itesecurity Posted August 13, 2011 Posted August 13, 2011 In todays climate, better off holding down your current job, do as much work as you can in your spare time (legit, under the company you have registered), two of you should be able to handle it ok, especially when you get no overtime with your current employer. Build up a customer base and a reputation of doing a first class job, then when you think you have enough work to go full time, leave your employer and poach all his customers. It sounds like both of you do all the work anyway so his customers will probably know you better than they know your employer and they should not be hard to persuade to make the move. You will not go anywhere if you don't eventually take the risk.
MrHappy Posted August 13, 2011 Posted August 13, 2011 leave your employer and poach all his customers. It sounds like both of you do all the work anyway so his if you actively seek your former employeers cleints then I guess it would be fair game for them to approach your cleints ? Mr Veritas God
Cyberprog Posted August 13, 2011 Posted August 13, 2011 In todays climate, better off holding down your current job, do as much work as you can in your spare time (legit, under the company you have registered), two of you should be able to handle it ok, especially when you get no overtime with your current employer. Build up a customer base and a reputation of doing a first class job, then when you think you have enough work to go full time, leave your employer and poach all his customers. It sounds like both of you do all the work anyway so his customers will probably know you better than they know your employer and they should not be hard to persuade to make the move. You will not go anywhere if you don't eventually take the risk. Unless your company has an effective restraint clause in your contract... in which case this would be highly inadvisable. Most contracts will also require your employers permission to get a second job, which self employment would be. We had an engineer who was an active member here a few years ago. We at the time were a small NSI gold... 4 engineers and x2 apprentices. He was doing loads of work for friends and family, got work coming out of his ears. So decided to go it alone. All that work he had backed up was probably cleared in a month, then nothing.......He did poach a few of our bells only contracts, and by that I mean around 5, but most have come back. Not sure what he's doing now, last I heard, was he was in the local shopping precinct conducting surveys! Not sure what for like Sounds like he concentrated on the work at hand, rather then pacing himself with that and getting out soliciting new business!
PeterJames Posted August 14, 2011 Posted August 14, 2011 then when you think you have enough work to go full time, leave your employer and poach all his customers. It sounds like both of you do all the work anyway so his I think thats the crappy advice I have ever seen on a forum regardless of people in glass houses and all that. Lets look at this from the employers prospective, he gives the chap a job trains him up, benefits like mobile phone etc, turns a blind eye to the PJ's even though he knows his vehicle tools and ladders (not to mention the odd roll of cable) are used. Only to get a double whammy of not only losing an employee and that employee takes all his customers. Ive seen it happen and good companies have gone to the wall because of it, all it does is undervalue this industry and it makes me angry, we all want to earn more money from this industry but most of the people moaning that they dont earn enough are the ones doing the undercutting! I'm so pleased my employee contracts are written so tightly that my exemployees cant fook me over
Cyberprog Posted August 14, 2011 Posted August 14, 2011 Sounds like famous last words there Peter! Employer>Employee relations are heavily weighted by the courts and law towards the employee, restraint of trade contract restrictions need to be very carefully worded, too broad a restriction and they become unenforceable.
PeterJames Posted August 14, 2011 Posted August 14, 2011 Sounds like famous last words there Peter! Employer>Employee relations are heavily weighted by the courts and law towards the employee, restraint of trade contract restrictions need to be very carefully worded, too broad a restriction and they become unenforceable. My contracts were drawn up by a solicitor and cost a fair amount of money. But hopefully none of my customers would migrate for the sake of a tenner a year, and my engineers appear for now happy with their employment with me. I have seen it happen close to me, suddenly this new co sprung up from nowhere their bell box's everywhere, turns out the co was started by the ex engineering manager of another co. The Irony of it was that the original co started his guarding company exactly the same way, so he sort of got his just deserts. I suspect the new co will struggle too, undercutting a co known for being cheap in the first place can only lead to one thing
whistle Posted August 14, 2011 Posted August 14, 2011 I was in the same position as you 5 years ago, left a national and went on my own. We now have 7 members of staff and need another engineer asap. To make it work you will have to work stupid hours and give 110% 24 hours a day 7 days a week for the 1st 4 years. Expect to have many problems getting paid on time and having many sleepless nights. But if you work very hard and dont give up you might just make a go of it.
alterEGO Posted August 14, 2011 Posted August 14, 2011 In todays climate, better off holding down your current job, do as much work as you can in your spare time (legit, under the company you have registered), two of you should be able to handle it ok, especially when you get no overtime with your current employer. Build up a customer base and a reputation of doing a first class job, then when you think you have enough work to go full time, leave your employer and poach all his customers. It sounds like both of you do all the work anyway so his What an ****, this is out of order IMO. Also a bad idea, when you go for SSAIB guess who the screening company contact for a reference. I think thats the crappy advice I have ever seen on a forum regardless of people in glass houses and all that. Lets look at this from the employers prospective, he gives the chap a job trains him up, benefits like mobile phone etc, turns a blind eye to the PJ's even though he knows his vehicle tools and ladders (not to mention the odd roll of cable) are used. Only to get a double whammy of not only losing an employee and that employee takes all his customers. Ive seen it happen and good companies have gone to the wall because of it, all it does is undervalue this industry and it makes me angry, we all want to earn more money from this industry but most of the people moaning that they dont earn enough are the ones doing the undercutting! I'm so pleased my employee contracts are written so tightly that my exemployees cant fook me over Well said.
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