How many jobs a day on average do you get?

[Adam]

I've only been going for 6 moths and am fairly quiet work wise. I'm lucky if i get two jobs a day. I have personally handed out 3,000 business cards to lettings agents and key cutters, have a website with e-mail, business line as well as mobile and advertise in the local paper. Last month I was placed on the council's approved Locksmith listings. I have an ad in the YP going in March.
Anyone got any advice or tips please?

[Varjeal]

Sounds like your on the right track. If you're bold enough, make a visit to your surrounding neighbours with some business cards and fliers and let them know they have a locksmith living close by. You may want to offer a "discount" because they live close to you. Maybe offer to do a free "service and inspection" on their doors.

One thing I am working on myself is to make both myself and the vehicle I drive a walking/driving advertisement for the business. Buy a shirt/jacket/hat/whatever with your logo and phone number on it, and don't ever met anyone new without handing them TWO cards. Get active in the community your in and volunteer your time and perhaps the odd company product to promoting your business.

I don't do it personally because my vehicle is/and more so later on well graphic'd so to speak, but I've heard of some who place a sign out on a sidewalk advertising their business while they're working at a customers place. It says something like "ABC Locksmithing looking after another happy customer. If you want to be one phone: 555-5555" or something like that.

Anyways, just a few thoughts to consider.

[Adam]

Thanks for the advice Varjeal. I have a fully sign written Fiat Scudo Van as well as jumpers and T-shirts with colour co-ordinated logos with name and phone numbers on the back.

I've branched out into supplying and fitting made to measure security grilles and parking posts which has brought in some funds as well as having some contacts who deal with alarms and cctv.

I'm trying to get onto the Police records (well, not in the bad way of course!)

I also joined a BNI group. This is basically a Business Networking Intl group which has actually been my biggest source of income. The idea you said about handing out two business cards is what is mentioned at these meetings. Lots of useful ideas at BNI. Ever heard of it?

I know it's gonna take time to build up so i'm probably being a little over anxious.

[Rockford]

Are you working purely on private work, or also subbing ?. If not subbing, have you considered it as a short-term solution to cashflow ?.

I've heard on the BNI, and have a couple of local groups. I've been invited to attend one of these, but was unsure at the time. I believe you take it in turns to give a short "sales" speel to other members, and it works on a referals basis.

Do you have any universities/colleges near you. If so, drop business flyers through the letterboxes of likely looking bedsits - this has brought in a few jobs for me after residents have locked themselves out of a room. keep targeting the estate and letting agents - work does come from these, just not that frequently.

Varjeal - Like the idea of the sign outside while you're working. Builders, UPVC installers, and other trades use these - why not lockies !. It's great advertising, and the neighbours may start thinking - if they are having security updating, will that make mine more of a target !!!

Rockford.....

[Luke]

I always liked the idea of a jacket with a huge advertisement on the back,

[quasar]

how many jobs do usually need to per day for your business to be sustaining? I imagine there would be lots of startup costs but maybe not so many ongoing costs are such?

[Adam]

Quaser,

There is two of us as joint Directors so that means we split any wages 50/50 which of course makes life difficult money wise. We plan to get another fully kitted van on the road within 18 months and then really start to earn. 3 jobs a day will just about get us through. We've spent quite a few quid on starting up, mainly the van which is a two year old Scudo which had 15k miles on it. Apart from a business loan we have an int free credit card which (touch wood) we'll have paid off by January latest.

Rockford,

BNI is fantastic. I wholly recommend it. I went to three "Chapters" and eventually found one with a good atmosphere and some excellent characters. We even had a pole dancer come and visit us once but unfortunately she didn't join!! It would've been good to see her 10 minutes!!! The first meeting I went to didn't really impress me and I thought everyone was a bit weird and they are like a strange cult but that couldn't be further from the truth. I really enjoy the meetings.

