Cost of starting out.

[gasmanrob]

So have been reading a lot of posts recently asking where people should spend there 5k on "plumbing training centers" which is best do i do 1 day a week or 2 nights etc!

But wondered if anyone had thought about the cost of setting up not to get by but to really have everything you need to see a job through to the end! Anything froma dripping tap, a bathroom referb or a ch system.

I have got my prices from e-bay and used mid range equipment there will be loads i miss so please add anything you feel is missing and remember to put the new total at the end of your thread nothing silly but maybe the cost of setting up against our actual income will be enough to make people really think is the grass actually greener.

van 6k. insurances vehicle/public/employers/tools 3k. Trade memberships 1k. makita 18v combi kit £700. Core drill and diamod cores £600. sds £240. multitool £300. Transformer £60. wetvac £150. Rubi tile saw £180. Sliding miter saw £450. Flue gas analyser £500. tool box with a mix of bahco/knipex/whira/stanley/estwing/britool £570. soldering equipment rothy torch kopex slices etc £130. Van vault £100. Pipe rack £120. multimeter £150.

as i say there will be loads i miss so please feel free to add on but please update the total at the end of your post.
Total £14,250.

 

[Koogatubac]

Exactly! Ive just set up and my total is £7700
I havnt bought a core drill or cores yet, however ive had some gear from the years of trading since i knew this day would come!
Its all a dear do! And a big risk! If you guys can get a perm job, try to keep it that way!

 

[Guest123]

Start up costs are expensive in Plumbing, but not as bad as when I had my Printing Firm as my Printing Press cost 65 grand!!!

 

[gasmanrob]

still use that press for money printing?

 

[jase158]

van £1200
insurance £1400
PL Insurance £400
trade membership £0
core drill and diamond cores £250
sds £0
multi tool £20
transformer £0
wetvac £35
Bahco adjustables £30
grips £30
Soldering eqipment £200
van vault £0
Pipe rack £10
Training £6000
Flue gas analyser and all equipment £1000

so around £10,000

Plus your gas safe registration

looks like you have well over estimated a lot of things.

but the real question is how much will it cost to survive?

how much do you spend every month? times this by 2 years

I am in my second year now and only just making a basic living wage.

how i survived I do not know.

my first 5 months I made £400
second accounts I totalled £3000 for the year.
Can you survive with no money for 2 years.

I had 2 weeks with no calls and no money what so ever.

I had 4 months where my rent simply did not get paid, was very very lucky to not get kicked out of my home.

I did nothing and went nowhere.


Was it worth it?

Ask me in 2 years

 

[Guest123]

still use that press for money printing?

Wish I could print money mate! There was a case a few years back where kids were printing almost perfect 5 pound notes on the school colour copier and spending it. They got caught!

 

[gasmanrob]

jase dont know where your buying multi tools for £20 but ill take 10! think i migh not have been clear not talking about pocket muti tool, i mean one of these. Fein Multimaster Top Plus MultiTool Kit FMM250Q 240v | eBay

Granted you dont need 6k on a van but as i said i went middle of the road. also you have stated £0 for a transformer to use my tools on building sites it has to be 110v so when im in a domestic property i need a transformer. van vault keeps my tools in the van and my insurance company happy. also gas safe is in as trade membership.

Im not picking holes in what you say as you've proved your coping as you are. im just putting a generic platform out there, yes im over on a few bits but i havent added drill bits blades puttys van stock etc

 

[gasmanrob]

oxy acetylene and lead dressing tools £400.

Total £14,650 (depending if your taught lead work on a fast trac)

 

[jase158]

well i see your points but this is absolutely everything. In my opinion you dont need everything and will end up buying tools that you never use, just buy what you need when you need it or when it is on offer and it will cost less.

You will never have everything you need, there are so many small tools it is unbelievable,

just an idea

1. pump to recharge expansion vessels
2. monoblock tap tools
3. pencils
4. gloves
5. levels of every size
6. radiator keys
7. drill bits in 7,9,10 and 12
8. laser level
9. multitool
10. reciprocating saw
11. hammers and club hammers
12. chisels and bolsters
13. saw, hacksaws, junior hacksaws and blades
14. stanley knife
and the list goes on and on and on and on and on......................

