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Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 20:03
by Mike Daytona600
Unfortunatly I have joined all the unlucky people who have been made redundant. So I have decided to start my own mobile valeting business. I will also be doing bikes but that would have to be done at mine due to needing a ramp etc.

My surname is Parker so the name and slogan for mym business is

Parker's Valeting Service
for a FABulous shine


My rates currently are are:
Inside only - £25
Outside only - £25
Both - £45
Wet vac of all upholstery including boot and floors- £5 when combine with an inside valet

But these wil probably change when I start trading properly and my menu will be a little more detailed.

Bikes are £7.50 per hour.

I was only told on Monday that I was being made redundant and only decided on Wednesday that this is what I was going to do, so I still have a lot of reserch to do. Ive got 5 weeks left.

What do you think folks and would you, or do you know anyone, be interested in my serves. This is what I can do to a bike as in the depp clean topic.

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Any comments or sugestions would be much apriceated :D

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 20:10
by Mervin
Sorry to hear that Mike
best of luck with the business bit far away to let ya loose on my bikes,
Merv

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 20:16
by DynaMight
Dont take this the wrong way but with your situation, you know having a child and all, don't you want something a little more secure? Being self employed can be very up and down, a bad month can be very difficult to recover from.

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 20:20
by Mike Daytona600
DynaMight wrote:Dont take this the wrong way but with your situation, you know having a child and all, don't you want something a little more secure? Being self employed can be very up and down, a bad month can be very difficult to recover from.
That's a good point. What I'm gonna do is get a part time job so I've got a defiinate £100+ coming in each week and use the other days for the valeting. Then if the valeting business really takes off I can commit to it full time. Mels gonna be child minding as well.

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 21:00
by deej
good luck to you mike and sorry to hear the bad news, was going to pop in and see you in the next week or two

not sure if im speaking out of turn but isnt £7.50 a bt cheap considering you'll have tax and stamp duty to pay out of that and thats not even considering your fuel costs ?


what i will say is that ive seen mikes cleaning and refreshing abilities and its amazing what the boy can do to a unloved bike,he really can add serious value to your bike if your thinking of trading in and cant be arsed to polish it up yourself

mike,are you able to say why your being made redundant ?

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 21:06
by tafflade
we have a young lad that comes to us to valet our cars.

http://hingleyvaleting.co.uk/pricelist.htm

He seems to be doing well enough and takes proper pride in his work.


Good luck

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 21:19
by Tomahawk R1
Sorry to hear about your Job Mike, I shall pass your number around if thats ok with you?

May even want my bike done soon.

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 21:41
by Mike Daytona600
deej wrote:good luck to you mike and sorry to hear the bad news, was going to pop in and see you in the next week or two

not sure if im speaking out of turn but isnt £7.50 a bt cheap considering you'll have tax and stamp duty to pay out of that and thats not even considering your fuel costs ?


what i will say is that ive seen mikes cleaning and refreshing abilities and its amazing what the boy can do to a unloved bike,he really can add serious value to your bike if your thinking of trading in and cant be arsed to polish it up yourself

mike,are you able to say why your being made redundant ?
Thanks for that mate :D Still pop in though, I'm there till the 10th oct.

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 21:43
by Mike Daytona600
tafflade wrote:we have a young lad that comes to us to valet our cars.

http://hingleyvaleting.co.uk/pricelist.htm

He seems to be doing well enough and takes proper pride in his work.


Good luck

Thanks for that :D

I've got to go through all the local valeters websites to see what they offer and charge but have a pretty good idea cos went for a job doing it once.

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 21:44
by Mike Daytona600
I Had A Tomahawk wrote:Sorry to hear about your Job Mike, I shall pass your number around if thats ok with you?

May even want my bike done soon.

I would really apriceate both of those. :D

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 22:05
by Johnnyb
Its a bummer m8, but good luck with the valeting, i might have a job for you soon depending on what i buy tomorrow :) .But i would definately bump up the labour rate to £10 per hour plus something on top for your materials otherwise by the time you deduct everything you will be working for less than minimum wage and there are people out there that will take advantage of a cheap labour rate. Anyway Good Luck..... :) :)

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 5th, '08, 22:30
by TKPM
What sort of area are you going to cover ie. somerset, south devon, all devon, cornwall etc or just keep it local to you?

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 6th, '08, 01:35
by Jak
Being self-employed isn't 100% guaranteed income but then working for someone else means you risk being made redundant!!! You also have the freedom to spend time with your kids when you want which is worth more than any "secure" job. I've been self-employed since my daughter was 4 months old and I've survived.

If you want any help/advice re being self-employed and tax returns, benefits etc gimme a shout.

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 6th, '08, 06:14
by Mervin
mike
just a thought I had , you may already have done this . the garage i buy my cars from has a valeter in to clean up the cars new and used, maybe worth sticking your nose in a few secondhand car sales places adn even dealers
Merv

Re: Starting my own business

Posted: Sep 6th, '08, 06:34
by Mike Daytona600
TKPM wrote:What sort of area are you going to cover ie. somerset, south devon, all devon, cornwall etc or just keep it local to you?
I'm thinking as far as Exeter, Taunton, Yeovil, Dorchester, Weymouth otherwise any further I spend too much time traveling than working, unless some sort of arrangment can be made.
Jak wrote:Being self-employed isn't 100% guaranteed income but then working for someone else means you risk being made redundant!!! You also have the freedom to spend time with your kids when you want which is worth more than any "secure" job. I've been self-employed since my daughter was 4 months old and I've survived.

If you want any help/advice re being self-employed and tax returns, benefits etc gimme a shout.
Thanks for that Jak :D
Mervin wrote:mike
just a thought I had , you may already have done this . the garage i buy my cars from has a valeter in to clean up the cars new and used, maybe worth sticking your nose in a few secondhand car sales places adn even dealers
Merv
Yeh I had Merv. I'm also thinking of companies that have a lot of vehicles like vans and company cars. Someone also suggested doing patios which I'm going to do :D