day rates?

[Leatherface]

sounds like you are doing a lot there mate !
2 suggestions, you have a good website ! Better than mine ( as I do not have one ) It would benefit from a more extensive gallery so you can showcase your work better, I only see 3 photos !
One good avenue to try is Trade to Trade recommends .. takes time, but befriend and pass as much work as you can to other tradesmen you meet along the way, they in turn will usually do the same. Customers will usually take the word of a tradesman they trust that someone else's work is good !!! A lot of the time this is a sure fire way to get work !
Also, you say you have written to and called 120 companies ! How many have you called to see in person ? The personal touch will get more results

My view is that it can really be down to "who you know" as much as "what you know" !

 

[P'boro tiler]

hello mate
my site sure is lacking photos. i d good work but then my pics always have rubbish in the background or something lol. or they have cables for spot lights hanging down etc.
I do pass on tradesmen details and am considering joining BNI as ive been to one before and got some work from it. Its so pricey tho!
I would call to see people in person that Ive written to but i'd feel like im being too eager

sounds like you are doing a lot there mate !
2 suggestions, you have a good website ! Better than mine ( as I do not have one ) It would benefit from a more extensive gallery so you can showcase your work better, I only see 3 photos !
One good avenue to try is Trade to Trade recommends .. takes time, but befriend and pass as much work as you can to other tradesmen you meet along the way, they in turn will usually do the same. Customers will usually take the word of a tradesman they trust that someone else's work is good !!! A lot of the time this is a sure fire way to get work !
Also, you say you have written to and called 120 companies ! How many have you called to see in person ? The personal touch will get more results

My view is that it can really be down to "who you know" as much as "what you know" !

 

[P'boro tiler]

I shall get my fancy postcard type leaflets made and stick them thro the doors off the affluent areas!

charging 135 a day sounds like a day dream to me now. i did a quote in 2 affluent areas the other day and got undercut by half price. I quoted 300 for removing tiles and retiling 3m2 splashback in mats. the other guy quotes 150 🙁

why dont you try less affluent areas with your cards etc?

 

[Rad2474]

people need to understand £135 day rate=
£27-tax
Ni contributions
petrol costs
public liability
@that rate your probably left with £85 a day!

it really annoys me when customers think you can pocket the lot!:8:

So true but customers aren't intersted in things like that,cheap price is all they want to see the above list is YOUR problem not theirs as most customers would think.

 

[mikethetile]

thats the way things are at the moment

some people buy work in order to turn cash over rather than make money others just dont know how to price and think 150 is good money

you can try and compete on price but thats dodgy as at the end of the day you are trying to run a healthy business

the answer is in how you market yourself, you need to convince them that you are worth more money than the next man

i do this by giving first class service and making my clients feel special

by creating the right image from the start with your leaflets through to meeting the client you have the advantage over the cheap price brigade

 

[Leatherface]

hello mate
my site sure is lacking photos. i d good work but then my pics always have rubbish in the background or something lol. or they have cables for spot lights hanging down etc.
I do pass on tradesmen details and am considering joining BNI as ive been to one before and got some work from it. Its so pricey tho!
I would call to see people in person that Ive written to but i'd feel like im being too eager

Phone call -GOOD
Letter - GOOD
E-Mail - GOOD

Follow up visit in person - Even better

You need to have a "brass neck" to get work !
Be confident - remember they need you as much as you need them !
Don't give up after a few knock backs. 50% of my work has come from pestering people to give me a try !

 

[White Room]

I know a builder who has had so many calls for work, he has actually taken on 2 more guys because he's busy. Don't get it

 

[DHTiling]

I know a builder who has had so many calls for work, he has actually taken on 2 more guys because he's busy. Don't get it

Funny old world...:smilewinkgrin:

 

[faithhealer]

How's about putting flyers / cards through old customers doors. I often get repeat work because of previous work. It might just jog their memory into gear. I send Xmas cards out to previous years customers and always get one job out of it! (Yes I know it's Easter nearly!)

 

[mikethetile]

ive got more work to price, all on personal recomendation of work recently completed.

the reason im mentioning this is not to crow as i realise a lot of guys are still sruggling to find work to price

last year i was busy but a lot of work was for small builders and my own work was squeezed in

this year i had a bad start to the year which gave me a lot of time to think

this year i have made a simple change to the way ido things and its working

i offer exceptional service to my clients............that is what they want from a tradesman..........and will tell their friends

my work hasnt changed but my attitude has

my rates are the same as last year and im not competing for the work

ive got a marketing plan in place but im not spending the money right now as this strategy is working and costs next to nothing