You pay around £800 per year which seems a lot but it can be paid in monthly instalments and to date between me, you and the rest of the site we have made £4k in 5 months. Obviously it takes a month or two before people really recommend you but once you are trusted in the group it really takes off. In the last 2 months we've taken £3k. Not only do you get everyone's business but you also get some fantastic contacts of your own that you may need like a plumber, builder, welder (hence us going into security grilles!), accountants, lawyers, florists, bankers, roofers, web designers, etc etc.

I know our plumber took £25k last year from BNI referalls. But you should only contemplate joing an ESTABLISHED group rather than one that is growing.

Also today I have just filled out an application form to do a bit of subbing for Reactfast (this idea came from you boys so cheers).

We have also just been approved by Newham Council so hopefully that may get us some work.

While i'm rabbiting on like a man possesed we also have rim cylinders made by Era with our name and number on them so when we have to replace any we just put our own ones in. We also have some rather flashy plactic business cards as well as some matching stickers made up so that we can put them on notice boards, blocks of flats etc etc. Somone on this site also gave me the idea of putting them on colleges which we're gonna do. I have got so much info and advice from you more experienced people and that has been fantastic., really appreciated.

But all this work and not one phone call today - Saturday

Luke,

It's getting freezing so we have discussed some jackets with our logo's on but we don't have the funds at the moment. I guess we could put it on the credit card though!

[Adam]

Sorry Rockford it was you who mentioned the colleges!!! Cheers

[Luke]

Yeah, i was just thinking of one for your self and ur business partner, it looks professional as well as in public people might read the name and say : oh joe blows locksmiths aye,.

[Adam]

Luke, we do have jumpers and t-shirts both with the logos on the front and back with the phone number. I think we look pretty proffessional apart when I can't be bothered to shave in the morning!

The jackets will have to come in January though cause it's just gonna be too cold in just the jumpers!

It's right what people say about having the van signwritten. That's 24/7 advertsing (unless you park in a garage of course!)

"A BUSINESS WITH NO SIGN IS A SIGN OF NO BUSINESS"

How long you been locksmithing?

[Luke]

I have been envolved in the hobby for 2 years, but i started a business a few months ago, just for the simple fact that i could set up an account with locksmith suppliers and advertise locally. So far i have gotten the odd few jobs. Just enough for the fun of it. Although i hope to get a job at a local locksmith next year some time, a PAYING job.

[toomush2drink]

Adam if your cold and need a jacket try these people http://www.bandbox-logos.co.uk/index.htm

They did me a fleece with my company name on it with a key and locksmiths underneath for £22, ok so its not the best with my own logo but it looks professional and at that price is far better a plain jacket. They dont have them on their website but they do a whole load of jackets etc and as your only in essex they are just south of the river in orpington near junction 4 of the m25 so you could visit them. They can do your own logos but you get the artwork charges etc before you start.

[Adam]

Thanks for the info Toomush, it's appreciated. However we'll be going back to the company that done our jumpers and t-shirts as they have the art proof on file. If we buy couple of decent jackets we'll just take it to them.

I've not had a call all day, and i've just ordered a chinese take-away with the girlf.......now it's only a matter of time before I get a call!!!!

[Varjeal]

I'm rather fortunate when it comes to amount of necessary jobs to sustain the company as the only "outstanding" bills I have are the usual ones involving operating a business such as insurance, account fees, yp ad, phone bills, etc. All my inventory and equipment (I consider myself fairly well equipped in terms of tools and machines) is fully paid for and I do not purchase inventory unless it is near sold (I can get stuff same or next day so I don't have a large amount of overhead). Also, I have not acquired any loans and do not use credit cards for business purposes (yet).

What this all boils down to is that I require only 1 job/3 days in order to have the business sustain itself, however, most of the excess "profit" I make gets rolled back into the buisness for better tools, and more advertising and upgrading to promote the business.

[toomush2drink]

Ive been dead too but if its any consolation a lot of business's are the same at the moment.My friends have their own business's and all are very quite in a variety of different trades.