Another great video thank you! It matches a lot of what I got taught at college. I have a mother in law who compares my prices with ikea and 'China's finest' and tells me that I'm too expensive 🙄 I'm going to suggest an IKEA coffin when the time comes 😎
@@Alastair_Freebird hello bud, my names Dominick im from the 🇺🇸, I just stumbled upon your videos yesterday....beautiful work. I just went into the custom cabinetry business (for myself) , I was wondering if you could recommend some good paint and simple process( im not that great on the finishing aspect ) I have an electric sprayer, I appreciate any helpful advice.
santo Dominico hi, we use Sayerlack waterbased paints, the code for the topcoat we use is AT99. Enquire further with a supplier of Sayerlack. Getting things right with spraying is not easy and we are now having new problems in our new workshop. I suggest you follow Matt Marriot @instasprayers on Instagram and to learn more join his buymeacoffee membership page.
Adrian A yes you can use alastairmarkjohnson@gmail.com please reply on here when you’ve got that and I’ll delete this comment to avoid possible spam etc
Owen Mark thanks for that. This comment came at an interesting time. I’d been a bit discouraged over the weekend, about the prospects for the business. Then a few things have turned around today that put a better spin on things (funny how things can change in a day!). Anyway, then I ended the day meeting a friend who attends the same business network I used to be part of. And he was telling me about a number of people there who I used to slightly idolise in my mind as ‘doing well’, being on top of their business plan, and probably making plenty of money. Yet one went bust and others are not much better off after some dubious business practices coming to light. You just never know. ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’. It all reminded me to just keep doing what I do. Anyway, thanks for commenting and best wishes with your own work 👍
I can't begin to tell you how much this video has lifted my spirits around how i'm trying to make a living. This whole covid situation has added more layers of doubt and anxiety to working life so thank you Alistair, for giving and sharing, and in this case, providing some mentoring too. It makes a massive difference! x
Hi Fiona I seem to have missed this comment until now. I think ‘layers of doubt and anxiety’ is a phrase many of us can relate to through Covid. I’m glad this video has helped!
Hi Alistair. Thanks very much for this post. I've been having a few of those thoughts and doubts you have just mentioned. I have had a few quotes knocked back recently and I can't figure out for the life of me how people can be making money by doing it any cheaper. I priced 2 full height moisture resistant twin shaker door wardrobes with top boxes and draws plus a bay window seat with 4 shaker doors at £3300.00 painted. The client said they loved me and my designs and really wanted to go with me ,but i was significantly higher than the other quote they received. To be honest, I'm glad I didn't get the job because I think even that price was too cheap. A really helpful video though, thanks again. Dave.
Kestelle thanks. I think lots of people winning the work just aren’t making much money, because we’re all making the same mistakes, then you’ve got the ones who do it quick and rough and the customers don’t know the difference.
Yeah I know what it feels like 🙄 I get them to buy material from ikea or B&q or where ever they want and charge £200 a day to install a lot less trouble. 👍
Dear Alastair. Thank you for sharing all your knowlage in such an easy understandable and systematic way. I'm a carpenter starting my own busyness in Denmark and I find your videos very helpfull.
Thoroughly enjoyed listening just to get an insight as a customer, and not actually in the business, it has helped me to appreciate why my fitted wardrobes "seem" to cost a small fortune, as they saying goes, "a fence has two sides"
Thanks for commenting! All of us in this trade would love to be able to better educate our customers on the true costs of this work - it surprises even us sometimes!
Thanks for all the advice Alastair, I’m a handyman that’s heading down the cabinet building side. The transition from being a ‘jack of all trades’ to doing what I truly love is somewhat challenging so it’s refreshing to share your experiences and tap into your knowledge. Thanks again!!!
Hi, my son and I have just recently started a home improvement company buying and renovating houses. Coincidentally we have just been asked to price and fit some bespoke wardrobes. Funnily enough the customer says that he has priced Ikea wardrobes at £600.00, but they don't quite achieve what he is looking for. So he wants some MDF painted built in. I have priced the materials and they are circa £600.00 also. Plus of course making, painting, and fitting. My first thought was £1200.00 installed, but having watched your video I think that's too cheap. Thank you it was very interesting
Im just starting of my career in woodworking and custom furniture here in sweden, and Ive got to say, this kind of advice is absolutely A-mazing. Thank you a hundred times over
David McGuinness, Enhanced-Kitchens, (was Sheffield based, now Huddersfield). Very Interesting and useful Alastair, thank you. When starting out, I remember calculating afterwards that on my first Kitchen Installation, I earned the equivalent hourly rate of £5.25. You are so right about ‘Every mistake is a gift’. It certainly focused me to be looking at my pricing structure.
Top bloke. Being part of a small family business myself I agree with every word. We are lucky enough to be in a position to pick and choose jobs with my dad creating a brilliant established business. All our work is mainly through word of mouth with our next job often being for family or friend of the previous customer. But every now and then you'll price a job for someone who has unrealistic expectations on a price and expects everything for nothing. Anyway keep up the good work. New subscriber but love what you do. True craftsmanship. Hat off to you sir. Tom Vincent
I think you’ve really hit the sweet spot with this video, in a climate where prices are driven down with mass production and the fear of business competition its all become a bit of a race to the bottom. Every SKILLED tradesmen ought to watch this and understand without unity on this the whole industry is in danger.
Great informative and thought provoking video Alistair. Pointed your way by Peter Millard & Andy Maclellan. Gave up working a year ago, did a City & Guilds qualification and now ca myself a carpenter. My problem isn't selling myself - I was a retailer for 40 years, it's just lack of confidence in my work, the speed I work at, and the time it takes for me to figure out how to make things. Your videos have certainly helped, and slowly but surely I'm getting the hang of this carpentry game. Thanks. Adam Hasan aka The fat Twin.
@@Alastair_Freebird Short version is I'm an identical twin and only weigh 10 stone. When my future missus met my twin (who only weighs 8 ½ stone) she nicknamed me 'the fat twin'. When I was deciding on a trading name the general rule is either something relevant to your trade or something unusual (and therefore memorable) so I went with The Fat Twin, and have been proved right. Everybody I give my business card to wants to know 'Why The Fat Twin?', which means it always starts a conversation, which I find is the best way to get to know my customers, and to get them to feel comfortable with me. If a customer feels at ease with you they are more likely to trust you, and therefore even if you're not the cheapest they are more likely to choose you as their contractor.
Fantastic video, very open and informative to other self employed people, i always struggle to price a job, i especially liked bullet point 6. Keep up the great videos!
