Becoming a part-time entrepreneur?

[Rrryy]

This has become a bit more professional, in the sense that a proper van has been acquired and I also have supplies. The problem is that the median invoice is about 300€.
Jobs have come from here and there, but I started using Urakkamaailma again because otherwise it would be too quiet. Considering marketing costs, it’s cheap.

I found a reliable electrician who is in the same situation, so that’s no longer a problem. If I could also find a plumber, then I could take on bigger projects. It also occurred to me why I haven’t called customers directly. It’s harder to say no on the phone, and if you speak nicely, you might even succeed.

It takes a hell of a lot of time to look for jobs and make offers. In addition, there’s accounting, receipts, invoices, etc. Driving and finding a parking spot also gets on my nerves. My hometown has a monopoly of a few companies, so it’s difficult to get a foot in the door. I have made offers to a few small housing companies.

We’ll see what happens this year. Fortunately, I don’t have to invest large sums. The Business Start-up Centre was indeed very good. I thought about going there again. They can help, for example, with Google Ads.

[Rrryy]

Last week, what shouldn’t have happened, happened: a leak in an old apartment building. Here, we are now blaming each other, me and the caretaker company. If the caretaker had done their job properly, I wouldn’t be in this situation. These old apartment buildings are bombs. Seriously, you never know what you’ll find there. I don’t know the final outcome yet, but I received information that the insurance company has all the documents, so the outcome will surely come this week or next.

[Rrryy]

Revenue in 2024 was 16000. In fact, we can talk about half-year revenue because before June I had invoiced 120€. The result was -1200. This isn’t quite accurate if accounting errors are taken into account, i.e., extended gigs and failed offers. Tools and parts were the biggest expenses. 1500€ went to marketing. I started almost from scratch regarding tools and it’s necessary to keep basic parts in the car. Fortunately, the basic stock is in pretty good shape.

In any case, I worked a lot and learned a lot, but I can no longer run back and forth for a few euros. People’s ignorance is really annoying; they want a fixed price but don’t provide the necessary information. That’s why I will simply work on an hourly rate with a price cap if there isn’t enough information about the project.

I’m glad I found an electrician; many projects require both. Another thing is to figure out what’s worth doing. What people pay for.

[Rrryy]

Fun fact: In Finland, we are good and precise in energy and construction, but these apartment buildings built in the 70s-90s are often in terrible condition. For example, plumbing renovations done in the early 2000s can be shockingly poorly executed. There can be small leaks here and there in the technical room.

[ZSilver]

I’ve been sporadically following this thread and thinking about how to help you. I myself have been doing various service-based things for the industry for over a decade. Some consulting-style. Some software-related. I won’t elaborate further.
But if I know anything…
What really brings in money… and well… do something others don’t do.
Preferably far from home, because no one is a prophet in their own land.
You can immediately add a ‘1’ in front of your price when you’re 200 km away from home.
Crazy but true.

Well, okay. I do know a guy who’s a former construction worker and does maintenance etc., and it seems to be going okay. Apparently, 2024 was his best year. Probably because big companies aren’t interested in “thousand-euro gigs.”

I myself would under no circumstances start working for individuals, as I’m used to doing B2B stuff. Simply because I wouldn’t cope with price-conscious people. Not because companies aren’t price-conscious. That’s why you invent something others don’t do the same way. Then the price is what you determine yourself. So you don’t get every gig… something unique

[Aapon_salkku]

Hey, I’m not questioning it, but what is the basis for the claim that you can immediately add a ‘1’ to the front of the price when you’re 200 km away from home?

[ZSilver]

Perhaps this was a bit of an exaggeration, but mainly, when something is done for which there is no existing offering, you are usually sought from further away, and the pricing can be accordingly, e.g., 1xx e. And who would agree to pay much to a neighbor when they don’t consider their skills any more special than their own, i.e., only recognize a value of xx e. Just as an exaggerated example.

[Rrryy]

Well, mostly I was thinking that my field is so broad and people think that “that’s a two-hour job,” and there are apparently people who do certain jobs practically for free. I bet homeowners have experience with pipe lining companies. The inspection is free, the pipes are naturally in bad condition, and there’s a hurry to get them fixed. An outrageous offer is given, and someone takes it because they don’t understand anything about the price level and believe the seller’s talk. My conscience wouldn’t allow such a thing, but I should find some area to focus on.

