Quit or not to Quit Tiling, Thats the question ??

[MTS]

Hi All,

Is anyone else feeling the pinch ?, I've been tiling for a year now and getting on really well, but it just isn't paying enough now, with fuel costs up 1/3 and insurance, and tilers willing to tile for stupid rates £10/m2, I'm just not making enough money, and I'm working hard at moment.
I'm I alone on this or are other people feeling the strain ?

MTS:huh2:

 

[brummie tiler]

your not alone mate. Im having a bad day today and am seriously thinking the same as you. This week i stand to earn £75!! thats how bad it has got. Too many tilers not enough work to go around. I know people will say stick with it, put your name about etc etc but from my experiance the money i have spent and the graft i have put in, the sums just dont add up. I honestly would be no worse off if i were to get a run of the mill full time job ( less stress aswell, no running around trying to chase business all the time ). Times are definatley hard at the moment i guess its down to personel circumstance what you choose to do - for me, i have a big mortgage and two kids also a wedding to pay for next year ( not the best timing i know! ) Its not a case of me wanting more money its a case of needing it just to survive

 

[wetdec]

Hi m8


I have found over many years that tiling can be really frustrating as regards work comming in and money that can be earned.

You have been tiling a year which I would say is the hardest period and you have found your feet. You should find now that confidence in your ability and the experience should be making you a little quicker while having a good finish so you are getting on and to quit now would be a waste.

I am assuming you have contacts willing to refer you, have a word see if they cant push a little harder so you can be more selective about the jobs you are doing. draw as many floors and kitchen walls as you can and keep them small, they are the in out jobs the earners and ones other tilers dont really like.

Dont make the mistake of advertising as this is a very slow return.

Keep at it m8 it will come, there are too many tilers but those that succeed are the stickers


tiler

 

[MTS]

Like Brummie I too have a large mortage, and the cash just isn't comming in. I agree that floors and kitchens:mad2: s are the big earners, but I'm working everyday (except today , lady let me down last minute) and still the books don't look healthy enough, I'm gutted as I love tiling and feel that I'm pretty good as well as within 1 year I'm in the top 5 tilers (out of 40 odd) recommened by my local tile shop

 

[wetdec]

1 year I'm in the top 5 tilers (out of 40 odd) recommened by my local tile shop

Then you need to be the first for small jobs by encouragement of staff and be looking at your outgoings there is a problem somewhere. You cant be working 5 days and not making money it doesn't figure.

If you have your kit, your wheels and your fuel then your outlay should be a constant. If you have made the new tilers mistake of overstretching with sign written vans on the drip then you should take time to reflect sharpish would be my advice.

tiler

 

[brummie tiler]

MTS It sounds to me as though you have enough work just not at the price you need. In your case you should be demanding more money, charge what you are worth - like you say you are one of the top 5 tilers so make sure you charge for that service. My case is differnet, I have been tiling nearly 6 years although only one and a half years on my own. It started off quite well for me but seems to have tailed off nearly completly this year. I have three guys who regulaly throw work my way, but even that has stopped as they say they are struggling themselves and one of the guys has dropped me for someone cheaper ( and i am by no means expensive! )

same as you mts i would be gutted if i had to drop tiling as i love it and its all i really know- but sometimes needs must. :yes:

 

[wetdec]

You cant demand if you have that many tilers on one desk you need the referal and you need to be able to talk the job when you get there.

Go through what you will do talk to the punters give them confidence it makes a massive difference and can give you the edge over the cheaper bods.

 

[MTS]

Don't get me wrong, I am making money from tiling, its just our mortgage has increased alot and the amount I need the earn has therefore went up. It used to cost £70 to fill my van with diseal now its £95. I used to be able to charge £20/m2 now I'm lucky to charge £15/m2 (even with strong recomemendation). Im really doing some soul searching as to what I do next. If I do go back to a 9-5 job, I'll diffenately keep tiling in evenings and saturdays

MTS

 

[wetdec]

Then its the external influences thats bring this on, unfortunately I am not in a position to offer anything on that subject but I would be ballancing very carefully the options available.

On the tiling then you have done the hard bit keep plugging m8


tiler

 

[MTS]

Cheers Wetdec, I really appreicate the advice and chat

MTS

 

[Turkish]

Good luck mate with whatever you decide! Know what you mean about the fuel, this robbing government!!!! Used to cost me and my wife £300 per month to travel to our work places, now it`s upped to £500!:furious3:

Turkish

 

[enduro]

Unfortunately if you start getting all doom and gloom as soon as someone mentions a recession, you will never make it in business...YOU HAVE TO BE POSITIVE

 

[IvegotsTILE]

Agree with Enduro,I know it might sound easy to say keep at it but I only got into tiling when my other business failed and the only thought in my mind was I'm obviously meant to be very successful at something else instead.

Acting positive has its rewards believe me,good luck lads in whatever you decide

 

[White Room]

Agree with enduro your've got to keep pushing on, If it was like the recession in the late eighties I would be bothered. I've never bought a house allways rented so hav'nt got that pressure of a mortgage.

 

[sWe]

It is said that opportunists can smell money. The times have been good for the past few years. Alot of people have been attracted into the tiling business as a result of that, and though many are serious in their endeavor, many are merely in it for a quick buck.

If the times are changing for the worse, remember that it is temporary, and that harder times weed out cowboys and poor performers.

View harder times as a challenge. Hardships forces us to better ourselves.
Become better and more effective at what you do. Broaden and improve your skills, and provide a better service than your competition.
When the cycle turns back up, you'll come out of it sharper than before, ready to expand, IF you are single-minded enough to weather it.

My five cents...