Not long to go now

Middle of next week AGW should see me leave a well paying job to jump in at the deep end, spend a few grand to get it all up an running, ie. insurances, PoD's, invoices web site etc etc. and the van of course. Maybe just to spend a bit more on running around seeing prospective customers and phone calls and getting no-where but won't know unless I try. So by the beginning of December my intentions are not to be the biggest but the best. Done it before so will try my darnedest to do it again.

Detractors can now come forth and voice your opinion ... At least when in my bed at home it wont be leaping around all over the place.

edit to the above .... not SPEND, as it's already SPENT !

I got a feeling about you....some are going to say you're mad, some will applaud that you're giving it a go despite all the evidence to the contrary....dunno why but i reckon you're going to do pretty well....watch this space...and good luck to you

Thanks Speed, can only do the best I can, last thing I will accept if (when someone offer me work) I let them down, that aint in the equation, not no how even if I loose money on it. Reputation comes very close to profit in my book. Ask my missus about the number of time she's given me a bollocking about putting my ship before her..... I don't as the job comes first, that's what I am paid to do. Never yet had the sack after 40 plus years of arguing with owners !!

ps. They are right I maybe mad, but I cant take the money with me when I snuff this life and I don't want any of my family to fall out over who gets what when that happens.

forgot to put in, haven't fell out with any ship owners but have got through to wife no. 3 !!!

three wives, you are mad.

Haha, just like I said, but the latest is OK, (I think, .... after 16 years or so I might have an inkling) Second one took all the proceeds out of the fist endeavour as a transport operator, had a good contract too doing all of ICI Computer Systems work out of Scarborough all over the UK plus other lucrative contacts, stole the work by being competent from the old next day service called Carryfast, teach them to have so many dead on arrivals. In the 3 years I did it I lost one package delivered somewhere but not signed for to the value of £29.10, they never even knew what I had lost and nor did I but paid up out of my back pocket in notes and loose change. ICI bought me a 2 year old XJ6 ...

I agree with Speed - you're investing a good deal of yourself in your business which is a good sign (if the Dragons are anything to go by...). I started with not enough money. I didn't have anything and my bank would only lend me just enough (JUST!) to get going. So my first few months (I started in May) were quite painful as I had to use my limited profits to invest in the things which should have been part of my business at the start. Far better to invest as much as you possibly can at the beginning, so long as it's targeted investment. Best of luck!

And good on you with all that reliability milarky. I'm that way too, though it doesn't always mean profit! I was on a £40 job the other day, and while I was en route I had an offer of a £500 job. Had to turn it down though, as I'd already promised myself to the other customer.

I'm going in with all I have, if it works good ok, if it don't then tough luck. I will do my best. Maybe I should not keep going on about it but no. 2 wife even had me declared legally dead after no contact for of 7 years so she could claim my share out of the house we owned that she had sold!!!! I will not, if even possible borrow money from the bank to keep going, it's shit or bust as far as I'm concerned. Once I start it's either in or out. Full stop. Rgds Ray

It's a pity while doing a £40 job to get an offer of a £500 job but you do the lesser valued one and the customer might come back a dozen times more whereas the high gross one could have been a one off so in the long term you may gain.

Best of luck Moray once you get going. Definately agree with Speed and CAMVAN. Oh and AJM.... I started back in September with a similar approach to yourself. As CAMVAN says, the first months are the hardest as your still trying to get established and your cash flow will eat away until pay starts coming in. In my mind its all about reputation because that will generate repeat business, and potentially recomendations to generate more business. Control the costs and profit will look after itself. Those that are in it for a quick profit won't last long.

Good luck.

I read about some study that shows that getting repeat business / holding onto past customers is 60% more cost-efficient than any form of marketing. (Obviously a wildly generalistic figure and I can't even remember if it was exactly 60%, but there's truth in it.)

Good luck Moray long may you travel. Shit or Bust great motto.

er...that £500 ob you were offered whilst doing a £40 job......you could've stuck it on here?

not if it was subbed to him in the first place ! but having said that, it doesnt stop many folk doing that !

and Camvan...some more statistics for you....a staggering 80% of your business comes from 20% of your customers

Speed Couriers (Stansted Airport) said:

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er...that £500 ob you were offered whilst doing a £40 job......you could've stuck it on here?

I suppose I could have. But I was on the move and haven't yet tried to list work from my phone. I expect it's possible tho.

i could do it for you next time if you like

It is possible on your phone, but its a pain if your on a motorway as you need to pull off to log it all in. Is that an open invitation Mr Speed ?

i don't mind helpin out