Sometimes it annoys me that someone can sit at home with a laptop and earn more money without bigger risks (?).

B2C is generally a pain in the ass. There are so many strange people in the world that you’re bound to encounter someone at some point. I’ve answered and listened to these in my previous job where things were mostly handled haphazardly. There was enough work even though we weren’t cheap, installations weren’t necessarily top quality, but a company founded 50 years ago had gained such a strong foothold that significant profit was made every year even though turnover didn’t grow.

In B2C sales jobs, both parties speak the same language, and sometimes that’s an advantage, sometimes it’s not.

[Rrryy]

Update. Been on burnout/depression leave for a few days. I was so exhausted that I eventually vomited and slept for 13 hours straight. Now I feel lighter, so it wasn’t a more serious burnout. I’ve been thinking a bit about life’s values. Development is important, that’s why I study and work, in addition to money. Lately, work hasn’t appealed to me at all. Partly because a water damage incident (which wasn’t my fault) is unresolved. Now I’m mainly doing what I’ve promised, and because of bills, I have to push through now. After that, I won’t force myself to do things and will work on my own terms. However, there are expenses that need to be paid, so I can’t be lazy. There has to be sense in what I do, though. It’s nice to work with a friend, 1+1=3.

Somehow it feels like I don’t have enough motivation or energy. I haven’t invested in marketing at all. It feels pointless because of all the scheduling adjustments. Currently, 2 small projects are underway, otherwise it’s quiet. No one has contacted me this year, as far as I remember. Job interview on Thursday, I’m not counting on getting the position, but it probably wouldn’t positively affect the company’s operations if that happened. Right now it’s easy compared to what it could be.

Of course, I can’t count on being able to do two jobs for the rest of my life.

[Rrryy]

Update: I don’t remember if I’ve written about it already, but I switched to a slightly bigger car. It’s still small, and the hardest part is getting things organized. Going forward, I’ll focus on plumbing and heating jobs. HVAC jobs were a pain, and there aren’t really any sewer jobs coming in. I also do smaller jobs like faucet replacements or similar.

My father-in-law and a friend have been involved, but now I’m looking for a partner for bigger projects. Even though I said earlier that small jobs should be left behind, there have been plenty of them despite me raising prices.
At the same time, I’m looking for a new job, but there aren’t many available, and the processes seem to take weeks. Frustrating. I’m very interested in one particular position, and my CV is almost perfect. An announcement was supposed to come early this week, but it’s been quiet.

I haven’t focused on marketing, or actually I have, but due to being busy, I haven’t been able to provide the necessary information to the company. I need to call once school is over. I’m even starting to have too many tools, and parts are also readily available.

I thought about making a price list for basic parts for myself. I have no idea how much they’ve actually cost. In the summer, a little more might come in through another channel, but the goal is to accumulate enough net income to cover the car payment and other business-related expenses. Of course, I should also put money into funds.

[Rrryy]

I’m wondering how I could get customers to become more active. Currently, 90% of jobs have come through job bidding platforms, and usually, I have to offer with quite a poor margin. The average feedback score is 4.5/5 and there are over 20 reviews, but it’s still difficult. Should I invest in Google Ads or Remppatori… in any case, fixed costs are rising sharply.

Actually, I’m fed up with these services. Either the jobs are too big, or the small ones have their own risks.

I’m putting together a price list for parts so that pricing would be clear for myself. In practice, I check online how much the parts cost and set roughly the same prices or a little more.

Here are the biggest challenges I’ve encountered:

• Pricing, I always run into problems and it takes more time than imagined. The same job can take 30 minutes or 2.5 hours depending on the starting point.
• Customers, where and how to find them. As a part-time entrepreneur, I need to make schedules fit and the jobs need to be sensible.
• Own inventory, everything costs a fortune and I have to keep a relatively large stock in the car. The tools + parts in my car cost over 10k in total.

