just trying to get started

[uklocker]

Hi all,

I trained a year ago with a good company and have been practicing away while carrying on my full time job. I am installing the odd security system (CCTV & Intruder mainly) but thats all to people I know. I want to do more of a full time locksmith business. Can I sign up to a nationwide company as a contractor? If so what can I expect to earn? How do I go about it? I have all the tools and insurance etc just need customers!!!!

Any help appreciated.

Uklocker

[Dean W]

Yes you can sign up to the nationals, just go onto their site and contact them.

You probably wont learn anything apart from experience on the job, as you will be expected to know what you are doing.

Expect to get a low income return from this, if they even get around to paying you at all.

[taylorgdl]

Generally 40% of job total before tax.

hence
£60 per hour labour (I have heard it sometimes goes into the second hour!)
£50 for a cheap euro lock (which you are encouraged to drill, so the customer has to buy the lock)

Plus VAT

Customer pays approx £130

you earn approx £45
less your cis tax (about 20%) which most national companies hold onto and pay when your tax is due.

So your profit from the job is around £35 from which you must buy stock and fuel and tools to get you through the job.

And you normally get paid 30 days from the end of the month in which you did the job, (if they are paying on time).

So you could wait up to 2 months or so to be paid you £35.

Even overnight charges aren't great for you (between £90-£120 per hour) at 40% this is about £40 per hour plus parts.

And if you don't make the company enough money on the jobs you go to (by drilling) they drop you down the list and you'll only get the late night jobs or the ones no-one else will go to because its hard or a long way away.


Is it worth building up their business for them?

[toomush2drink]

Unless your fulltime job allows you to work during the day you really are on a non starter with so many new startups entering the market.I did it your way but did shift work and it took 3 years to get firmly established and give up the fulltime job.This was in the days before so many decided "to give it a go".It killed me doing two jobs but i have a supportive wife who understood how it would be with me working all the time.
Do a marketing course if you want to know how to get work,best skills you will ever learn as only good marketing makes the phone ring until youve been in the trade a bit and people know of you.