Handyman prices

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.

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.

She Who Has Body Odour?

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

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.

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. ;-)

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

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.

That could well work - thanks.

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 :))

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Almost correct.. it was the pilot.

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...

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