[Rrryy]

I’ll get back to this. You are right, but I don’t agree that one should do something others don’t. In my small town, basic companies have emerged that have done well almost from the start. Marketing and the right people working have been the path to success. There’s even a millionaire in the family who started with one excavator and has since bought equipment that hardly anyone else has. A dozen workers. No unnecessary loans, drives a basic van, but is simply fast and skilled. Well, now that I understand the industry myself, the speed was based on the wrong things. Earlier, I thought he was a bit slow, but now that he has talked about his investments, I understand that behind everything is a smart worker.

It is possible to invent some software and earn a lot of money. One villager succeeded in that, and now there are sellers who sell it to companies.
If you want to earn money, you need to

• work long hours
• invent, for example, a service or software that works better than existing ones
• market a lot
• be a good salesperson
• be good at what you do, e.g., if you install

You can get rich by investing; it’s difficult as a sole proprietor unless you’re a surgeon or similar.

My own operations do not generate huge sums. Net 500€-1000€/month. Would it be possible to earn more? Yes, but stress levels would rise, and the day job also needs to be done. Strangely enough, there has been work even though upcoming weeks sometimes looked empty. This week I have been working every evening.

I’m not going to invest any more in the business. I pick up gigs from the renovation market, invest in a website, and my former workplace throws gigs occasionally. I have received good reviews; the quality of work has generally been 3.5/5, but if you are a nice guy and don’t charge too much, the customer will contact you again.

As an industry, this is complete xxxxxx. High risks, old and incorrectly installed equipment, you should know everything about everything, and it’s physically demanding. Tools cost a lot, you need a van and a basic inventory.
A friend who is an electrician has it much easier with these basic jobs.

.To the numbers

expenses

marketing/finding work 120€/month
insurance 40€/month

This year’s turnover: 10 445€

Is the car counted? A car is necessary anyway, but now it’s perhaps a bit more expensive than it would otherwise be.
This cannot be called profitable. One reason is tools, “temporary workers,” and a poor margin. Many customers want to acquire, for example, toilet seats, water heaters, etc., themselves nowadays. Many companies don’t agree to that, but as far as I’m concerned, the customer can acquire the equipment. I don’t want to bear responsibility if it breaks if my profit share from the product is 100€.

Honestly, I don’t know how long I can keep this up, but at least this year and next year I have to go full throttle due to the financial situation. I am in a so-called career rut from which it is difficult to get out. The situation in the job market is miserable. There are too many applicants, and some master’s graduate who asks for 500€ less salary can always be found. In that sense, a 200-300€ pay raise could quickly be achieved by doing 1-2 small gigs. That makes a poor man think.

[Kauko-Aatos]

I read through the thread and felt compelled to comment on Rrryyy’s situation. It seems the problem isn’t a poorly profitable business, but rather general challenges with endurance. At that pace, you definitely won’t make it a couple of years forward on sheer grit alone. It’s advisable to call it quits in time and take the time needed for recovery; your thoughts will flow better then. Recovering from stress can take a couple of months or several years, but likely longer the longer one tries to struggle along in the rat race. So, now, minimize personal expenses, put work on hold, and go on a recovery leave.

[Rrryy]

I’ve been banging my head against a wall, but now I’ve found my own pace. The problem was too much work for too cheap. Now I do what I want and for more money. Of course, it would be nice to earn more, but…

[Rrryy]

I’m not going to quit, but I’m also not going to invest in marketing; instead, I’ll keep costs low. This year’s turnover so far is 16000. From now on, I will make a good profit. All tools have been acquired, and I’m not going to increase inventory. It did feel heavy at one point, which is why bigger projects will be left aside. I already have a few regular customers; my old employer throws me gigs in the summer, and the rest come through my website. I also pick up jobs from Remppatori. I don’t stress even if it’s quieter; I’ve taken a couple of weeks off now because my car has been at the repair shop. Poor productivity was due to not daring to invoice and underestimating hours in bids. Now I know better what to do and how much to charge for it. Let’s say I’d rather net a hundred for 20 minutes of work than net 150 euros for two hours of work. I used to think challenging gigs were my thing, but they can be like pulling teeth.

Now the goal is to get the permits/papers for a supervising foreman.

