Hi folks.
I ran a small carpet cleaning operation for a couple of years, but did mainly "subcontract" work for a larger company. ie You do all the work, take all the financial risks with machine, van, insurance , chemicals etc, they supply you with work that they've got from marketing. Steady work, but a lot of effort for a meagre return. I also did some private work, but due to a variety of factors, could never really plan far ahead. After my van died, I mainly gave it up for a while, just doing a few private jobs, until my machine died as well, and has been sitting under the stairs for 18 months.
Recently I went for a job that looked too good to be true. Everything was supplied, but on closer inspection, you were out of pocket by £150 a week (due to van and machine rental, insurance, hire of card machine,) before you'd even earned anything, and to top it all, they were a "bait and switch" merchant. There were promises of £1500 a week, but conning old ladies is not my style. I made my excuses and left, just like the "fake sheik" from the News of the World.
To cut a long story short, I am going to get my machine fixed, and have a reliable van sorted out. I also want to add some extras, like oven cleaning and gutter clearing, maybe window cleaning as well, if I can do that right.
Should I do some refresher training? I am a lot more focused and ambitious than last time, and know what I am capable of doing, if I can get the work in. I do have a large database of customers from quite a large postcode area, but it's not bang up to date.
I've done the working for someone else thing in the meantime, but it just doesn't motivate me at all. The only people I know who earn a decent salary have to commute every day to London and back, or work in some sort of capacity as self-employed or a small business owner.
Any good advice from anyone?