New Boy with Business Aspirations....

[ipanderson83]

Hi Guy/Girls

I am an Ex-IT Geek / Ex-Salesman and have been very good in both careers (without bragging!)
I quit my last sales job as I found out a few things that they thought were nicely hidden from staff and clients.... but anyway....

I have always wanted to get a trade and work for myself.
Tiling is something that I seem to be drawn to (not sure whether is is because I know alot of Kitchen & Bathroom fitters that all seem to be doing well), but I am sure that I would enjoy the work and be good at it, as I am a very methodical and precise person almost verging on OCD (although I would prefer to call it CDO as the letters would be alphabetical!! - ha ha)

Now.... the potential issue.... I have never fixed a tile before in my life

A few training centres claim to offer a "TASTER DAY" to try it, and then, all the skills and the full business startup, but I'm wondering if it really is as simple as that?

Can I start a Tiling business of the back of a 4week course?
I dont expect it to be easy but I know that "I" have the passion and drive to make it work, but before laying out a large sum of money, thought I would get advice from people in the know!!

Any help or opinions, greatly appreciated....

 

[Olz]

Welcome to the forum mate,

Have a look in the course feedback sections where you can see the reviews on the various courses, A course will teach you the basics and it's then upto you where you take it from their.

You will find lots of differing opinions on courses in the age old course v time served debate, something which you will come across in most trades, You have to be realistic about what you can learn on a course, but there are stacks of members on this forum who have gone the course route, and are now doing very well.

You have to be prepared to give it your all, but if you want it enough, you can do a course then go on to run a successfull business, with time and effort IMO..

 

[MICK the Tiler]

G'Day and welcome to the forums


I'll be honest as I always am.

Courses are a great way to satisfy ones curiosity when faced with the fact that they are questioning there abilities in there chosen field of expertise, and there is nothing wrong with that. Trying something new keeps the mind active and the nerves on edge so to speak. To try and take money from the public to help fund this curiosity is alot harder than it sounds and even harder in practice. Method and precision are great attributes to have as a potential tiler, but alone they won't put food on the table everyday, you need to have a fall back position if you want to last more than 5 minutes in this game, of which is very demanding on the body as well as the mind. If you can do some small jobs on the weekend, labour for a tiler part time, practise on your own place, but most importantly forget about earning good coin whilst you are learning the art of tile, keep your regular job just in case, start small and build a reputation, and when there is more than enough work coming through the door think about ditching the other job. Less stress means more learning more learning means more experience more experience means a better reputaion a better reputation means more ongoing work more ongoing work means food on the table everyday and happier times.

All the Best Mick

 

[Daveyboy]

Hi IP...welcome to the forum...Mick's advice is spot on and I'd follow it to the letter...good luck! David

 

[LM Ceramics]

hi welcome to the forums id say after no course you could call yourself a pro tiler but it is a steeping stone into the trade it will take a few years to master the skill of tiling. have a look at the course feedback as oli says i would suggest at least a 2week course 4/5 day courses is an insult if you ask me.

try the course see if you like it first then take on smaller jobs friends or family as mick the tiler says dont go charging mega money first remember a course will show the the basics its different tiling a bay than tiling a full bathroom ive seen many short course "tilers" work where customers were lied to by the tiler telling them they had 3 years experience.

everyone learns at a different pace if you like your course then get your tools,cards,van etc and starting advertising get your name around you have to look for work it wont come to you.

 

[DHTiling]

Hello and welcome to tilers forums......

 

[GazTech]

Hello welcome from me....Gaz

 

[White Room]

Hello and welcome mate

 

[a1tiler]

welcome to the forum

 

[Fred]

Hello mate. I re-trained after serving the public for 15 years. I went to college three days a week, and got my C&G. I learned so much, but had to be realistic, so I worked for family & friends first to get confidence, then chose my jobs and went from there, learning as I went.

 

[Fekin]

Hi there

 

[CCTiling]

Welcome to the forums.

 

[ipanderson83]

Cheers Fred...
I think I am going to do the 4 week course with PTS as planned and then do a couple of privates which have already been agreed with the family.
Whilst doing them I am am going to look at advertising locally and see what comes in from there.
I have a lot of friends that are in manual trades that I can always do a bit of cash in hand work for to tide me over till my next job.
Thinking about boarding out both sides of the garage to practice as well for the days/weekends that are free to myself... or is that going too far do we think??

 

[DHTiling]

Cheers Fred...
I think I am going to do the 4 week course with PTS as planned and then do a couple of privates which have already been agreed with the family.
Whilst doing them I am am going to look at advertising locally and see what comes in from there.
I have a lot of friends that are in manual trades that I can always do a bit of cash in hand work for to tide me over till my next job.

Thinking about boarding out both sides of the garage to practice as well for the days/weekends that are free to myself... or is that going too far do we think??

I think that idea is spot on......the more practise you get the better...

 

[davy_G]

I have a lot of friends that are in manual trades that I can always do a bit of cash in hand work for to tide me over till my next job.


Hi ip, the forums have ears. We dont do cash work, unless we put it through the books of course

I did the 4 weeker at pts about a year ago. I self built my own house before but hadnt tiled much. Ive been happily tiling away since, learning as i go and getting plenty of advice and info on here.
But as others have stressed this isnt a game where big money comes from the start, indeed if at all. It is a bad time for the building trades but quality work builds reputations which guarantee income. You will need speed and quality to get decent money but speed comes with practice and lots of it.

Good luck