here that yours fails even the lowest category. See, I've bored you and make myself sound like an ar£e...but..i'm making a point - There's so much to learn and be wary of. I've been at it 9 years and still learn stuff.

We could and do charge £120-00 a meter for that sort of handrail.....when i first started i couldn't get much more than what it cost for me to do. It's all about getting known and who we work for, and our Clients are happy to pay us that.

It's a hard slog starting/running a business, and a good way to very quickly make you hate welding.

Given my time again i wouldn't work for myself i don't think. I enjoy some bits, but there's a lot of nasty bits too.

 

[Kent]

I'll bore your ar£e off here, but if your a 'proper' business you need to be aware of stuff like this - balustrades that form edge protection need to be designed to a specific line load. 0.36kN/m, 0.74kN/m, 1.5kN/m, 3.0kN/m. If it fails under load and you hurt someone, you're in court. I can see from here that yours fails even the lowest category. See, I've bored you and make myself sound like an ar£e...but..i'm making a point - There's so much to learn and be wary of. I've been at it 9 years and still learn stuff.

We could and do charge £120-00 a meter for that sort of handrail.....when i first started i couldn't get much more than what it cost for me to do. It's all about getting known and who we work for, and our Clients are happy to pay us that.

It's a hard slog starting/running a business, and a good way to very quickly make you hate welding.

Given my time again i wouldn't work for myself i don't think. I enjoy some bits, but there's a lot of nasty bits too.

The fastening down bit?

 

[Welderpaul]

The fastening down bit?

How do you mean?

 

[Sarto]

How does the "360N/m, etc" works?
What do you have to do to have a legally compliant work?

 

[Woody.v8]

How does the "360N/m, etc" works?
What do you have to do to have a legally compliant work?

Get 360 of these to lean on a meter of fencing

 

[MichaelV]

Hello Dave

In our wee part of the world, we have separate Building Control regulations. Have a look here for some helpful guidance, and the formal requirements for various types of railings.

https://www.dfpni.gov.uk/sites/defa...g-and-protection-from-impact-October-2012.pdf

As a number of the experienced lads above have observed, make sure you're well briefed and well prepared for each project, including the relevant codes and standards for any projects with any kind of public contact.

Michael

 

[Wedg1e]

Get 360 of these to lean on a meter of fencing
View attachment 77760

Einstein, Newton and Pascal decide to play Hide and Seek.
Einstein starts counting "1...2...3..." and Pascal immediately runs away to hide. Instead of hiding, Newton kneels down and draws a square of one metre by one metre. Then he steps inside of it. Einstein finishes counting and turns around. He instantly yells "Newton I have found you!"
Newton replies: "No, what you see is one Newton over one square metre - so what you have found is one Pascal."

 

[F.J.]

Einstein, Newton and Pascal decide to play Hide and Seek.
Einstein starts counting "1...2...3..." and Pascal immediately runs away to hide. Instead of hiding, Newton kneels down and draws a square of one metre by one metre. Then he steps inside of it. Einstein finishes counting and turns around. He instantly yells "Newton I have found you!"
Newton replies: "No, what you see is one Newton over one square metre - so what you have found is one Pascal."

I can imagine that's quite funny, but I'm not bright enough to get it!