+Jame O'Sullivan You should seriously consider studying finance. And I do not mean going to college to do a degree in it. I mean using the internet and books to learn. Most businesses that fail do so because of poor finances not because of poor sales. Which would surprise most people. Having a business with good finances can be difference between fail or success. But it can also be the difference between being successful and being rich. Most people simply have understanding of compounded growth If you took £10,000 and invested it at 10% market average for 25 years that sum will grow to £100,000. If you have a business today that earns £40,000 per year in 25 years time that business could be producing earnings of £300,000 to £400,000 pounds if good finances are place.
Thank you very much for this video. The first half is like you are speaking directly to me and the second half gives me a lot to think about and to incorporate into how I need to work.
Fantastic video! Rarely I come across a person with such great level of honesty and decency. I hope to see more of your work and learn from your insight.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. As a self-employed individual, I've not taken on many bespoke furniture projects for the reasons you so clearly outlined. Often, potential customers seem quite happy for you to earn the minimum wage plus your bus fare. To many, it is just 'bits of wood' or 'my partner would do it, but he's too busy.' Even, as you say, if we are willing, at the start, to take the behind the scenes work on the chin, we just end up being busy fools! 👍
Again really useful and thanks for your effort and time ,I have been a commercial contractor since 1987 and in that time have learnt some hard lessons ,my little bit of advice that I have found so useful over the years given to me by an old experienced contractor in my younger days is regarding communication “Before the event is an explanation after the event is an excuse “ Keep up the good work
Alistair it’s much better if we as smaller contractors are all on the same page approximately ,as it gives potential clients some consistency and hopefully removes the ridiculous quotes that harm us all I think your openness on pricing is honest and refreshing and from what I see accurate ,thanks again
Thanks Alistair, Good solid advice - I’ve learned this myself too.. I still time some jobs - to keep me on track when I’m quoting... being consistent builds your own confidence and reassures customers 👌🏼
I really relate to a lot of what you talk about here. Sole trader making all bespoke furniture. ALWAYS second guessing myself. Often shooting myself in the foot with pricing. I need to standardise the process. I just had 2 weeks work postponed this month at the last minute - bedroom furniture in walnut mdf. Millionaire clients. Price was £4k and they baulked. Said they would have gone ahead if it was 3k. Materials were £1600.
Hi Alistair. I just stumbled upon your podcast this morning and thought id take a look into your UA-cam channel etc. As a carpenter of 12 years looking to set up in the fitted furniture world I've been feeling out of my depth and lacking the relevant knowledge. Yet only a few videos in im finding your content fantastic. I look forward to exploring more of your content and information. thanks Rich
richard biddulph that’s great! I’m interested to know how you came across the podcast, just searching a podcast platform? After a break I am recording the first in series 2 tomorrow morning!!!
@@Alastair_Freebird Hi Alistair, I came across your podcast on my podcasts app on my iPhone. As a recommended listen. I look forward to listening after getting through another 2 episodes today. Great insight cheers
Thanks Alistair for this, your video's have helped so much build our new business in the last 12 months. The information is priceless, and has given us so much confidence in pricing jobs. Thanks Neil, Stonebank Carpentry & Joinery
difficult to know how to thank guys like you, and a couple of others, for taking the time to explain your experiences. It's just dawning on me how useful these types of videos are. I'm just kind of "making it go right" for the last couple of years on my own and it's not sustainable like that. This is my only income so I need to get it right. If I think of a better way to acknowledge you , I'll do it but for right now Thank you very much.
michael burton that’s great thanks in itself. Since you are asking how to thank me, I hope it’s not inappropriate to mention that since making this video I’ve set up a ‘buymeacoffee’ profile since a few people were actually asking to give something back for my content that has helped them. So, no obligation but here is the link: www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
Thanks so much for this. I have been self employed for about 7 years and struggle with quoting and barely make the rent each month. This has helped so much. Guess it just takes someone else to explain it. Thanks again.
Ross Langley I love hearing feedback like this - I mean I’m so glad if it has helped others. I know what a struggle it can be! Also I must admit, I still don’t apply my own advice as well as I should, at least judging by my own ongoing lack of real profit! However I have taken on a lot of extra costs and for a small business to at least be breaking even is no small feat considering the high rate of small business failure. Anyway... it’s just a hard road in this line of work in my experience, but sharing and learning from each other certainly helps 👍
+Ross Langley You desperately need to have better financial management in your business. Most businesses that fail do so because of poor finances. Use the internet to study finances and accounting so that you can use it to grow your business. It will help with everything from pricing, costing and efficiency. You could use it to do less work but to earn more money or even to do more work but charge less for every job. I would highly recommend buying a cheap learn to accounting book and watch some youtube videos and start teaching yourself.
Thanks Alister a great video with lots to think about. Im currently getting stuck in to setting up my own business up again after working for a local kitchen company for a few years. This video really has made think about what goes into running a business and costs involved . Ta very much
Glad it helped Kevin. You really picked a challenging moment to get started in business! But I suppose any work is challenging right now, and there are opportunities as well as challenges. Best wishes with it all.
Really helpful video Alistair. As someone who is full-time employed in property maintenance but looking to go self-employed as a cabinet maker these insights are gold dust. I do a fair bit if work on the side to dip my toe in and often reduce my quotes feeling they look to expensive and equally have been told my price is too high. As others on UA-cam have said, these just are not the right customers for me (anyone who thinks bespoke prices should be comparable to IKEA are just not on the same wavelength. Will drop you an email for your spreadsheet as I think it would make and excellent starting point for my own. And would be interested in the sketch-up training too. Subscribed!
Paul K glad it helped and you certainly moved fast on applying the advice to watch it. Taking action is key to making change and getting unstuck so you’re on the right track! On a different but related note, do you follow Jordan Peterson at all? He speaks so much sense - general wisdom and advice for life and work.
A Sharps salesman was exactly as you described, he told me the discount offer would only be avaliable by the end of that day! I emailed him at the end of that day to say I needed more time to think and he then came back with "okay the discount will be available for 3 more days" needless to say I went with a local carpenter!
Really good video Alastair. I've been in the industry 24 years now most of that time as a self employed cabinet maker/installer and the last 5 running my own business mainly doing kitchen remodels and fitted wardrobes etc. I still struggle with many of the aspects you covered, I'm certainly no businessman and find myself often questioning is it worth it all but really what else can you do! It's reassuring to me to know I'm not alone Keep up the great work.
I’m glad you are reassured! I know how much that helps. I hope also that your business picks up from a profit point of view and that you can increasingly feel rewarded by it in every way.
