Thinking of setting up own plumbing business

tapchap

Thinking of setting up own plumbing business
I would really appreciate any tips/advice on this.
I am a qualified plumber (Dublin-based), have been out of work since last september so my prsi contributions are just about to run out. I believe i will get nothing on dole, my wife is a teacher but we have big mortgage and baby on way. I have applied for so many jobs i have stopped counting so i think the only thing to do is set up on my own and advertise at reasonable rates and hope for the best but the thing is i have no idea where to start.

I have called Fas a few times but no real advice there so far. Who would be helpful. Does anyone know is there any grants available? Is this a logical step? Obviously i realise it will be difficult to get work in the current climate but at least i feel i am taking things into my own hands.
Also i will have a good bit of expense e.g i need to buy a van, get insurance etc and do a few more courses to make it viable e.g gas servicing but fas have told me there is no funding available. Does anyone know can i claim any of these expenses back?
As I have said i really am completely ignorant on all these matters so i would really appreciate any suggestions.

yoshytoshy

tapchap wrote: »

Also i will have a good bit of expense e.g i need to buy a van, get insurance etc and do a few more courses to make it viable e.g gas servicing but fas have told me there is no funding available. Does anyone know can i claim any of these expenses back?
As I have said i really am completely ignorant on all these matters so i would really appreciate any suggestions.

Have you advertised anywhere yet ,to get an idea of what calls you'll get ?

Don't buy a van yet ,if you need a van for carrying stuff maybe hire/lease one at the start.

Things are slow ,keep the costs down at the start is what I'd suggest.

Outkast_IRE

tapchap wrote: »

Thinking of setting up own plumbing business
I would really appreciate any tips/advice on this.
I am a qualified plumber (Dublin-based), have been out of work since last september so my prsi contributions are just about to run out. I believe i will get nothing on dole, my wife is a teacher but we have big mortgage and baby on way. I have applied for so many jobs i have stopped counting so i think the only thing to do is set up on my own and advertise at reasonable rates and hope for the best but the thing is i have no idea where to start.

I have called Fas a few times but no real advice there so far. Who would be helpful. Does anyone know is there any grants available? Is this a logical step? Obviously i realise it will be difficult to get work in the current climate but at least i feel i am taking things into my own hands.
Also i will have a good bit of expense e.g i need to buy a van, get insurance etc and do a few more courses to make it viable e.g gas servicing but fas have told me there is no funding available. Does anyone know can i claim any of these expenses back?
As I have said i really am completely ignorant on all these matters so i would really appreciate any suggestions.

Well if you do start it legit , then any training you take can be written off the tax at the end of the year im sure.

Micky Dolenz

Don't think there are any grants.

Start small, if you have a car, use it.

Advertise in local papers and in local shops. get a few cards printed out. Only do plumbing and save for gas courses.As said all business cost is tax deductible at end of year.

You will need to be VAT registered if you exceed a turnover of €37000 (i think) in any 12 month period. May be worth speaking to an accountant.

tapchap

Think i really have to buy a van as expecting a baby so really can't leave my wife without a car and we need the boot of it for buggy etc (currently live in an apartment).
I have done the gas installation course and intend on doing the gas servicing course in november. I have a bit of cash that i can use to start myself off so hope to be able to avoid a loan for the time being.

Thanks for replies.

Buford T Justice

Contact you're local enterprise board and ask about attending a start your own business course to begin with. If you are on a back to work scheme from them (as in, unemployed and returning as self employed) then there's the possibility of a grant of €1000 for tools from the department of social protection

Other than that, its all off your own back. There is no funding or grants available as you will be working in the service industry, The enterprise boards are only able to give funding for generally export led businesses.

Some more things:

Register a business name with the CRO, you'll need this to get a trading as business account with the bank, it'll be easier to keep business and personal cash separate then

You will need van insurance, public liability insurance and possibly income protection insurance, chances are you will be better off going to a broker.

Van sign-age will cost somewhere in the region of €350.

vistaprint.ie are good for doing business cards. They will give you 250 free basic cards to start off with, but you will need to pay for postage

Pound the streets. If you have been working as a plumber then you may know the lads in the merchants that are around, get in there and ask if they mind if you leave your cards there. You never know.

Thats all I can think of so far

Joey the lips

Hope you get more info here. Best of luck.

tombull82

GO FOR IT...

My friend is a plumber based in Carlow. He was asked to do a job for a friend in Phibsborough, He went up an done it for the guy no hassle, while up there he was approached by a few people on the same road looking for him to price jobs, which he did and has since got many more again, he reckons there is a load of work up there. (Good Signage on his van helped)

Now he is charging his normal prices with his travel expenses and time built in of course.
He reckons this may be why he is getting so much work up there but he said he cant understand the prices local plumbers had been quoting in the first place. Many cases it was double what he would look for and he said he is far from undercharging.

By the way PM if your interested a nice Transporter van.

stepbar

Not only the plumbers who are charging silly prices. I have a friend who got two quotes for to replace a roof (bar timbers). One lad quoted 10k and the other lad quoted 4k.