What business to start?

[Ar808]

Hello

We are 2 fit and healthy guys living in a town of around 80000 and are trying to decide what business we can start. We are looking at areas such as scaffolding, groundwork, roofing etc.

Would you have any advice on what's realistic for relatively unskilled workers, i.e we have no college training as of yet, and what things to take into consideration?

Thanks for any help.

 

[AllUpHere]

Are you going to employ people to do the actual work?

 

[Ar808]

Are you going to employ people to do the actual work?

We will be doing the work.

 

[AllUpHere]

Whilst being a roofer or scaffolder isn't exactly difficult, you do need to know what you are doing. It's not the kind of thing you can do if you have no experience. I'm sure erecting scaffold needs some kind of qualification. What do you mean exactly by groundwork; that's quite a broad term?

 

[japancool]

Moving, delivery, taxiing.

 

[Ar808]

Whilst being a roofer or scaffolder isn't exactly difficult, you do need to know what you are doing. It's not the kind of thing you can do if you have no experience. I'm sure erecting scaffold needs some kind of qualification. What do you mean exactly by groundwork; that's quite a broad term?

I kind of throwing terms around, I'm not 100% sure what a groundworker does. We are looking for ideas at the moment. Is there an area we can learn on the job without being cowboys so to speak?

 

[Interestedobserver]

Leaflet delivery service

 

[fisicx]

Dog walking, wheelie bin cleaning, window washing, gardening, bicycle deliveries.

 

[Fagin2021]

Get a skill. However you do it, get a skill. Otherwise you will be permanently in a 'race to the bottom' with other unskilled workers.

Meanwhile, get a copy of your local newspaper or advertiser and look at the services advertised. It may spark some ideas.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

Scaffolders need to show qualifications to get very expensive insurance. Its a highly skilled job.

While even I have done roofing that was in France where the whole system is much easier. I wouldn't attempt it in the UK.

 

[Ar808]

First and foremost find something you;d be passionate about. Secondly if you need to find out how to do something go to YouTube as most skills can be learned there unless a specific qualification is required. Are you open to online business or more trade based?

Online also what ideas do you have?

 

[Alan]

relatively unskilled workers

What sort of 'projects' have you undertaken? e.g. for yourself or family

town of around 80000

What sort of town, affluent and the sort where they employ gardeners cleaners or more economically challenged?

 

[Ar808]

What sort of 'projects' have you undertaken? e.g. for yourself or family



What sort of town, affluent and the sort where they employ gardeners cleaners or more economically challenged?

Reasonably affluent. I'm pretty good at most things handy, I helped build a house, have laid slabs, I'm good at car mechanics but I don't have any depth of experience at anything.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

You could be a dealer with a trap phone ​

 

[Deleted member 335660]

Hello

We are 2 fit and healthy guys living in a town of around 80000 and are trying to decide what business we can start. We are looking at areas such as scaffolding, groundwork, roofing etc.

Would you have any advice on what's realistic for relatively unskilled workers, i.e we have no college training as of yet, and what things to take into consideration?

Thanks for any help.

I always say you should start a business in something you are passionate about and ideally have experience of.

I guess you have neither when it comes to construction so I would suggest you look elsewhere. Scaffolding and roofing are the last area you want to enter without experience or skills.

See if you can make a business of your hobbies and interests. If not look at simpler things like driving or selling things.

Alternatively see if you can get jobs in construction and gain the skills needed.

 

[WaveJumper]

I agree with Trevor you need to pick something you enjoy doing. Clearly you have not done any research on your current suggestions.

 

[UrbanRetail]

Please stay far away from scaffolding, even the big names get it wrong sometimes and it's just not worth the risk.

Stick with easy to access work to start with e.g window cleaning, gutter cleaning, pressure washing etc.

No big outlay and you can earn a decent wage from it.

 

[mattk]

Reasonably affluent. I'm pretty good at most things handy, I helped build a house, have laid slabs, I'm good at car mechanics but I don't have any depth of experience at anything.

We just paid 5 grand to have a new patio and frankly they did a terrible job.

There are always people posting on our local Facebook page looking for patios, garden redesigns, small building jobs etc.

Why not look on your local page and do a couple of small jobs and built up some experience/reputation?

 

[Ozzy]

trying to decide what business we can start

I'd say there is a difference between trying to start a business, and trying to earn some money.

If you're looking for some income for a while, then it really doesn't matter what you do. Anything from being an Uber driver or as I did many years ago, a labourer on building sites. Labouring is basically helping out on the building sites as needed from mixing to carrying. If you have a car or bike you can do Uber Eats deliveries or taxi service.

If you are wanting to start a business then that is going to need more dedication, and you will need to think about what you really want to spend the next 30-40 years doing ... every ... single ... day. What you are prepared to sacrifice to make it work, so pick something you have a passion for and will be motivated to do even if it isn't earning you any money.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

If you do not know what you want to do, don't do anything (Get a job!).

 

[AllUpHere]

If you do not know what you want to do, don't do anything (Get a job!).

Get a job? Wash your mouth out with soap.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Get a job? Wash your mouth out with soap.

I know I sound a grinch when I say that, but there are too many points of failure when starting and if you do not know what to do, you fail before the first hurdle.

 

[The Byre]

there are too many points of failure when starting and if you do not know what to do, you fail before the first hurdle.

This!

Businesses start with a market need. That can be anything - a gizmo that solves a problem, an online training programme in a much-needed field - for example, I don't know how we lived before cordless tools. A film, a song, or an artist that caters to an under-served demographic or niche, or a supplier of a valued service with high barriers of entry into that market.

So my 30 cents worth is for you to find out what is missing out there first - trust me! It'll be plenty! Make a list and see which gaps in the market you could possibly be filling.

Partnerships usually fail in the long run as the partners fall out or one of the partners is seen as not pulling his or her weight. This forum is filled with tales of woe from failed partnerships.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

This!

I got a 'this' from The Byre!!!!!!!!

Well, that's made my week!

 

[The Byre]

I got a 'this' from The Byre!!!!!!!!

I don't remember saying that - ah, well, perhaps I did, who knows?

Well, that's made my week!

You really need to get out and about a bit more!