Handyman prices

[neverwas]

This is getting a wee bit complicated but I don't think the VAT disincentive is that big - and is certainly not one of the first handful of issues I'd have suggested you think about. And you can, after all, DIY the VAT - IMHO it'd easy compared with some of the jobs you do.

ISTM to ought first to consider, if you have not already:

a. would he be your employee? If so PAYE & NICs involves rather more than VAT - but they are equally not a showstopper since you are patently able to use a PC and these days you can do it online. Of course there's also employer's liability insurance, working time directive, grievance procedures.... b. would he be your partner? If so, I'd recommend heading for paid-for advice: you have too much invested in your business to risk it on a badly drafted partnership agreement; c. would he be your sub-contractor? If so, are you clear about how to set it up so he does not end up as an employee? And about the way you get your vigorish on the jobs you pass to him? And stop (discourage?) him from stealing your trade?

In short, there are IMHO bloody great barriers to anyone who wants to go beyond the one-person-band; but there are also a lot of people who try to help them do so, and we need them to do so now more than ever. So you might start by seeing if your local Business Link advisor or the like can give you a free hour. They might also be able to point you to part-time bookkeepers willing to do the VAT, PAYE etc cheaply if you don't fancy throwing £1,000+ a year at an accountant. After all, there are quite a lot of ex-HMRC staff in your area.

[John Stumbles]

Sure, but as long as there are well-off areas withing your working range (as there are here in Reading - I don't know about your patch Dave) then there's still a good living to be made. And as you say marketing's a big part of that. But if the money just isn't there over a wide enough area you're basically stuffed.

[The Medway Handyman]

80/20 public/company. I intend to move more into places like dental surgeries, community centres etc though, easier work, little or no price pressure.

[The Medway Handyman]

That would be handy on advertising, fuel etc, but I don't use that much in the way of materials. The added paperwork would be a burden.

Wasn't aware of those, I'll check it out - thanks.

[Owain]

She Who Has Body Odour?

Owain

[Owain]

About £5k for a 20 year old Silver Spirit, £15k would get you a 15 year old Silver Spur.

Admittedly *driving* it at 12mpg would be a bit pricey... but you could offer a wedding car service then do the couple's decking while they're on honeymoon.

Owain

[Adrian]

Owain gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Actually, about a third of that if you're in the right place at the right time, going by the fairly tidy early Spirit a friend-of-a-friend was driving a few weeks back.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

A mate has a Turbo R which he has serviced at Jack Barclays as it isn't used much. At 70,000 miles (approx) a hydraulic service is due. 6000 quid to you, sir. ;-)

[<me9]

What about doing it as a partnership, each a separate entity?

[Dave Baker]

Easiest way round that is for him to set up as self employed too, you find the work and when you're too busy to take something on you tell the customer you'll put them in touch with your associate. He does the job, charges the customer and you bill him a commission fee. That way you both stay under the VAT limit. You have to have a code of honour that he won't poach your customers for additional works without giving you your slice but he has more to lose than you do so that should be easy enough to arrange. You can also work together on jobs up to the point at which you come too close to the VAT limit.

[The Medway Handyman]

That could well work - thanks.

[tony sayer]

In article , Dave Baker scribeth thus

Also means you can go away on a holiday for a while without losing customers. We find that if anyone wants anything done they want it done NOW not next week or when you can but NOW!!!

So having a stand in :))

[Dave Plowman (News)]

True. But they are a customer of his business. Which makes it more tricky to go elsewhere. And the nearest specialist - which would do the job for about half the cost - are miles away.

But he says he's not going to bother - it's one of R-R's protective maintenance quirks. Most would not expect to have to replace calipers etc at that sort of mileage. Dunno about the spheres.

I used to use JB many many years ago for spares - first for my old Bentley and then my P6 Rover. They had a quite superb storeman who seemed to know every part number by heart. Don't find that sort of thing much these days.

[dennis]

Didn't an airliner lose a window because the fitter knew the part number off by heart? The bolts even looked the same but were a few thou too small IIRC. I prefer storemen that check.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "The Medway Handyman" saying something like:

But still plenty of money around. Population density will ensure there are enough customers to keep you going.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "dennis@home" saying something like:

That's the one where the co-pilot ended up half out of the window? Nippy.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "The Medway Handyman" saying something like:

Both of you turn up to do the job and present the customer with a unified bill, which you then split with your mate (cash is easier). Both of you are self employed, but NOT partners, subbies, or any other thing but associates. He is responsible for his own tax affairs, etc.

[dennis]

Almost correct.. it was the pilot.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

You're one of those who thinks a computer is always right, then?

My last experience of that was at a BMW dealer - I wanted a new grommet, damaged when fitting a new door handle. It covers the access to the fixing mechanism and is plainly visible when you open the door. The storeman couldn't find it on the computer so doubted it existed. Took him out to the car and showed it to him - and he still couldn't fine it. Luckily the workshop foreman came in and I asked him. He gave the storeman the part number and surprise, surprise, the computer found something that didn't exist...

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Might be fun proving that to the IR if they decided to investigate. ;-)