Promoting/getting started

[jimmer3]

Hi guys.

In a previous post, I've already suggested i'm starting out with a friend. We would be painting and decorating part time around our full time jobs. (Therefore we would be working mainly weekends, but also evenings if required)

We want to keep our outgoings to an absolute mimimum to start with.

How do you guys promote your business? Which is the most effective per pound?. Do you have any opinions on how we should promote ourselves?

We obviously don't have a massive budget, we need to spend our time and money wisely.

Thanks

 

[gcol]

Church magazines are a must. I used to advertise in a local free current affairs newspaper called the "Idle Toad". It was full of local businesses advertising their services. It cost £15 for a business card sized advert and was a monthly affair. Bargain.

 

[FredFlintstone]

I'm planning on leafleting along with a small ad in the local directory (not Yellow Pages, it's a local advertising brochure which I'm going to trial as it only costs £20 for a month.

Leaflets are very cost effective though - I've got a good contact who I have placed a lot of business with in my current job.

Standard leaflet costs are about £250 for 10,000 black and white A5 leaflets. That's a lorra leaflets to deliver!

 

[sandwell]

One tip I would give you is to make sure that you are properly insured.

I once had a painter working at my house, and he fell off the ladder, was in hospital 6 weeks.

It can happen to anyone. Be prepared.

 

[FredFlintstone]

One tip I would give you is to make sure that you are properly insured.

I once had a painter working at my house, and he fell off the ladder, was in hospital 6 weeks.

It can happen to anyone. Be prepared.

The insurance doesn't just apply to personal accident / income protection insurance either. Public Liability Insurance is a must unless you're prepared to take the risk of footing the bill for any potentially expensive damage you could cause to someone's property.

Obviously there will be some damage you can afford to pay for yourself but it's best to be protected against the bigger losses.

 

[jimmer3]

Public Liability Insurance is a must unless you're prepared to take the risk of footing the bill for any potentially expensive damage you could cause to someone's property.

Roughly, how much does this cost? how are you insured with?

 

[gcol]

About £100 -£120

 

[jimmer3]

About £100 -£120

Per year i'm guessing?

Can you pay that monthly?

Also, as I'm going into this with a friend, do we pay that EACH, or between us?

 

[gcol]

Yes that's per year.
Probably can pay monthly but it'll be more expensive - can you not stretch to £120?
I'm not 100% on that because I used to work on my own, but I think you just declare how many people work for the business - you might get charged a few extra quid but that'll cover both of you. You only pay that once - not each.

 

[FredFlintstone]

You cover the business, not the individual but it's quite likely to cost more if there is more than one person working for the business.

As for £120 per year - wow, that's quite cheap. I would have thought it'd be more than that.

It will obviously depend on the nature of the business though too. I'd imagine electricians, plumbers etc pay more than painters, plasterers etc because of the greater risk of greater damage.

 

[gcol]

As for £120 per year - wow, that's quite cheap. I would have thought it'd be more than that.

It used to cost me £99 for a "one man band" fitting bathrooms and kitchens (that includes plumbing jobs). Never had to claim so I can't say whether they'd have been any good or not.

 

[FredFlintstone]

The no claims bit helps I guess.

A new start up / venture will likely cost more because it's unknown territory for the insurer.

 

[noseall]

turn out good quality work and be RELIABLE, that's the best advert in the business.

 

[confidentincompetent]

Not trying to be a party pooper but be Carefull with the tax implications too I dont know how it works part time wise nowadays but tax peeps used to check out postcard ads etc for this kind of stuff. I heard of a couple of firemen who got done for not declaring their part time gardening, window cleaning rounds and decorating.
When I first started I used to advertise in local rags and postcards in shop windows, the postcards were the best. But now well esablished 25 yrs the novelty has worn off a bit now I find I dont neeed to advertise in fact scared of fone ringing..
If you do a good job and sometimes a little extra (put that down to advertising ) and and you'll probably soon find you wont need to advertise ... good luck.

 

[Zampa]

Not trying to be a party pooper but be Carefull with the tax implications too I dont know how it works part time wise nowadays but tax peeps used to check out postcard ads etc for this kind of stuff. I heard of a couple of firemen who got done for not declaring their part time gardening, window cleaning rounds and decorating. When I first started I used to advertise in local rags and postcards in shop windows, the postcards were the best. But now well esablished 25 yrs the novelty has worn off a bit now I find I dont neeed to advertise in fact scared of fone ringing..
If you do a good job and sometimes a little extra (put that down to advertising ) and and you'll probably soon find you wont need to advertise ... good luck.

GOOD!...BECAUSE THEY UNDERCUT EVERYBODY ELSE!

Good advice there..

I tried the local papers but you have to rely on on someone wanting a decorator on the day they come out..or the after after becasue the following day they are either in the bin or in the bog!

Yellow pages...bit hit an miss..forget what their sales people tell you about bigger ads are better, its rubbish and the bigger the ad they sell you the bigger their commision on it.
Unless you specialise you will only get work from your local area, I was in it for a good few years and only ever got specialist work (ragging marbeling colourwashing and sometimes papering etc)outside of a ten mile radius.

If you make your add too big people may also think your bound to be expensive.
And remember advertising is a just another one of your tools...you need a return on it...if you had an advert for 520 quid in theory youll need one job every week from it that you can stick ten quid on to cover it (given that a week is about an average job in our game)

That means..on a basis of one in ten success's youl need ten phone calls from that add every week.....It aint gonna happen!

So stick to a smaller add...avoid colour...its expensive and people arn't going to say, 'oh well have him hes got a coloured add'!

And never ever accept their first quote for an ad...they can and will come down on the price...and remember the price they quote may sound very affordable..becasue it doesnt include VAT...which you cant claim back

Tax...put 20% aside from every job...and into an account where you cant get instant access.