Thanks for a great talk I'm in the same line for business. I find a hour going true the sums after each job save you hours of labour on the next job trying to make ends meet cause your not repeating same mistakes again. Thanks again
Great video, and very helpful to share actual numbers that many carpenters feel protective about. I used to go to jobs feeling like I had to win them all and I was doing something wrong if I didn’t but over time I’ve realised you can’t be all things to all people. Many will be on a tight budget and like you say you have to find the people that fit your style of work
Really helpful video and good advice for starting out in manufacturing (as I am doing this year). Lot of aspects to consider and definitely helped me think about the process. Will be watching Sketchup videos too as just getting to grips with this software.
Hi Alastair, thanks for this honest post. I’m new to your channel so I have just subscribed. So refreshing to get this kind of feedback and invaluable. I headed over to your buymeacoffee page and there seems to be loads of really helpful content there also. You mentioned a sketch up course/tutorial in this video. Have you done that and is it on the members only area? If it is I’ll sign up as a member. (Ive always believed advice/mentoring is invaluable so it’s definitely worth the sub fee) I’d definitely love to learn more about using it and integrating it into my sales and construction process. Cheers, Jim
Hello James I seem to have missed this comment first time around. This is probably too late to be relevant but did you find my free sketchup course ‘sketchup for fitted furniture makers’ on UA-cam?
hi, yet again informative video, iv just downloaded sketchup and already my brains fried, I believe for myself and clients to offer this service is nowadays essential iv been in the shopfitting industry for most of my chippie days, im not a puppy but interested in your courses on sketchup, your never to old to learn and im picking up some good tips many thanks tony
tony shortell I can also do one-on-one SketchUp training over screenshare, get in touch for details if you’re interested - look me up on Instagram or find my email on website www.freebirdinteriors.co.uk
@@Alastair_Freebird hi alastair iv only just come cross your reply (sorry) iv now come out of my small lutonbody workshop into a polytunnel exgarden centre 15m long. my area isnow strictly understairs storage, i think now i need your sketchup whicn i think is now a must as im now designing a complete kit form with us personnally deliveries completed with painted frontages with skeleton carcasses to be fittedwith trimmings etc, while still fitting ourselves, and the added sketchup would be ideal for myself and the client to see what they are getting please can you forward me your charges, my partner is very good with computers but im not that goodmany thanks and happy newyear regards tony shortell
Really interesting talk mate , I think I do personally price my work at around 1k a meter but not intentionally as I do general carpentry and not just cabinets. I will say all said and done I never seem to make a great deal of profit from that sort of work just wages really. I would love to see a spreadsheet though . Thanks for the video really honest info and so relevant to me tbh. Cheers
Thank you for this great information. I recently fitted my own fitted closet, and I have come to the conclusion that these "high" market prices actually make a lot of sense.
Hi Alastair, I'm a carpenter and Joiner based South Wales. Gotta say I've found your channel a massive massive benefit, you go into such detail. For the past 20 years I've run a small business concentrating on domestic and sometimes commercial carpentry and other bits but this all comes with minimal overheads the majority of the time. I've over the past year slowly tried transitioning over to purely interiors, wardrobes, alcoves and bespoke storage solutions etc. All is going well but obviously not my overheads are a lot higher what with bulk materials and the workshop etc. My question is how you approach the payments structure? Would you get paid upfront, half upfront and half on completion? Or possibly I have considered looking at a finance company so that I could off this option to my customers. There's just a lot of cost to deal out to just take any payment on completion. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks Luke
Hi Luke thanks for the feedback! Currently we take a 25% downpayment when the customer is happy to proceed (after an initial design and fixed price quote). Then when we are ready to begin manufacture we take another 50%, final 25% payable on completion. Not too long ago it was 25/25/50 but a business coach said we should be taking more upfront. The formula has changed in other ways over the years, and you need to find what works for you depending on how good your marketing and reputation is to generate trust with potential customers. When we first started asking for payments up front I was shy about it, but pleasantly surprised most people were happy to do so. We all make a lot of purchases where we pay before receipt of goods these days, so there’s no reason for us joiners to be out of pocket.
Hi luke, I'm in South Wales too, staged payment is a standard in engineering work. Normally 40% on order, 30% on worksop completion and the final 30% on install.
I've just come across your UA-cam content and I believe that we are a very similar business. I love your approach to your work as it shares the same ideals that we hold as a company. I really like your online pricing guide for alcove units etc and I was wondering if it was OK to borrow them(obviously tweaked for our pricing strategy). We are based in Birmingham so I believe we are both at the same end of the market albeit in different areas.
Hi Dan I accept that by publishing them they will be borrowed so yes that’s ok if the costs seem to work for you too! I would prefer you don’t borrow my line drawing graphics too though!
@@Alastair_Freebird that's fine we will be making adjustments to include our own images and drawings etc. Thanks, you have some great content and I appreciate the speedy reply.
Recently got a job to do rad covers and bay window seat. The lady asked for a rough price which I blurted out. Instantly realising it was too tight. She said that sounds reasonable. Long story short set out to do the job. Materials way more than I expected. Time taken way over what I thought. Also Had to get them sprayed another cost. When I had them installed and pay time came. I told her Id needed a bit extra because of the materials and so on. She paid what I asked but I knew she wasn't happy. Thinking I was screwing her over. What I got paid still didn't cover me either. So we both came out of it feeling hard done by.😭😭 There's no winners in a situation like this. I wish I had watched this video sooner. And lesson learned no more rough prices given on the spot.
niftap a - yes that is a good lesson and an interesting observation that you both felt hard done by - she felt worse at the end than if you had given a higher (more realistic) price at the start. Good of her to pay more anyway but I can understand how bad you felt about the whole thing too! I’ve been there.
Great video Great information. Thanks for the insight. Just a question on business type. Myself and a mate were thinking about going out on our own. What would you recommend. Set up a company..? Sole traders ..? I have no real idea how to go about it
Keep it simple at first, I think act as sole traders to start with. Draw up an agreement between yourselves, try to think worst case scenario and plan for how you divide up the work and the rewards. So many partnerships go wrong. Keeping it loose as separate sole traders may be the best way to start then you can formalise it more later. Get a good accountant and get their advice on company structure. A partnership is another type of structure.
Hi Alistair, really insightful video! I'm no more than a hobbyist at the moment but looking at this as a potential career, a lot to consider! A quick question, what software do you use for designing? Sketchup? Thanks again, Jason
Jason Hook yes Sketchup, we’ve been using it for some years. How do you find using it? We’ve now got it set up in a semi-automated way to produce labelled cultist layouts directly from the model. I’m making plans to produce a training course on UA-cam and Patreon aimed specifically at the needs of British fitted furniture makers, is this something you would be interested in?
