My Very Small Business is Doing Well Enough for Me and My Family

LivelineDipso

I am a skilled tradesman who once worked for a classic Celtic Tiger thriving business now NAMA.

Now I work for myself - small 'handyman' jobs in people's houses. I won't turn down changing a tap washer, or installing a washing maching for a small fee. Money is money and work is work. I am not interested in sitting at home going: "sure the country is fecked!" while flicking around SKY.

• I get up early and work till late.
• I undercut the competition with lower costs.
• I am very polite, efficient and I treat my customers with respect and honesty.
• I do not spend my time complaining or whinging in their houses while working there.
• I make a modest income, but all my bills are paid and I am my own boss.
• If another company can provide a better service than me in certain area I suggest the customer use them instead. They then respect me for my honesty.

Most importantly of all.

I do not watch the Evening News or Read Newspapers as they are filled with OTT doom and gloom. I would rather spend my time researching for niche products and services and look for potential new sources of oppertunity/income. I went though that phase until it dawned on me that media tossbags such as Brian Dobson and Gerorge Lee were not giving me anything useful in my life. They are no longer in my world. Good riddence.

Yes the 'superficial' economy is bad. But most people still have income and need the services I provide. There are a lot of senior citizens who have the money and need people to help them out with small jobs. They also provide regular work if they come to trust you.

I see oppertunity for all kinds of services in people's homes. Everything for computer software installtion/upgrades (would be amazed how many people would pay for this) to cleaning windows: all you need is a car/roof-rack, ladder and buckets for that.

Being an employed 'handyman' is better than being a moaning, cable TV flicking, depressed unemployed skilled tradesmans. I am not going to Australia as Ireland is my country and I think OZ is an overrated place anyways.

A recession just means you have to try harder, but it is not the end of the world.

A lot of Irish need to grow up frankly.

My name is URL

How do you find time to work between starting so many threads? =p

Please Kill Me

So what's your point? :pac:

Seedy Arling

What do you want? A medal?

Gone Drinking

Decent writing skills for a tradesman. Most of the tradesmen I know can't string a sentence together in writing.

Pacing Mule

This will end well ....

CreepingDeath

LivelineDipso wrote: »

Being an employed 'handyman' is better than being a moaning, cable TV flicking, depressed unemployed skilled tradesmans.

So you're an employed moaning 'handyman' then... okay.

Do you declare all your income from these cash-in-hand jobs?

LivelineDipso

My name is URL wrote: »

How do you find time to work between starting so many threads? =p

Between jobs. I come home and make a sandwhich. I do not go to a EUROSPAR ot MACE for 5 euro sambo. I can make one for about 30cents in my own kitchen.

And I do not watch TV. AHs is like tearoom banter to me.


Easy.

nocoverart

You're amazing Dipso! or is that an amazing dipso

Leftist

legend. can't wait for the book.

mark renton

When you say "cleaning windows" are we talking xp or glass?

The King of Moo

Can we have a moratorium on "the recession doesn't affect me because of my specific circumstances, so everyone should stop whinging" threads?

LivelineDipso

Gone Drinking wrote: »

Decent writing skills for a tradesman. Most of the tradesmen I know can't string a sentence together in writing.

Maybe you should try and be less bigoted and class ridden.

Quazzie

Fair play OP.


Any chance of a job?

How much is public liability insurance these days?

Y'know, just incase...

mikom

LivelineDipso wrote: »

I am a skilled tradesman who once worked for a classic Celtic Tiger thriving business now NAMA.

Now I work for myself - small 'handyman' jobs in people's houses. I won't turn down changing a tap washer, or installing a washing maching for a small fee. Money is money and work is work. I am not interested in sitting at home going: "sure the country is fecked!" while flicking around SKY.

• I get up early and work till late.
• I undercut the competition with lower costs.
• I am very polite, efficient and I treat my customers with respect and honesty.
• I do not spend my time complaining or whinging in their houses while working there.
• I make a modest income, but all my bills are paid and I am my own boss.
• If another company can provide a better service than me in certain area I suggest the customer use them instead. They then respect me for my honesty.

Most importantly of all.

I do not watch the Evening News or Read Newspapers as they are filled with OTT doom and gloom. I would rather spend my time researching for niche products and services and look for potential new sources of oppertunity/income. I went though that phase until it dawned on me that media tossbags such as Brian Dobson and Gerorge Lee were not giving me anything useful in my life. They are no longer in my world. Good riddence.

Yes the 'superficial' economy is bad. But most people still have income and need the services I provide. There are a lot of senior citizens who have the money and need people to help them out with small jobs. They also provide regular work if they come to trust you.

I see oppertunity for all kinds of services in people's homes. Everything for computer software installtion/upgrades (would be amazed how many people would pay for this) to cleaning windows: all you need is a car/roof-rack, ladder and buckets for that.

Being an employed 'handyman' is better than being a moaning, cable TV flicking, depressed unemployed skilled tradesmans. I am not going to Australia as Ireland is my country and I think OZ is an overrated place anyways.

A recession just means you have to try harder, but it is not the end of the world.

A lot of Irish need to grow up frankly.

So?
Just get on with it, lad.
The more fuckers sitting on their arse all day just means less competition for the self-employed like you and I.
Don't be giving them ideas.

steddyeddy

You are paying tax on all that cash in hand from doing oddjobs aren't you mr.dipso?

ScumLord

The media is one of the worst influences to have yin your life as far as I'm concerned. I listen to newstalk which is about my only interaction with the media. I would never buy a paper, I got rid of the TV and I don't really follow global events.

I think most people would find they'd be much happier people without the media but even when they do listen to it all it becomes is something to talk about.

