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I know I have renamed it but the concept is the same .
Martin wrote:I propose that the WTA Council add this subject to their next meeting agenda. I further suggest it stick to rational law permitting advice and comment, offer guidance but purely in a legal sense and without any form of bias. As by definition any TA has to comply fully to the wide ranging and stringent rules of the OFT (or whatever Government department controls them these days?)
Well I said I would do it ,What do people think ?
LawrenceRe: Whitegoods Business Pack
Personally, I think it’s a no-brainer.
We just get on with it.
I’m prepared to donate a lot of time as well as a bit of design and writing just to promote the WTA, UKW and ISE as well as to inform and help. I apologise, but I just can’t see this being a bad thing.
I think that a guide, even if it does turn out to be a bit lengthy, to the trade and the pitfalls as well as what is good about it is nothing but a good thing overall. And, if it stops one person getting shafted then it has served its purpose.
If nothing else I’d hope that it would be a lot of good advice learned from a lot of bitter experience in one document. That is no bad advert for the TA or anyone else IMO.
I’d hope that it would serve as an introduction to the trade for any and all, carrying the WTA banner along the ways. I also happen to have a few contacts that might ensure that happens. 😉
Of course that’s just my opinion.
K.
Re: Whitegoods Business Pack
I think we roll with it ,but a consensus would be good if only to shut you know who up .
LawrenceRe: Whitegoods Business Pack
You are allowed to speak his name……. 😀
VOLDEMART(IN).
Anyway, the proposal as it stands doesn’t offer much to the sole trader, beyond background information, unless we actually follow up on the Business Pack idea on an expanded basis. I really don’t need to to know a great deal about contract rates and terms and conditions, but wholesaler contacts with specialities would be useful; as a for instance.
The contract calculator could be tweaked to eliminate the contract bit for the purely freelance traders. I forget how I did it last time…. 🙁
We need to produce something inclusive of all the membership, not just the contract workers.
Chris.
Re: Whitegoods Business Pack
been thinking…
in the spirit of the WTA maybe we can all produce a diferent element of the pack ,then collate it to produce it onto a CD or memory stick with the WTA logo on (Maybe pricey I know ) to give out at the next meetingmaybe articles on
Bookeeping banking and vat
Advertising where and what can you expect to pay
Charges -Callout Charge pros and cons and labour rates
Vehicle costs ,HP,contract hire ,leasing pros and cons
Where to get work from
Workproviders -who are they and what to watch out for
Some generic health and safety info
what else taking on board Chris’s point about being inclusiveLawrence
Re: Whitegoods Business Pack
I could do the vehicle topic if required – lived and breathed it for the last 3 months. Also have been shafted by my previous contract; so I have seen the pitfalls first hand. 😯
It could also include the Vauxhall van deal set up by Brian (R600A).Steve.
Re: Whitegoods Business Pack
Once I’ve got my new van (being delivered next Tuesday) I will get that done ASAP. My Citroen Dispatch gets collected on Tuesday as well……and I’m not fond of Citroen’s contract department.
So if you see a mushroom cloud rising in the direction of Dorset, you’ll know I’ve lost my rag with the inspector. 😈Steve.
Re: Whitegoods Business Pack
Lawrence wrote:
Bookeeping banking and vat
Advertising where and what can you expect to pay
Charges -Callout Charge pros and cons and labour rates
Vehicle costs ,HP,contract hire ,leasing pros and cons
Where to get work from
Workproviders -who are they and what to watch out for
Some generic health and safety infoI would like to help but I don’t think there is any subject on this list that I could advise on in any fully competent way.
My book keeping is archaic, Simplex D stuff. If I was starting from scratch today I would undoubtedly use more IT based solutions but I understand my simple, paper based system and it is far too late for me to change now.
The bottom line is that any change to my book keeping, stock monitoring/ordering etc would not make me a single penny more profitable.
I have not advertised for over 20 years so no help there.
My labour charges are low but I know my market and what it will sustain.
Steve has vehicles covered but even there I have always had a dual use estate car which is not the norm.
Where to get work from and Work Providers could be linked and as I have never done contract work I would have nothing to contribute in that area.
Health & Safety, again something I know very little about as regards the individual, single engineer.
I don’t want to come across as negative or shirking but I also do not want to pontificate on matters that I am not qualified so to do.
Jim. 😳
Re: Whitegoods Business Pack
Actually Jim, you have hit a nail on the head!
Whilst we “youngsters” and those that do contract work may think differently to the likes of yourself it doesn’t mean that our view is the right one for everybody. I think we have to bear that in mind and not let ourselves get too carried away over complicating what is, for people like yourself that only do chargeable work, a pretty simple business.
Whilst I realise and accept that most probably won’t operate that way your opinion and the way that you do it in what could be called, although I mean absolutely no offence in this, it’s rawest and simplest form is also a way well worth telling people about. I’m quite sure that over the years you’ve learned a few tricks that few others are aware of as well as pitfalls to avoid.
I for one certainly would not belittle the opinion or your way of trading, quite the opposite in fact.
I’d be a lot happier with that sort of information in rather than out just because it doesn’t embrace every “accepted modern practise” as, it works and is very well proven.
In short I guess what I’m trying to say is that you have another perspective that, I feel IMO, is no less valuable than that of anyone else.
K.
Re: Whitegoods Business Pack
I think that you bring another dimension to the table Jim ,The main difference is that you bring it in a positive way rather than a condesending manner .
If we were able to make this a part magazine format we could include our experiences as little snippets running through .
That way we are inclusive of all.
Lawrence
Just thought, you have experience of ISE you would be amazed how many engineers just don’t get the benefits ,there’s an article straight off for you
LawrenceRe: Whitegoods Business Pack
OK, ISE…the way forward.
I’ll give it some thought. 🙂
Jim.
PS, ‘rawest and simplest form’ is probably being charitable Ken. 😆
Re: Whitegoods Business Pack
I don’t think it’s charitable at all Jim, I think it’s admirable in a lot of ways as I wish life for me was that simple on the repairs side. You get into contract stuff and things get complex, quickly and it’s like one of those, once you start it you can’t get off, sort of things.
Anyways I’ve started in earnest on it but there’s a few things I’m going to struggle with as I haven’t operated as a sole trader which is different. Contract work and whatnot I’ve no problem explaining as well as a lot of the basics I should think, but I will need other points of view as I go.
A section on accounts and bookkeeping for a sole trader would be good then I can append the multi-engineer side of it.
I have no doubt that between us we can come up with an almost definitive guide.
K.
Re: Whitegoods Business Pack
Lawrence asked me to make this available so you all could get a sense of the direction…
It is obviously a work in progress and subject to massive change, but someone had to start the ball rolling. It needs content though peeps!
K.
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