Freebird Interiors Hi Alistair, i need to spend more time on Sketchup to really get the benefits, as I’m only building for my self at moment it’s sometimes quicker just to pick up a pencil and a piece of paper. Plus the paid version is a lot of money but it’s something I need todo! Yeah the course sounds very interesting 👍 Really finding your videos interesting 👏👏 Thanks Jason
The scenario you described in the beginning is the one I am facing these days. I am a finance professional with a passion for woodworking, 6 months ago I decide to get into fitted furniture business, since then I have been trying to learn designing in SketchUp and trying to gain as much knowledge of this field as possible. Now I am faced with the challenge of making accurate estimates of material required to build a furniture, which was designed in SketchUp. Also in SketchUp you can start designing a wardrobe or an alcove in whatever way you fancy, but I believe that building the same thing in reality requires certain defined procedure and steps which I haven't been able to learn so far. Any advice in this regard is welcomed.
@@Alastair_Freebird Hi Alister, thank you for the replies and the video links you have shared. That's means a lot to me. As I have explained, I from the field of finance and no engineering background, only passion is pushing me forward. Can I send you email on weekends, if I am stuck with something and need help?
Great video and spot-on, I think a really good video and one I have often thought about doing if I ever had the time is to do so, would be to describe the difference of real bespoke to factory bespoke like Sharps. Real bespoke means there is no compromise whatsoever, so if you want it, we can make it! not..... oh we don't do a 550mm deep unit as we are not set up for that la la la Mostly the personal guy like yourself will design - make and fit so the project is managed by a person who cares. Compare that to a salesman who only cares about his bit for his commission then the factory guys who are governed by the lacklustre salesman that oh forgot his shoes...confidence building all the time! to the end where the fitters then blame everyone else because they have to sort out all the problems which has nothing to do with them, as they are probably, sub contractors!
I'm struggling with pricing of job and tried to do at lot of what you suggested as far as using rule of tube or breaking down cost base on, starting from yearly earnings and so forth. Sometimes I end up charging so low that I dont gain nothing much out of the job. So the point you have made about the comparison of you quote versus a big company is a good bench mark to start with. What if I dont have a bench mark? When I look at cost a lot of other aspects of the job are different so that affects cost no matter if it's to install the same item. So I'm sticking to my formula until I find a better one , however I plan to take the advice you have given. Thanks again.
Shervin Williams keep assessing your jobs and looking at real costs. Remember you are more of an expert on what it’s really worth than your customers, and sometimes you need to find a different customer base to charge what you need to.
@@shervinwilliams5526 I would highly suggest that you learn accounting and finance. Just watch some youtube videos on it and buy a cheap book. Start doing book keeping your business. Get your brain to start thinking in terms of finances. Most people think they can outsource this to accountants but they simply cannot do that. When you are paying for an accountant what you are doing is paying for the privilege of auditing which is to ensure that you do not make any legal mistakes. In terms of referrals you can either focus your business in terms of costs that customers are aware of or by quality that customers are aware of. Either approach is fine but it really needs good finances so that you can get the best out of. I have done the whole 100 hour work week so as to build businesses. I am now too old in my forties to do that.
Thanks awfully for the interesting video's Alistair. I've learned the hard way with pricing but now pretty much contented with it all except friends and family but you can't can you! How's the weather over there?
SA Martin thanks for commenting I appreciate it! For me jobs from family and friends were a help when I was starting out but fill me with dread now (regarding pricing them I mean)!
SA Martin the weather has been a little bit chilly where we’ve been staying with family near Sacramento but right now we’re spending a few days further south in the desert area and it’s actually pretty warm out today! Maybe 20C, they still call it cold!
Another great video thank you! It matches a lot of what I got taught at college. I have a mother in law who compares my prices with ikea and 'China's finest' and tells me that I'm too expensive 🙄 I'm going to suggest an IKEA coffin when the time comes 😎
Craig Coe that must be annoying!
@@Alastair_Freebird hello bud, my names Dominick im from the 🇺🇸, I just stumbled upon your videos yesterday....beautiful work. I just went into the custom cabinetry business (for myself) , I was wondering if you could recommend some good paint and simple process( im not that great on the finishing aspect ) I have an electric sprayer, I appreciate any helpful advice.
santo Dominico hi, we use Sayerlack waterbased paints, the code for the topcoat we use is AT99. Enquire further with a supplier of Sayerlack. Getting things right with spraying is not easy and we are now having new problems in our new workshop. I suggest you follow Matt Marriot @instasprayers on Instagram and to learn more join his buymeacoffee membership page.
@@Alastair_Freebird Hey mat do you have an email where I can Contact you ?
Adrian A yes you can use alastairmarkjohnson@gmail.com please reply on here when you’ve got that and I’ll delete this comment to avoid possible spam etc
Never underestimate the value of authenticity. You, your morals and ethics are something the big companies cannot offer. Best of luck for the future!
Owen Mark thanks for that. This comment came at an interesting time. I’d been a bit discouraged over the weekend, about the prospects for the business. Then a few things have turned around today that put a better spin on things (funny how things can change in a day!). Anyway, then I ended the day meeting a friend who attends the same business network I used to be part of. And he was telling me about a number of people there who I used to slightly idolise in my mind as ‘doing well’, being on top of their business plan, and probably making plenty of money. Yet one went bust and others are not much better off after some dubious business practices coming to light. You just never know. ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’. It all reminded me to just keep doing what I do. Anyway, thanks for commenting and best wishes with your own work 👍
I can't begin to tell you how much this video has lifted my spirits around how i'm trying to make a living. This whole covid situation has added more layers of doubt and anxiety to working life so thank you Alistair, for giving and sharing, and in this case, providing some mentoring too. It makes a massive difference! x
Hi Fiona I seem to have missed this comment until now. I think ‘layers of doubt and anxiety’ is a phrase many of us can relate to through Covid. I’m glad this video has helped!
As a 20+year pro who has just reevaluated my pricing, I can say every single thing Alastair says in this video is true. Excellent advice.
Thanks for that Mark!
Hi Alistair. Thanks very much for this post. I've been having a few of those thoughts and doubts you have just mentioned. I have had a few quotes knocked back recently and I can't figure out for the life of me how people can be making money by doing it any cheaper. I priced 2 full height moisture resistant twin shaker door wardrobes with top boxes and draws plus a bay window seat with 4 shaker doors at £3300.00 painted. The client said they loved me and my designs and really wanted to go with me ,but i was significantly higher than the other quote they received. To be honest, I'm glad I didn't get the job because I think even that price was too cheap.
A really helpful video though, thanks again.
Dave.
Kestelle thanks. I think lots of people winning the work just aren’t making much money, because we’re all making the same mistakes, then you’ve got the ones who do it quick and rough and the customers don’t know the difference.