 

[tamz]

You could cut down your costs a lot by choosing your gear wisely but whatever way you count it you will need 10k + to start you up with no guarantee of any sucess. Hard work and effort coupled good workmanship, good contacts and a bit luck might see you survive.

 

[zzzjim]

I was suprised at calibration costs of FGA ! another (annual) expense

 

[tamz]

It is awe money all the time

 

[Ivor Bates]

When you all get older and wiser you'll also get a pair of knee pads

 

[Mike Jackson]

Some of those tool prices are definitely over the top. £150 for a wet vac, £40 from Wickes. Why do you need a sliding mitre saw? I've got one after years of being in the trade but it rarely if ever gets used for plumbing/heating works. My decent multimeter cost me about £50. As a start up why would you need a Rubi tile saw? A small plasplugs one would be fine to start with.

Most people will specialise one way or the other so won't need the full range of tools. The only reason I've got so many tools is because we used to have a family business doing all aspects of construction work and when we closed down the business the tools went into my garage.

 

[colchesterplumb]

van £1200
insurance £1400
PL Insurance £400
trade membership £0
core drill and diamond cores £250
sds £0
multi tool £20
transformer £0
wetvac £35
Bahco adjustables £30
grips £30
Soldering eqipment £200
van vault £0
Pipe rack £10
Training £6000
Flue gas analyser and all equipment £1000

so around £10,000

Plus your gas safe registration

looks like you have well over estimated a lot of things.

but the real question is how much will it cost to survive?

how much do you spend every month? times this by 2 years

I am in my second year now and only just making a basic living wage.

how i survived I do not know.

my first 5 months I made £400
second accounts I totalled £3000 for the year.
Can you survive with no money for 2 years.

I had 2 weeks with no calls and no money what so ever.

I had 4 months where my rent simply did not get paid, was very very lucky to not get kicked out of my home.

I did nothing and went nowhere.


Was it worth it?

Ask me in 2 years

Your post is a good read. May I ask how much advertising etc were you doing? I.e website, flyers, yellow pages, thomson local etc.

I am just trying to get ideas as I am starting out on my own in september.

Also you must have one of the most sympathetic landlords of all time too!

Thanks

Nick

 

[bigjack9]

I'm about to start out on my own shortly, and the training was £5500 plus then I've estimated my start up costs at £10k, that includes van and all the stuff I require for gas, whats scary is reading people having lack of work, I'm living in Ripon in North Yorkshire, so I'm a little concerned with the work ou there!!!

 

[jase158]

Your post is a good read. May I ask how much advertising etc were you doing? I.e website, flyers, yellow pages, thomson local etc.

I am just trying to get ideas as I am starting out on my own in september.

Also you must have one of the most sympathetic landlords of all time too!

Thanks

Nick

Website which is number 1 on google maps in my area (lucky to have 2 brothers that both know a bit about websites)
Van
Yell.com
leaflets

 

[jase158]

anything else is a waste of time,
Trustatrader want £2000 ish
rated people or similar, I spent a lot of time quoting, not much time working
Thomson local. just tell me the last time you have looked in Thomson for anything?

The only thing I haven't tried is local paper.
because last time I looked it was something like £40 per week

 

[Rodolphe]

Outside of the bare-bones necessities (soldering/bending gear, spanners etc), buy the rest of your tools as the jobs you get require them! This way, though you're not earning any money, you're spreading out the investment instead of spending it all up-front.

6k for a van are you mad? Get a cheap, 60-100k miles first van that'll do you 3-5 years and THEN, you can decide whether to upgrade it for something more comfortable. I'm planning on getting something cheap at auction comes September.

 

[Roger Welton]

Agree with most of whats been said, cheap van, buy only basic tools and stock up front then get more as time passes.

Dropping leaflets door to door works but is mind numbing.

 

[Dannyparty92]

Hello everybody I'm new to this forum. Passed my C & G Level 2 last year and iI starting out on my own soon and iv currently spend around £3000 on various tools. I still have to purchase a van. As iv realised it is an expensive trade to get into.

 

[Veggie Dave]

and all the stuff I require for gas

Sorry for seeming a bit thick but are you saying you've just done an intense plumber training course and you're going straight into gas?