[Rrryy]

Just like last year, July was very busy due to ordinary people taking holidays. I didn’t have enough energy for everything, and it’s frustrating that my calendar already looks empty. Stupidly, I once again paid for website optimization, and it was completely useless. Protip: Get a proper website and optimize it yourself.

I’ve been thinking about throwing in the towel. I’m already working hellishly hard just looking for work, and on top of that, I’m paying for it (tender services). I have to do it ridiculously cheap, considering these jobs aren’t found in my own town. How on earth could I get things rolling? Acquaintances have plenty of work even though they’ve spent exactly 0 euros on marketing.

Without my former employer, I’d be in deep trouble. 95% of July’s gigs came through them because they lacked resources. Of course, I also buy over 10k worth of goods from them every year. For example, I’ve looked at the websites of companies in the same field, and they’re not special at all. My website also ranks quite well on Google now, even though there’s room for improvement. Others lack prices and pictures; I have them.

Maybe my brain is lying, there have been gigs, but I no longer have the energy to drive long distances for some small thing. There would definitely be enough work in my home municipality too, for sure.

[Rrryy]

Things have been going quite well lately. It’s still difficult to get customers through the website. Most come through payment services or a partner. Now I can also offer different kinds of jobs since I found an electrician, who, of course, works through their own company. It’s by no means easy, but somehow I’ve managed to pull in work; for example, last Sunday, this week’s calendar looked completely empty, but I ended up working almost every day.

I don’t regret it yet, but the amounts are still too small. We’ll see how this develops; customers have been satisfied, and many have called again. Word of mouth is, in my opinion, an important marketing method. I can’t deny that price plays a part, but as a part-timer, I can afford to do it cheaper, and price is indeed the most decisive factor in addition to availability.

[RahatonMies]

Just having observed from the sidelines, a few ideas.

-Do you already have a minimum billing? For example, x-euros/hour/whatever you deem reasonable and includes, say, max 10 kilometers. Additional kilometers at price y and hours at price z. Larger projects have their own pricing. If the sites are further away, would it be possible in non-urgent cases to try to acquire several customers from the same area to reduce costs?

Is it possible to get on a home appliance store’s list somewhere? For example, with air source heat pumps, there was at worst a three-week queue everywhere around here in the summer.

How about working as a subcontractor/urgent help for a large company? You state when you are available, making you a good additional resource without the risks associated with employee hiring.

Then the heaviest idea, on-call work. Whenever something breaks down, it’s a weekend/holiday/at least evening. You can charge completely differently, and the customer is overjoyed when emergency help arrives immediately.

[Rrryy]

I am on call; I haven’t started marketing my services to other companies because I’m still working a day job, and because of that, I’m not a very attractive option. I have a clear price list, but we almost always go with fixed-price contracts. The good thing about being part-time is that I can choose projects, but big jobs remain undone. One day I calculated how many hours I would have to work as an entrepreneur to earn the same amount as from my day job, and I came to the conclusion that it would be absurd to try, considering the nature of the work, the risks, and the mental burden. It’s certainly easy to be an employee.

I do hope for growth, mainly for more sensible jobs and for not having to spend time looking for work myself.

..

[Rrryy]

October was an all-time high. Usually, July has been the best month when everyone is on holiday. In my locality, it’s customary that if one doesn’t have time, someone else’s contact information is given. Tools can also be borrowed if one doesn’t have them. I have one company that recommends me if they don’t have time themselves. That’s very beneficial. I, in turn, buy a lot of goods through them, so the cooperation works. A typical week looks like this: on Monday, it seems there’s only one gig on the calendar. By Friday, I’ve visited 4-5 sites. The problem is that the amounts per gig are too small. Some jobs can be surprisingly challenging even if they only take 1.5 hours. I hardly do these anymore. No more investments are needed, except in the form of installation supplies. The HVAC store salespeople probably hate me when I return half of my purchases, but at some point, I realized that the inventory value had gotten out of hand. It’s hard to say how to develop the business from here, other than by leaving the so-called “shit jobs” and trying to get more work that yields a better margin. One challenge is my own well-being. Studies suffer, and at worst, there’s no personal time. I made a promise to myself that if I found a new job with a salary level of +€5300/month, I would significantly reduce my workload. Although the amount of money is quite significant in my budget, it doesn’t really affect the quality of life.