Yeah I know what it feels like 🙄 I get them to buy material from ikea or B&q or where ever they want and charge £200 a day to install a lot less trouble. 👍
Dear Alastair. Thank you for sharing all your knowlage in such an easy understandable and systematic way. I'm a carpenter starting my own busyness in Denmark and I find your videos very helpfull.
That’s so nice to hear!! Are you on Instagram?
@@Alastair_Freebird yes. I’m “Martin Berthelsen” 😊
@@Berthelsen1 found and followed you 👍
Wow, what an outstanding talk about developing a small business relating to carpentry. Great job.
Thoroughly enjoyed listening just to get an insight as a customer, and not actually in the business, it has helped me to appreciate why my fitted wardrobes "seem" to cost a small fortune, as they saying goes,
"a fence has two sides"
Thanks for commenting! All of us in this trade would love to be able to better educate our customers on the true costs of this work - it surprises even us sometimes!
Thanks for all the advice Alastair, I’m a handyman that’s heading down the cabinet building side. The transition from being a ‘jack of all trades’ to doing what I truly love is somewhat challenging so it’s refreshing to share your experiences and tap into your knowledge. Thanks again!!!
I’m glad it helped Pete, best of luck with your work 👍
@@Alastair_Freebird thanks Alastair 👍🏼
Hi, my son and I have just recently started a home improvement company buying and renovating houses. Coincidentally we have just been asked to price and fit some bespoke wardrobes. Funnily enough the customer says that he has priced Ikea wardrobes at £600.00, but they don't quite achieve what he is looking for. So he wants some MDF painted built in. I have priced the materials and they are circa £600.00 also. Plus of course making, painting, and fitting. My first thought was £1200.00 installed, but having watched your video I think that's too cheap. Thank you it was very interesting
Thanks for this. It’s a very well-thought-through video.
Im just starting of my career in woodworking and custom furniture here in sweden, and Ive got to say, this kind of advice is absolutely A-mazing. Thank you a hundred times over
You’re welcome! Thanks for the comment
Sweeping the workshop is part of the job! Do it after each customers job and add the time on.
David McGuinness, Enhanced-Kitchens, (was Sheffield based, now Huddersfield). Very Interesting and useful Alastair, thank you. When starting out, I remember calculating afterwards that on my first Kitchen Installation, I earned the equivalent hourly rate of £5.25. You are so right about ‘Every mistake is a gift’. It certainly focused me to be looking at my pricing structure.
I think we all need to earn our stripes through early mistakes!! Do you run a team now, with your kitchen work, or are you still very hands on?
where would i be without you 33yrs in the game and ive learned so much more from your posts thank you sir
brian lockhart incredible comment, thank you for the appreciation 😀
Top bloke. Being part of a small family business myself I agree with every word. We are lucky enough to be in a position to pick and choose jobs with my dad creating a brilliant established business. All our work is mainly through word of mouth with our next job often being for family or friend of the previous customer. But every now and then you'll price a job for someone who has unrealistic expectations on a price and expects everything for nothing. Anyway keep up the good work. New subscriber but love what you do. True craftsmanship. Hat off to you sir. Tom Vincent
Tom Vincent thanks Tom I really appreciate you taking the time to share these thoughts 👍
I think you’ve really hit the sweet spot with this video, in a climate where prices are driven down with mass production and the fear of business competition its all become a bit of a race to the bottom. Every SKILLED tradesmen ought to watch this and understand without unity on this the whole industry is in danger.
Thanks for this comment!
I wish I'd had this info when I went self employed 3 years ago! Loving your videos!
Thanks glad you find them helpful!
Great informative and thought provoking video Alistair. Pointed your way by Peter Millard & Andy Maclellan. Gave up working a year ago, did a City & Guilds qualification and now ca myself a carpenter. My problem isn't selling myself - I was a retailer for 40 years, it's just lack of confidence in my work, the speed I work at, and the time it takes for me to figure out how to make things. Your videos have certainly helped, and slowly but surely I'm getting the hang of this carpentry game. Thanks. Adam Hasan aka The fat Twin.
Adam Hasan why the fat twin? Or is it self explanatory? 😆. Anyway I’m glad it’s been helpful and I think we all go through a similar journey.
@@Alastair_Freebird Short version is I'm an identical twin and only weigh 10 stone. When my future missus met my twin (who only weighs 8 ½ stone) she nicknamed me 'the fat twin'. When I was deciding on a trading name the general rule is either something relevant to your trade or something unusual (and therefore memorable) so I went with The Fat Twin, and have been proved right. Everybody I give my business card to wants to know 'Why The Fat Twin?', which means it always starts a conversation, which I find is the best way to get to know my customers, and to get them to feel comfortable with me. If a customer feels at ease with you they are more likely to trust you, and therefore even if you're not the cheapest they are more likely to choose you as their contractor.
Gold nuggets every word ❤️❤️❤️ respect 🙏 would to meet you in person, your honesty is like a sunshine
What a nice comment, thanks so much!
Fantastic video, very open and informative to other self employed people, i always struggle to price a job, i especially liked bullet point 6.
Keep up the great videos!
James O'Sullivan thanks for the feedback!
+Jame O'Sullivan
You should seriously consider studying finance. And I do not mean going to college to do a degree in it. I mean using the internet and books to learn.
Most businesses that fail do so because of poor finances not because of poor sales. Which would surprise most people.
Having a business with good finances can be difference between fail or success. But it can also be the difference between being successful and being rich.
Most people simply have understanding of compounded growth If you took £10,000 and invested it at 10% market average for 25 years that sum will grow to £100,000. If you have a business today that earns £40,000 per year in 25 years time that business could be producing earnings of £300,000 to £400,000 pounds if good finances are place.
Thank you very much for this video. The first half is like you are speaking directly to me and the second half gives me a lot to think about and to incorporate into how I need to work.
Great!
Fantastic video! Rarely I come across a person with such great level of honesty and decency. I hope to see more of your work and learn from your insight.
Thank you! I hope you will enjoy my other content on UA-cam and if you want more you can have a look at www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
Thanks Alastair , your videos are very helpful . I’ve been making and fitting wardrobes for 6 months . Very reassuring to hear you ! John .
Glad it’s helped!
