your thpughts

[FBJ]

Hi all. Heard a whisper that redundacies might be coming up next year. Im thinking about taking it. Maybe just going through a bad patch but I'm bored shitless at work and really fancy being self employed. If I do I want it to be around bikes. Thinking of doing blasting. Powder coating. Ultra sonic cleaning. Servicing. Bit of buying and selling. With redundancy shares and flogging a few of my bikes I could almost pay the mortgage of. Flo will still work an her wages could cover the bills. Just an idea. An I have a class 1 hgv to fall back on for a day or two a week

[callyboy]

Watcha FBJ, I had to pack up work a couple of years back to look after my 4 kids. (got custody - long story) and have not worked since. Have been trying to get back into work for the last 6 months or so(gov changed rules and expects me to work - fair enough, but being a single dad with 4 kids aint easy). Its really hard to get any kind of job, let alone a interesting one. I worked in Accounts for 30 odd years and to be honest i fancied a change of career. Not got a clue what to do, but like you i would luv to do something revolving around bikes. However.......Not got capital for premises and machinery and if i was really honest- i aint no bike mechanic !!! thought about buying and selling bikes, but i dont think there is much money in it. Also thought about breaking bikes and selling on ebay etc.

Also thought about maybe collection service for bikes.

Whatever you decide to do, think carefully about what sort of turnover you need to cover your costs etc. Good business plan - sounds boring but it will give you an idea if you are going to make any money out of it.

Blasting is easy. Powdercoating might be expensive (oven/gas etc).

My mate Russ has a bike shop and he struggles to make any decent money.

Anyway, hope that helps, and if you do start a business - GIVE US A JOB

Pete

[lomsavage]

hi mate,

tough news, one word of caution, in times of economic decline service industries suffer first, folk cant afford to pay someone to do their stuff

hgv1 always a good back up, though agency work can be patchy

maybe me be ultra cautious, but unless you have to at the moment, better the devil you know

good luck

[john boy]

nearly got made redundant in february
thought hard for about five minuets then was feeling almost glad of a possible change of scenery
then thought what to do
job prospects here are mainly food factory
did think of doing one off stainless fabrication mainly sheet metal as a few friends have show and shine
perfomance cars
but then everyone stopped spending
so wasnt realy viable
luckily still got job unfortunatly still same s**t

[fossie]

Hgv 1 isn't aswell paid as you may think but then nowt. however medical at 45 is £120, you digi tacho card also costs , Most compies insist now as all trucks will have them very very soon,
and lets not forget another wonderful thing from the EU the cpc which you have to fund , then keep updated , even if you drive once a week.

[Katgeezer]

I'd love to pack in the trains and do bike restorations but I doubt it'll happen unless I win a decent amount as I've a mortgage to pay and now doesn't seem to be a good time to go into business....or am I looking at it wrong??

I've got all the equipment you mentioned John (except a powder-coating oven,bit big for my workshop!!) but just don't see a way of making a living at it.

I look at the bike mags we talk about on here and there's loads of bike resto shops and small concerns selling their services but I'm just not confident there's enough money about. There's also a few going to the wall which doesn't inspire either.

We all know the standard of your work John but it doesn't matter how good it is if no-ones buying

[Katgeezer]

And Pete, you really should consider taking on polishing work from us cos you'da'man with an oily rag mate

[bobster]

And when you turn your hobby into your job...............goodbye hobby!

When I worked as the mechanic at Crooks Suzuki..........I couldnt stand the sight of bikes for nearly 6 years after I left there............Jobs and hobbies dont mix m8!

Today they announced 3000 redundancies from BAE systems.................

and Guess where I work?

looks like theyre all going at Warton where they make the euro fighter!

[Katgeezer]

Oh cr*p mate,didn't put 2&2 together when I heard that. Guess you'll be watching out for the list of bye-byes. Don't envy you. Hope you keep your job.

And yes, hobbies and livings don't go together to well I agree.

[john boy]

yep i agree turning hobby into job not the best plan
done that and part of why my kat spent too many years in peices
come home cant just pick up a spanner after a day of idiots with spanners lol


also have a friend at bea havnt heard from him yet...............