Leap into the unknown, with a smile

It's taking the initial leap which is often the biggest obstacle in starting your own business. Once that leap is taken, you begin to wonder what the fuss was all about. This is what I've found myself recently. After debating for a couple of years, with the odd independent job here and there, I've actually gone ahead and gone fully fledged solo. So far it's a decision I'm glad to have made, despite the stress of not knowing what is round the corner!

Getting your name out there is very hard, often it is a case of not what you know but who you know. Personally I know what I am good at, where my own faults are and by knowing them means I can work on improving them. The thing is if you can't get your name out there to show people your work is good enough you won't be able to build up the business. This is very prevailant online. I am a member of rated people, expert trades and my builder, sites which work on a review basis. Basically customers post jobs, the tradesmen buy the leads(expert trades don't charge for leads, must say that now) and then the customer decides on which tradesman to use. Then when you have done the job the customer leaves a review on you. Here's the rub. If you have just started up on these sites you won't have any reviews or any references, so then the customer will look at that you don't have any and rightly or wrongly, they decide not to use you. Doesn't matter if the people you are competing against aren't as qualified, experienced, etc as you, no rating = slim to no chance of winning the job.

This is extremely frustrating. I've declared interest in several jobs, only to lose out to handymen sorry, "multi skilled tradesmen." One is a qualified plumber who does painting as a sideline! You can guarantee his work wouldn't be anywhere as good as a qualified, time served decorator, but he will be about £40, £50 a day cheaper. And that to many is the big seller. Too many underestimate how much a decorator is worth, yet they don't think twice about paying for a plasterer, carpenter, etc. When it comes to painting, many think we work for £60, £70 a day. Try looking at £120 upwards. So far I've been lucky in who I've worked for and they have understood what a decorator brings.

Working for yourself is also very rewarding, despite the stress of finding work. I take solace in many decorators before me, all have said when they started they had one job lined up. Now they are booked months in advance and that is what I must aim to do. At the same time I want to improve some of my skills and I will look to do that over the next year or so. Hopefully this is the start of something I've needed for a long time!

Recently used Dulux quick drying satin. I hadn't used their water based satin since they changed it from the diamond stain, which was a superb drop of paint. Very impressed. Two coats and the finish was very good, I will recommend this on future jobs. Hoping to be able to use Mythic soon as a job comes along I can use it on. Also hoping to purchase a festool rts 400 soon. Paint show in a couple of weeks as well. Will be my first visit and looking forward to it, hoping to bag as many freebies as I can!