Great video Alistair, very detailed and I must say very eloquently spoken ! Your easy to listen to 👍🏾
Fitted Lifestyles thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. As a self-employed individual, I've not taken on many bespoke furniture projects for the reasons you so clearly outlined. Often, potential customers seem quite happy for you to earn the minimum wage plus your bus fare. To many, it is just 'bits of wood' or 'my partner would do it, but he's too busy.' Even, as you say, if we are willing, at the start, to take the behind the scenes work on the chin, we just end up being busy fools! 👍
Yeah that’s a classic line ‘my partner would do it, but he’s too busy’ 😄
Again really useful and thanks for your effort and time ,I have been a commercial contractor since 1987 and in that time have learnt some hard lessons ,my little bit of advice that I have found so useful over the years given to me by an old experienced contractor in my younger days is regarding communication
“Before the event is an explanation after the event is an excuse “
Keep up the good work
Chris Wild that’s a good one thanks for that
Alistair it’s much better if we as smaller contractors are all on the same page approximately ,as it gives potential clients some consistency and hopefully removes the ridiculous quotes that harm us all
I think your openness on pricing is honest and refreshing and from what I see accurate ,thanks again
Thank you for taking the time to make this video, I really appreciate it!
You're welcome, I appreciate you commenting
I really like your videos, alway great advise and honest. keep them coming.
Thank you!
Thanks Alistair,
Good solid advice - I’ve learned this myself too..
I still time some jobs -
to keep me on track when I’m quoting...
being consistent builds your own confidence and reassures customers 👌🏼
Gary Coulson thanks. We are going to time things again this year so I’ve got a clearer picture of how long specific tasks take, like making doors.
I really relate to a lot of what you talk about here. Sole trader making all bespoke furniture. ALWAYS second guessing myself. Often shooting myself in the foot with pricing. I need to standardise the process. I just had 2 weeks work postponed this month at the last minute - bedroom furniture in walnut mdf. Millionaire clients. Price was £4k and they baulked. Said they would have gone ahead if it was 3k. Materials were £1600.
Anthony James Brown that’s tough before Christmas 😕
It's ok I've worked everyday. Just a bit scrappy. moving all the tools between jobs everyday.
Hi Alistair. I just stumbled upon your podcast this morning and thought id take a look into your UA-cam channel etc. As a carpenter of 12 years looking to set up in the fitted furniture world I've been feeling out of my depth and lacking the relevant knowledge. Yet only a few videos in im finding your content fantastic. I look forward to exploring more of your content and information.
thanks Rich
richard biddulph that’s great! I’m interested to know how you came across the podcast, just searching a podcast platform? After a break I am recording the first in series 2 tomorrow morning!!!
@@Alastair_Freebird Hi Alistair, I came across your podcast on my podcasts app on my iPhone. As a recommended listen. I look forward to listening after getting through another 2 episodes today. Great insight cheers
Excellent video and genuinely honest approach to so many aspects of what it means to execute fine work at a fair price tag.
Thanks glad you thought so!
Thanks Alistair for this, your video's have helped so much build our new business in the last 12 months.
The information is priceless, and has given us so much confidence in pricing jobs.
Thanks Neil,
Stonebank Carpentry & Joinery
Thanks for letting me know Neil I appreciate that
Thanks for the video, excellent work.
difficult to know how to thank guys like you, and a couple of others, for taking the time to explain your experiences. It's just dawning on me how useful these types of videos are. I'm just kind of "making it go right" for the last couple of years on my own and it's not sustainable like that. This is my only income so I need to get it right.
If I think of a better way to acknowledge you , I'll do it but for right now Thank you very much.
michael burton that’s great thanks in itself. Since you are asking how to thank me, I hope it’s not inappropriate to mention that since making this video I’ve set up a ‘buymeacoffee’ profile since a few people were actually asking to give something back for my content that has helped them. So, no obligation but here is the link: www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
Also, if you haven’t already, give this video from Andy a watch too: ua-cam.com/video/Dt2Hx5X5nN8/v-deo.html
Thanks so much for this. I have been self employed for about 7 years and struggle with quoting and barely make the rent each month. This has helped so much. Guess it just takes someone else to explain it. Thanks again.
Ross Langley I love hearing feedback like this - I mean I’m so glad if it has helped others. I know what a struggle it can be! Also I must admit, I still don’t apply my own advice as well as I should, at least judging by my own ongoing lack of real profit! However I have taken on a lot of extra costs and for a small business to at least be breaking even is no small feat considering the high rate of small business failure. Anyway... it’s just a hard road in this line of work in my experience, but sharing and learning from each other certainly helps 👍
+Ross Langley
You desperately need to have better financial management in your business. Most businesses that fail do so because of poor finances.
Use the internet to study finances and accounting so that you can use it to grow your business. It will help with everything from pricing, costing and efficiency.
You could use it to do less work but to earn more money or even to do more work but charge less for every job.
I would highly recommend buying a cheap learn to accounting book and watch some youtube videos and start teaching yourself.
This is awesome advice - with specific prices and numbers included.
Thanks Alister a great video with lots to think about. Im currently getting stuck in to setting up my own business up again after working for a local kitchen company for a few years. This video really has made think about what goes into running a business and costs involved . Ta very much
Glad it helped Kevin. You really picked a challenging moment to get started in business! But I suppose any work is challenging right now, and there are opportunities as well as challenges. Best wishes with it all.
Freebird Interiors Cheers Alister it wasn’t through choice but that a different conversation. Keep the vids coming Fella👍
so helpfull , this is pure gold, so many things in here were so usefull,
That's a nice comment thank you, I'm glad it was useful
great video as always, by far the most helpful and informative man ive come accross.
Love the honesty in all your videos.
ghanniffy what a nice comment thank you!
Really helpful video Alistair. As someone who is full-time employed in property maintenance but looking to go self-employed as a cabinet maker these insights are gold dust. I do a fair bit if work on the side to dip my toe in and often reduce my quotes feeling they look to expensive and equally have been told my price is too high. As others on UA-cam have said, these just are not the right customers for me (anyone who thinks bespoke prices should be comparable to IKEA are just not on the same wavelength.
Will drop you an email for your spreadsheet as I think it would make and excellent starting point for my own.
And would be interested in the sketch-up training too.
Subscribed!
I’m glad it’s helped Darren!
Thanks for recommending this video when you answered a comment I made on one of your other videos.
Again really helpful advice.
Much appreciated.
Paul K glad it helped and you certainly moved fast on applying the advice to watch it. Taking action is key to making change and getting unstuck so you’re on the right track! On a different but related note, do you follow Jordan Peterson at all? He speaks so much sense - general wisdom and advice for life and work.
A Sharps salesman was exactly as you described, he told me the discount offer would only be avaliable by the end of that day! I emailed him at the end of that day to say I needed more time to think and he then came back with "okay the discount will be available for 3 more days" needless to say I went with a local carpenter!
