New plumbing business

[trixyben]

Not being in the contruction industry myself but am toying with the idea of a possible business venture within the plumbing industry. My background is sales/pr/marketing and what I am thinking of is I set up said company and would like plumber to drive my van all sign written and him to provide all his own tools for the job, so I would be looking him to be self employed to begin with and invoice me per job but for him to charge as per the agreed prices etc
Is this kind of model already around? As I say this is new to me so im just trying to gage it is even visable

 

[Energise Accounting]

yes, this concept is possible however, the problem with this nature of business is generating enough work to keep the plumbers in your case happy.

 

[Bill1954]

Why would a self employed plumber who is already probably in demand, want to drive your van and either pay you commision or work at a lower rate than he currently earns ?

 

[splinterteal]

Why would a self employed plumber who is already probably in demand, want to drive your van and either pay you commision or work at a lower rate than he currently earns ?

exactly

 

[kingdaddyking]

Good idea tho we sell plumber spares and Toilet spares we do not mind putting a link of your business on our website provided you are happy to link back so that our cust can use your guy when they purchase the spares from our website and vice versa

 

[toddmeister]

I work for an electrical wholesaler and one of my electrician customers has just done something similar. He used to have his own business but now he does all his work for a maintenance company who provided him with a van and send him to their jobs. He takes 50% of the profits and his only outgoing is that he has to pay his own fuel.
For those that questioned why anyone would do such a thing, well in my customers case he was spending so much time sorted paperwork and invoice queries etc that he was losing out on jobs. Now he has zero paperwork and so can fit in more work which covers what he would have been losing.
Not saying it would work for everyone but he is much happier with his new arrangement. If it works for an electrician I don't see why it couldn't work for a plumber


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[arasca1975]

It is a good idea, we sell Heated towel rails and designer radiators with trade price based in Coventry, if you are or anyone else is interested please contact us.

 

[Simon.P]

hi,
isn't this just a case of someone who is self-employed wanting to be employed?
Cheers
H

 

[SwissChris]

If you can generate the volume of work required and run it a s a proper plumbing business then yes it will work. It's just like any other business.

If you want to sit in an ivory tower clicking a mouse hoping to earn a few quid on the cheap playing virtual plumbers, no chance. Your customers and your plumber will sniff you out a mile off and eat you alive.

 

[mckellar]

what happens when something goes wrong, your not from a construction background so you have no way of arguing your case, be it against a disgruntled customer or a plumber who isnt happy at the wage.

Say for example you agree a price for a boiler only change, but you get there and loads more needs replaced, he wants X pounds, you have no idea if hes ripping you off or anything.

Basically you are looking for an "on the price" plumber, plenty of people would be happy if you can sustain the numbers of queries coming in and converting it to jobs for the plumber.

 

[beasty]

What you might want to do is this

Create a platform for people to create jobs and the plumbers simply price the job with a time they can do it

Then have them rated and such, take a percentage, not much

Sod all the van nonsense, so basically a customer can whack down, leaky tap.. 4 to 6pm thursday, see who is available and invite all.. they all bid and she books the job..

Give em plroviles and feedback

Actually I might do this

ahahhah

BE QUICK or we are competing

 

[Flobot]

It is a standard sub-contracting model used throughout the UK and especially in London. Aspect.co.uk and Pimilco Plumbers use it. It is not without it's problems but it requires you take on the role of middle man between the plumber and your customer. If you can provide your plumber with a lot of work and pay them well it can work, but t needs very careful management and effective processes or more often than not you will be the one arguing with both customer and contractor.

 

[Hedgie]

The plumbers I know wouldn't even consider this. They earn enough to pay for their own van, advertising and a pie and a pint at the end of the day. Why would they consider paying you just so they can drive your van?

 

[SwissChris]

The plumbers I know wouldn't even consider this. They earn enough to pay for their own van, advertising and a pie and a pint at the end of the day. Why would they consider paying you just so they can drive your van?

It's a good way to earn decent money with guaranteed work and a team of staff to support you in the back office.

It's a nice halfway house between running your own firm and being an employee. You have as much work as you can handle without the stress of having too much and having to think about growth and all its implications.

I'd say the only advantage in true self employment over this model is ultimate personal freedom - which is worth quite a lot.