most difficult thing about being self employed

[kilty55]

what part of it do you dislike?

plenty pluses for me but the one thing is people why are they so bloody sneaky/underhand it seems every customer has a hidden agenda or wanting things for free not sure if its a sign of the times or people in general are changing .

take the customers away and id love this job:smilewinkgrin:

 

[DHTiling]

Dislikes..

Bloody idiots who think they know better... and that even more annoying flipping phrase.. " A good tiler will get over that " ...

 

[Dougs Third Go]

bookwork side is my bugbear.

 

[peteablard]

Same as Doug, I hate the paperwork. It would alo be nice to phone in sick when you're ill and still get paid!

 

[DHTiling]

Unpaid holidays... we all hate those.

 

[White Room]

Trying to educate customers to the needs for preperation and as Doug...paperwork hate it with a vengeance.

 

[beanz]

Paperwork, and waiting for money that you're owed.. Both drive me nuts!

 

[John Benton]

Dislikes..

Bloody idiots who think they know better... and that even more annoying flipping phrase.. " A good tiler will get over that " ...

And it's normally some other trade that's messed up saying it!!! And then you don't see them for dust.

 

[John Benton]

For me it's the same as many - paperwork, don't mind so much doing quotes, it's the accounts that does my nut in.

 

[bugs183]

I find the accounts ok, every week the paperwork gets filed, and then off to the accountant at the end of the year.
What gets me is balancing money when the cashflow slows, this week i've not earned much at all, as my van needs a good looking at, and i've been out to measure jobs during the day as you can't see them in the winter evenings. All this adds up, van costs, diesel to look at the jobs, the time etc.
This is what people don't see or understand, so when todays job viewing tried to cancel and suggest i go tomorrow i had to put my foot down and insist i go today.
It sounds a bit petty, but its these weeks that gobble up your profits.
But at least the jobs i'm pricing are good ones, so it is worth the effort.

 

[Bubblecraft]

Doing my books. It's the one & only thing I hate

 

[Alan M]

Unpaid holidays... we all hate those.

i think some of ye arnt working out your rates properly.
if done properly you will get paid on those days, easter , bank holidays, christmass etc.
it should be calculated into the costs.
if you want x amount a day for yourself ,you should allow that amount times the total no of days(365-all the week ends but including holidays,sick days,no of days a year you want off) . then devide that by how many days you want to work. then add all the business costs etc


you should also have a section in your quote that charges the cost of quoting (probably not called that thow) . it should represent the cost of doing all the quotes through the year devided by the percentage you hope to win. if it costs you 20 pounds to do a quote (in deisil,time,lost profit,etc) and you usually win 50 %of quotes then the charge should be 40 gbp .

 

[Pebbs]

Accounts and Cashflow, and chasing payments are top of my list.

Followed secondly by when you tell everyone your taking a couple of days off, and the phone goes at 6.30am, and you know you have to answer it, because its serious.

But the upside is, better to be making money out of yourself than making money for someone else.

Lynn

 

[Andy Allen]

time wasters........the numptys that get you round to do a quote just to see what it would cost, but its to dear, because there budget was only a £100...for the whole bathroom !!!,

including....materials !!....:mad2:

 

[EverDon Tiling]

Budgeting always go over and deadlines.

 

[Dan]

Days off - coz if you take 'em, you know you're not getting paid!

As Lynn says though, I'd much rather make my own money than get paid a tiny percentage of it.

 

[AMtek]

Finding good, reliable staff is my problem

 

[afright]

People who want an insurance quote and promise you the job and never ring you back,got wise started to charge for this service just love watching there face when you tell them.

 

[Peter]

Probably getting a cheque at 4.28 on a Friday when the banks close at half past.

 

[tfs]

where to start! lol

non legit wanna be tradesmen trying to slate legit guys prices

people who want me to do a half assed job

timewasters

BUT

all the pros out way the cons by far. Best decision I ever made, even if its more stressful at times than a regular job.

 

[stusgsx]

I hate having to polish a turd for builders!

 

[redlee]

Consistency of work does me, always seems to be feast or famine - can't plan more than 2-3 weeks ahead usually and begrudge turning work away when it could go slack a few weeks later.

 

[Andy Allen]

I hate having to polish a turd for builders!

:lol::lol::lol:

 

[kilty55]

lol

 

[MTiler]

Consistency of work does me, always seems to be feast or famine - can't plan more than 2-3 weeks ahead usually and begrudge turning work away when it could go slack a few weeks later.

That does my head in, and being left high and dry. Youve turned down work 'cos you have worked booked to start (and customer never wants to wait) and then that work isnt ready for you but they dont let you know till the day before and youre stuffed.

missyT

 

[peteablard]

That does my head in, and being left high and dry. Youve turned down work 'cos you have worked booked to start (and customer never wants to wait) and then that work isnt ready for you but they dont let you know till the day before and youre stuffed.

missyT

Pretty much what happened to me this week although I did get a reasonable amount of notice. Could of got some other work but couldn't be bothered travelling so have taken the time to get my paperwork bang up to date and do a mail shot to over 200 companies, never realised how expensive stamps are:yikes:

 

[d noulton]

having to do any tiling in my own house and not get paid

 

[Jeff the tiler]

Same as most, paperwork and builders who think they know better as do not want to pay to do the right.

 

[Jeff the tiler]

Sorry was meant to say "pay to do the job right"!!

May as well add the Price of Fuel as seem to be travelling further and further a field these days

 

[Peter]

Hardest bit is probably trying to keep everybody happy and juggling jobs about. Not so bad if you have someone working with you who can stay on a job while you start another.