Really good video Alastair. I've been in the industry 24 years now most of that time as a self employed cabinet maker/installer and the last 5 running my own business mainly doing kitchen remodels and fitted wardrobes etc. I still struggle with many of the aspects you covered, I'm certainly no businessman and find myself often questioning is it worth it all but really what else can you do! It's reassuring to me to know I'm not alone Keep up the great work.
I’m glad you are reassured! I know how much that helps. I hope also that your business picks up from a profit point of view and that you can increasingly feel rewarded by it in every way.
I wish I had theses kind of videos a few years back when I started. That awesome, thank you so much for your time!!
So do I, that's what I make these videos. Thanks for commenting!
Excellent Al - thank you as always for your extremely honest - intelligent outlook.... really helpful and energising 👌🏼
Thanks for a great talk I'm in the same line for business. I find a hour going true the sums after each job save you hours of labour on the next job trying to make ends meet cause your not repeating same mistakes again. Thanks again
Definitely worth doing those reviews of jobs completed 👍
Very interesting and useful information. Great insights and tips!
Subscribed today. Fascinating video and very helpful for me going back to the tools this year!
Tom Jackson I’m glad you found it helpful and thanks for subscribing!
Great video, and very helpful to share actual numbers that many carpenters feel protective about. I used to go to jobs feeling like I had to win them all and I was doing something wrong if I didn’t but over time I’ve realised you can’t be all things to all people. Many will be on a tight budget and like you say you have to find the people that fit your style of work
jonathan d I’m glad you found it helpful. I think we all struggle with much the same things regarding pricing!
Really helpful video and good advice for starting out in manufacturing (as I am doing this year). Lot of aspects to consider and definitely helped me think about the process. Will be watching Sketchup videos too as just getting to grips with this software.
Great and informative video as always. Glad to see other makers experiencing similar challenges
Kareem Cheng thanks for commenting I’m glad you found it helpful
Wow what a in-depth and informative video,thanks for sharing 👍🏼
Tanks for "The E-Myth" book :
Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It Paperback - 29 Mar. 2001
Great and very useful video thanks Alastair.
still learning from you Alistair, thankyou
Thanks for continuing to watch!
Brilliant talk. You’re the guy I want to have to make my shelves! :-)
Ok!
Hi Alastair, thanks for this honest post. I’m new to your channel so I have just subscribed. So refreshing to get this kind of feedback and invaluable. I headed over to your buymeacoffee page and there seems to be loads of really helpful content there also. You mentioned a sketch up course/tutorial in this video. Have you done that and is it on the members only area? If it is I’ll sign up as a member. (Ive always believed advice/mentoring is invaluable so it’s definitely worth the sub fee) I’d definitely love to learn more about using it and integrating it into my sales and construction process. Cheers, Jim
Hello James I seem to have missed this comment first time around. This is probably too late to be relevant but did you find my free sketchup course ‘sketchup for fitted furniture makers’ on UA-cam?
Your one very helpful guy...Thanks for putting the vids on. Brill 😀👍 Stay Safe. Skully UK.
hi, yet again informative video, iv just downloaded sketchup and already my brains fried, I believe for myself and clients to offer this service is nowadays essential iv been in the shopfitting industry for most of my chippie days, im not a puppy but interested in your courses on sketchup, your never to old to learn and im picking up some good tips many thanks tony
tony shortell I can also do one-on-one SketchUp training over screenshare, get in touch for details if you’re interested - look me up on Instagram or find my email on website www.freebirdinteriors.co.uk
@@Alastair_Freebird hi alastair iv only just come cross your reply (sorry) iv now come out of my small lutonbody workshop into a polytunnel exgarden centre 15m long. my area isnow strictly understairs storage, i think now i need your sketchup whicn i think is now a must as im now designing a complete kit form with us personnally deliveries completed with painted frontages with skeleton carcasses to be fittedwith trimmings etc, while still fitting ourselves, and the added sketchup would be ideal for myself and the client to see what they are getting please can you forward me your charges, my partner is very good with computers but im not that goodmany thanks and happy newyear regards tony shortell
@@tonyshortell6379 hi, currently charging £60 per session one on one, find my website or Instagram to get in touch with your details
Really interesting talk mate , I think I do personally price my work at around 1k a meter but not intentionally as I do general carpentry and not just cabinets. I will say all said and done I never seem to make a great deal of profit from that sort of work just wages really. I would love to see a spreadsheet though . Thanks for the video really honest info and so relevant to me tbh. Cheers
Drop me an email (find my website) and I'll send you something
Great vid! Really appreciate this advice!
You’re welcome! The rates talked about are very out of date now, but there are principles in it that still hold true
Your videos are fantastic, super useful really helpful. Thank you.
David Sykes thanks 😊
great channel, pretty much nailed my new start up
Thank you for this great information. I recently fitted my own fitted closet, and I have come to the conclusion that these "high" market prices actually make a lot of sense.
Indeed they do!
Found this video really interesting and helpful, thank you.
Just watched this, good video - just realised you were following on IG. Followed back 👍
No Skills Hi!
Hi Alastair, I'm a carpenter and Joiner based South Wales. Gotta say I've found your channel a massive massive benefit, you go into such detail. For the past 20 years I've run a small business concentrating on domestic and sometimes commercial carpentry and other bits but this all comes with minimal overheads the majority of the time. I've over the past year slowly tried transitioning over to purely interiors, wardrobes, alcoves and bespoke storage solutions etc. All is going well but obviously not my overheads are a lot higher what with bulk materials and the workshop etc. My question is how you approach the payments structure? Would you get paid upfront, half upfront and half on completion? Or possibly I have considered looking at a finance company so that I could off this option to my customers. There's just a lot of cost to deal out to just take any payment on completion.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Luke
Hi Luke thanks for the feedback! Currently we take a 25% downpayment when the customer is happy to proceed (after an initial design and fixed price quote). Then when we are ready to begin manufacture we take another 50%, final 25% payable on completion. Not too long ago it was 25/25/50 but a business coach said we should be taking more upfront. The formula has changed in other ways over the years, and you need to find what works for you depending on how good your marketing and reputation is to generate trust with potential customers. When we first started asking for payments up front I was shy about it, but pleasantly surprised most people were happy to do so. We all make a lot of purchases where we pay before receipt of goods these days, so there’s no reason for us joiners to be out of pocket.
@@Alastair_Freebird that's a great help, thank you so much for the quick reply. Just reassuring knowing what others like yourselves do. Thanks again.
Hi luke,
I'm in South Wales too, staged payment is a standard in engineering work. Normally 40% on order, 30% on worksop completion and the final 30% on install.
glad its not just me who prices a job at x and then it take 50 times that haha
Excellent insight and advice 👍🏻
Glad you thought so!
