New beginnings blog....

Hi all,

I'm Matt from Leicestershire. I'm currently in the throws of starting a garden and maintenance company and thought i'd regularly post updates on whats going on here. That's if that's ok/allowed?

I currently work full time as a manager in a factory but have always wanted to do something like this and so I have decided to do it now - at probably the worst economic time! lol

My intention is to start part time with a view to going full time in the future, just me to start with but who knows in the future.

Anyhow, enjoy the sun today! I'd better do some work whilst secretly planning ;-)

 

Matt

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  • Ok, so as no one has objected i'll continue with my blog!

    So far today I have sourced some general supplies such as business cards and postcards. I've found out how much my partners company pay for their maintenance so i'll be trying to muscle my way in there! Incidentally, although they pay monthly the contractor gives them an annual price, is this normal for commercial work?

    I've also been looking at vans and equipment. I'm off now to find invoices and insurance.

    Oh and I looked at the RHS quals, although i'm not sure they're of much benefit to me personally.

    Matt

  • Matt,

    Lots of good luck,

    I rememberd that I was asked onan intervew for a fire brigade if Iever took a decisionand started things , just because I thought to do so ... big changes in life.

    ( I had that job for few years)

    I than thought there are many people that never had the balls to do so, but you are not one of them!!

    for gardening jobs there always be some room, you cannot import it and..

    every body love gardens not everybody love gardening.

    slowly you can built any business you like ( nearly)

    if need any help, ideas

    let me know

  • Hi,

    Make sure you keep good records or all purchases and sales.

    You will need these to prepare your accounts , although its a part time project at the moment it will still be classed as income and the good old tax man will want his slice of it.

    So long as you keep good records you will be able to offset the majority of your costs against income so reducing your net profit.

    I would suggest if you have a van / car rather than put that on the business pay your self a mileage allowance ( upto 45p is acceptable for the first 10,000, 25p thereafter ), if you put a van / caron the business you then get into the how much business mileage am I doing v's private mileage etc.

    A good accountant will save you money in the long run and of course his / her fees can also be offset against profit.

    I would expect dependant on turnover the fees would be max £ 500 pa if not lower.

    Give me a shout if you need any more help.

  • PRO

    Hi Matt

    Please feel free to carry on...look forward to reading your blog:)

  • Good luck Matt.

    Take it steady look at all the good advice there is on here and check out the templates etc avilable on here free. 

  • Best of Luck Matt, always good to see someone making a go of it!!!

  • PRO
    Good luck Matt in your new venture
    you'll certainly find a lot of help from the kind people on here.
  • Hey, cheers for the positive comments....

    Been a busy week in my day job so I haven't done as much as i'd like on my business. I have however been looking at websites. Found a company called per-call.co.uk (per call ltd) but not sure if it's a scam or not, anyone heard of them? Basically they do a website for you for free and then charge a fee everytime you get an enquiry....

    I've also been looking at a view tools like mowers that are ok in the wet due to our horrendous summers! How do you all cope with the rain? Grin and bare it? At least it's doing the turf I laid a couple of weeks ago good :-)

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