How much can you earn

[T & P]

I want to set myself up as a self-employed plumber and tiler but because of recent divorce settlement I need to earn at least £25K pre tax. Is this realistic a lot of the tiling course say you can earn £30k+ but is this just sales talk. I would particularly like to hear from anyone who has taken the tiling course route into the trade.

Thanks

Keep smiling

 

[Dan]

I have seen tilers earn far more than that from a 6 day week working pattern with their heads down and business coming in steady. It's a new business that can suffer in just that, getting the business.

It's certain the work is out there, and it's certain you can charge well for your time and efforts, but it's also certain the consumer is quite rightly sceptical about who to use and therefor will always usually call a few to give them options.

So those that turn up to the quote and stand out, have a good chance of getting the work and earning the cash.

I'd say it's not hard to earn that sort of cash from tiling but it certainly isn't easy.

 

[Concept PHT]

If you can get yourself onto a site where you can bang the tiles on all day long, you can earn a fair bit. I know tilers here in the midlands that are earning 200+ per day, but they really are grafting an 8-10 hour 6 day week.

It sounds appealing, but I also like to have a bit of a life too, so I limit myself to what I want to earn in a week (Mon-Fri). Otherwise, you can get greedy and work yourself into the ground.

The work is definately there, and providing your good and quick, then 25k per year is not unrealistic.

Be aware though, that a lot of '4 day tilers' are coming into the scene, underquoting people with stupid prices (and I am talking £8 psm - and thats gospel!) to get the work. They then land on site working out the back of their Ford Mondeo, balls the job up and run off to the next job with the dough, leaving the customer in tatters and then paying somebody decent to put it right.

First impression is a big thing to getting the work - nice cards, decent van, knowing what your talking about and turning up on time for the quote, clean and well presented; not like you have just had a tub of PTB tipped over you and smelling like an ashtray.

Good luck mate

 

[T & P]

Thanks Anthony for the info. & advice it is appreciated. It's a big thing to jack in a very secure job and wage to strike out on your own. Where abouts in the Midlands are you based?

Thanks again

Whether you think you can or think you can't -- you are right.

 

[cornish dave]

hi been tiling for 15 years taught by an Italian tiler there is a back to work tilling course not far from me turing out tilers by the hundred, the local paper is full of them some are charging £8 to 10 a square metre but you get what you pay for. but its to late when they are on the wall or floor, so most of my work is by word of mouth but i cant tile for that price . It pays to look and phone around to see what the going rate is in your area remember that when you start you may not be as fast as some so watch out for the tricky jobs lots off cuts uneven wall floors ect and price accordingly.

 

[Concept PHT]

Cooperman, I am based in South Staffordshire. So I am very close to all parts of the Midlands. Quite handy really.

The best advice is to be somebody who you would like to see coming through your door to quote you for a tiling job. And whilst on the job, be somebody who you would be happy with working in your home and getting the job done.

Where abouts are you then?

 

[Concept PHT]

hi been tiling for 15 years taught by an Italian tiler there is a back to work tilling course not far from me turing out tilers by the hundred, the local paper is full of them some are charging £8 to 10 a square metre but you get what you pay for. but its to late when they are on the wall or floor, so most of my work is by word of mouth but i cant tile for that price . It pays to look and phone around to see what the going rate is in your area remember that when you start you may not be as fast as some so watch out for the tricky jobs lots off cuts uneven wall floors ect and price accordingly.

The amount of 'tilers' that have appeared in the local paper here is horendous. You can go into somewhere like Topps Tiles here, and there is a minimum of 20 different business cards on the side.

Thats why its crucial to get that first impression right when quoting the jobs.

I had one customer just last week say that it didn't matter what my price was, she wanted me to do the job because the last 2 guys that came to quote spent to long putting doubts in her mind about the way she wanted the tiling (brick bond / staggered) and telling her that her tiles were to big for the walls. Where as I came across as very positive towards the job and gave her the time to give her more advice to compliment her choice.

Now that to me tells me that the guys that arrived before I did lacked confidence, correct training and experience. Whilst operating with the basic of equipment (I.E a 10.99 DIY cutter that can only take 4in tiles).

The type you get from a 4 day tiling course......

 

[T & P]

Cooperman, I am based in South Staffordshire. So I am very close to all parts of the Midlands. Quite handy really.

The best advice is to be somebody who you would like to see coming through your door to quote you for a tiling job. And whilst on the job, be somebody who you would be happy with working in your home and getting the job done.

Where abouts are you then?

Anthony

Iam based in Wolverhampton. But it sounds as though there is a lot of competion in this area and I would have to prepared to work anywhere to get work. I intend to do a tiling course that will pay for its self just in the amount of work I have to do in my own place. I am on the second year of my electrical installation course so eventually I would hope to offer a complete service of plumbing, electrics and tiling.



The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you.

 

[T & P]

Cooperman, I am based in South Staffordshire. So I am very close to all parts of the Midlands. Quite handy really.

The best advice is to be somebody who you would like to see coming through your door to quote you for a tiling job. And whilst on the job, be somebody who you would be happy with working in your home and getting the job done.

Where abouts are you then?

Anthony

Iam based in Wolverhampton. But it sounds as though there is a lot of competion in this area and I would have to prepared to work anywhere to get work. I intend to do a tiling course that will pay for its self just in the amount of work I have to do in my own place. I am on the second year of my electrical installation course so eventually I would hope to offer a complete service of plumbing, electrics and tiling.



The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you.

 

[Concept PHT]

That what my plan was too.

I am currently doing my C&G Plumbing at college as well, and I am going to do my part P electrics in one of the half terms of college. The part P will tie in nicely with the plumbing and the undertile heating installation. A lot of my customers that I have put in undertile heating for, have all asked whether I can fit the electrics too. But I have had to say no obviously.

Although I am doing the plumbing, the tiling continues to go really well for me - infact, better than what I ever imagined. The work for me is non stop and pays just as well as a plumber, if not better sometimes. So I wonder if I should have bothered with the plumbing. But I am financially committed to the course now so I might as well finish it.

As for your tiling course, head along to Chase Tiling Academy. Read my post about it all in the 'courses' forum. Absolutely bang on mate.

As soon as you have completed your course, get in touch and I can maybe help you with your first couple of jobs.

 

[T & P]

Hi Anthony

Going to Chase Tiling on Tuesday to have alook round and speak with the instructor. They are offering a discount on a course that starts at the end of the month. What college are you doing your plumbing course at? Here in Wolverhampton I ve been told that the plumbing courses are booked up 2 years in advance!

 

[Concept PHT]

Cooperman,

I am Wolvo College, at the Bilston Campus. And your right, the courses are rammed and I am lucky to get on it. But the muppets that have been allocated a space is shocking. 16 year old idiots that only attend for there EMA (£30 per week), and they do nothing but play up. They also have space allocation preference to the hundreds of paying adults that are queuing to do the course. Unbeleivable.

Mention my name to Phil when you get to Chase Tiling

 

[Dan]

Bump.