Gone Drinking

LivelineDipso wrote: »

Maybe you should try and be less bigoted and class ridden.

Wot m8?

GalwayGuy2

Good man.

fatalll

Fair play.......
Like your attitude....
Dont mind the bedgrudgers...there are enough of them...

Yawlboy

Nice to hear that someone is getting on well.

SunnyDub1

Fair play to you

I agree with you and also think that the Irish just love to have a good moan, give out and blame other people on their problems.

enda1

If what you're saying is true. Well done and I wish you all the best.

Strawberry Fields

You must be working very hard if you can post an essay like that on boards mid afternoon:pac:

mark renton

ScumLord wrote: »

The media is one of the worst influences to have yin your life as far as I'm concerned. I listen to newstalk which is about my only interaction with the media. I would never buy a paper, I got rid of the TV and I don't really follow global events.

I think most people would find they'd be much happier people without the media but even when they do listen to it all it becomes is something to talk about.

But how do you check footie scores?

My name is URL

LivelineDipso wrote: »

Between jobs. I come home and make a sandwhich. I do not go to a EUROSPAR ot MACE for 5 euro sambo. I can make one for about 30cents in my own kitchen.

You don't have the Food Safety Authority riding your back that way either :pac:

Meh, fair play to you for keeping on going and all, but your comments about people moaning are a bit rich... you've started loads of threads moaning about the public sector and politicians :P

LivelineDipso

steddyeddy wrote: »

You are paying tax on all that cash in hand from doing oddjobs aren't you mr.dipso?

Even if I didn't, would it be better if I was signing on?

The answer is yes, but I am in the lowest taxband so it worth doing the self assement for peace of mind and I just want to concentrate on other things.

Taxes are not a big problem in Ireland if you are on a modest income.

I can tell you for a fact, walking into that dole office was a soul destroying and humilating experience. I understand some have no choice, but it was a rotten day alright.

BUBBLE WRAP

mark renton wrote: »

But how do you check footie scores?

Well let us see... he is on the internet....Hmmm I wonder...

stevenmu

The King of Moo wrote: »

Can we have a moratorium on "the recession doesn't affect me because of my specific circumstances, so everyone should stop whinging" threads?

Only if we can also get a moratorium on "the whole country is gone to sh1t because of my specific circumstances, so no one is allowed be happy".

gdavis

u seem to be avoiding a question u have been asked a few times? are u legit? i.e is the reasonu can undercut people because u have not paid public liability insurance,and dont declare ur income? if so,then it gives u an unfair advantage to other legit businesses that are also trying to "get on with it".Are u also in receipt of social welfare?

mark renton

BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »

Well let us see... he is on the internet....Hmmm I wonder...

He has no internet connection.

LivelineDipso

Strawberry Fields wrote: »

You must be working very hard if you can post an essay like that on boards mid afternoon:pac:

It's called between jobs. I have to eat too.

davet82

I hate people who complain about people complaning...

tin79

ScumLord wrote: »

The media is one of the worst influences to have yin your life as far as I'm concerned. I listen to newstalk which is about my only interaction with the media. I would never buy a paper, I got rid of the TV and I don't really follow global events.

I think most people would find they'd be much happier people without the media but even when they do listen to it all it becomes is something to talk about.

So your mantra is that ignorance is bliss basically.

mark renton

davet82 wrote: »

I hate people who complain about people complaning...

Then dont complain

AK333

So just in case I need my windows cleaned, where in the country are you?

davet82

mark renton wrote: »

Then dont complain

the irony was lost on you :rolleyes:

mark renton

AK333 wrote: »

So just in case I need my windows cleaned, where in the country are you?

He can log in remotely.

LivelineDipso

LivelineDipso wrote: »

It's called between jobs. I have to eat too.

Edit: That's not my name either d'oh !

Dyr

LivelineDipso wrote: »

I am a skilled tradesman who once worked for a classic Celtic Tiger thriving business now NAMA.



Yes the 'superficial' economy is bad. But most people still have income and need the services I provide. There are a lot of senior citizens who have the money and need people to help them out with small jobs.

Whne you say "superficial" economy do you mean the economy where you declare all your income

ScumLord

mark renton wrote: »

But how do you check footie scores?

I don't watch football.. :eek: But if I did, there's an app for that.

tin79 wrote: »

So your mantra is that ignorance is bliss basically.

It's not ignorance, my favourite hobby is learning stuff. I'm just substituting the hysterics of the news for something that will actually benefit me or teach me something worthwhile.

At the end of the day there's very little I can do with information about taxes going up, shootings in the US or floods in Britain.

eviltwin

Congratulations on your business success, long may it continue

But its unfair to imply you are somehow better than those who haven't. Not all people are cut out for running their own business, some don't have the know how or the confidence.

You must have been in a bad place yourself at some point if you had to go down the self employment route, rather than feel smug about it why not help others do the same? I'm sure there are many people in your industry who could benefit from your advice.

My name is URL

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=82397152

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=82268291

Gurgle

eviltwin wrote: »

I'm sure there are many people in your industry who could benefit from your advice.

Maybe the OP could start a thread where he describes the pros and cons of self employment, giving people a bit of info on how to get out there and earn a living wage....

And here we are.
Fair play OP.

geeky

Leftist wrote: »

legend. can't wait for the book.

Read Penny Apples in the meantime, much the same message!

mickdw

I admire the OP. There is a mountain of that type of work out there but many of the trades wont do alot of it or they charge a massive call out fee which just rules them out for small jobs such as changing tap washers etc. If someone is prepared to call to peoples houses, be mannerly, do the small jobs at a rate that means he ends up with a days wages after a few calls, then I say good for them.