I've just come across your UA-cam content and I believe that we are a very similar business. I love your approach to your work as it shares the same ideals that we hold as a company. I really like your online pricing guide for alcove units etc and I was wondering if it was OK to borrow them(obviously tweaked for our pricing strategy). We are based in Birmingham so I believe we are both at the same end of the market albeit in different areas.
Hi Dan I accept that by publishing them they will be borrowed so yes that’s ok if the costs seem to work for you too! I would prefer you don’t borrow my line drawing graphics too though!
@@Alastair_Freebird that's fine we will be making adjustments to include our own images and drawings etc. Thanks, you have some great content and I appreciate the speedy reply.
Hi... im from denmark. the first 4 years i was way to cheap...its harder then you thing to charge what your worth... thanks for your content
It is very hard especially when (too often) we are fighting against our own wrong ideas about what is a fair price.
Recently got a job to do rad covers and bay window seat. The lady asked for a rough price which I blurted out. Instantly realising it was too tight. She said that sounds reasonable. Long story short set out to do the job. Materials way more than I expected. Time taken way over what I thought. Also Had to get them sprayed another cost. When I had them installed and pay time came. I told her Id needed a bit extra because of the materials and so on. She paid what I asked but I knew she wasn't happy. Thinking I was screwing her over. What I got paid still didn't cover me either. So we both came out of it feeling hard done by.😭😭 There's no winners in a situation like this. I wish I had watched this video sooner. And lesson learned no more rough prices given on the spot.
niftap a - yes that is a good lesson and an interesting observation that you both felt hard done by - she felt worse at the end than if you had given a higher (more realistic) price at the start. Good of her to pay more anyway but I can understand how bad you felt about the whole thing too! I’ve been there.
Thank you Alistair
Great video
Great information. Thanks for the insight.
Just a question on business type.
Myself and a mate were thinking about going out on our own. What would you recommend. Set up a company..? Sole traders ..?
I have no real idea how to go about it
Keep it simple at first, I think act as sole traders to start with. Draw up an agreement between yourselves, try to think worst case scenario and plan for how you divide up the work and the rewards. So many partnerships go wrong. Keeping it loose as separate sole traders may be the best way to start then you can formalise it more later. Get a good accountant and get their advice on company structure. A partnership is another type of structure.
@@Alastair_Freebird
Thanks for the advice Alastair.
Very good, thank you very much for your video.
Great insights ,Thanks for the post
You’re welcome
Hi Alistair, really insightful video! I'm no more than a hobbyist at the moment but looking at this as a potential career, a lot to consider! A quick question, what software do you use for designing? Sketchup? Thanks again, Jason
Jason Hook yes Sketchup, we’ve been using it for some years. How do you find using it? We’ve now got it set up in a semi-automated way to produce labelled cultist layouts directly from the model. I’m making plans to produce a training course on UA-cam and Patreon aimed specifically at the needs of British fitted furniture makers, is this something you would be interested in?
Freebird Interiors Hi Alistair, i need to spend more time on Sketchup to really get the benefits, as I’m only building for my self at moment it’s sometimes quicker just to pick up a pencil and a piece of paper. Plus the paid version is a lot of money but it’s something I need todo!
Yeah the course sounds very interesting 👍
Really finding your videos interesting 👏👏
Thanks Jason
Such a good video. So applicable to other trades too.
//Linear Tapes// thanks I’m glad you found it helpful 👍
The scenario you described in the beginning is the one I am facing these days. I am a finance professional with a passion for woodworking, 6 months ago I decide to get into fitted furniture business, since then I have been trying to learn designing in SketchUp and trying to gain as much knowledge of this field as possible. Now I am faced with the challenge of making accurate estimates of material required to build a furniture, which was designed in SketchUp. Also in SketchUp you can start designing a wardrobe or an alcove in whatever way you fancy, but I believe that building the same thing in reality requires certain defined procedure and steps which I haven't been able to learn so far. Any advice in this regard is welcomed.
Raheel Baber hi Raheel I’m glad this connected with you. Have a trawl through my videos and you will find a lot of helpful pointers.
Here are my current methods for wardrobes: ua-cam.com/video/6ad-v6HPBgw/v-deo.html
...and here are some insights into how I have systemised my methods of manufacture for alcove cabinets: ua-cam.com/video/6jaom-K1pjI/v-deo.html
@@Alastair_Freebird Hi Alister, thank you for the replies and the video links you have shared. That's means a lot to me. As I have explained, I from the field of finance and no engineering background, only passion is pushing me forward. Can I send you email on weekends, if I am stuck with something and need help?
Raheel Baber yes you can find my email via website link on bottom right of my UA-cam main page banner
Great video again !
Very out of date, we need to charge double the prices quoted here these days!!
Great video and spot-on, I think a really good video and one I have often thought about doing if I ever had the time is to do so, would be to describe the difference of real bespoke to factory bespoke like Sharps. Real bespoke means there is no compromise whatsoever, so if you want it, we can make it! not..... oh we don't do a 550mm deep unit as we are not set up for that la la la
Mostly the personal guy like yourself will design - make and fit so the project is managed by a person who cares. Compare that to a salesman who only cares about his bit for his commission then the factory guys who are governed by the lacklustre salesman that oh forgot his shoes...confidence building all the time! to the end where the fitters then blame everyone else because they have to sort out all the problems which has nothing to do with them, as they are probably, sub contractors!
Brilliant video. Keep up the great work. 👍
Andy Sainsbury thanks!
I'm struggling with pricing of job and tried to do at lot of what you suggested as far as using rule of tube or breaking down cost base on, starting from yearly earnings and so forth. Sometimes I end up charging so low that I dont gain nothing much out of the job. So the point you have made about the comparison of you quote versus a big company is a good bench mark to start with. What if I dont have a bench mark? When I look at cost a lot of other aspects of the job are different so that affects cost no matter if it's to install the same item. So I'm sticking to my formula until I find a better one , however I plan to take the advice you have given. Thanks again.
Shervin Williams keep assessing your jobs and looking at real costs. Remember you are more of an expert on what it’s really worth than your customers, and sometimes you need to find a different customer base to charge what you need to.
@@Alastair_Freebird I'm working on that. Most of my jobs that pay what I charge are referrals, so they are aware of my rates to some extent.
@@shervinwilliams5526
I would highly suggest that you learn accounting and finance. Just watch some youtube videos on it and buy a cheap book.
Start doing book keeping your business. Get your brain to start thinking in terms of finances. Most people think they can outsource this to accountants but they simply cannot do that. When you are paying for an accountant what you are doing is paying for the privilege of auditing which is to ensure that you do not make any legal mistakes.
In terms of referrals you can either focus your business in terms of costs that customers are aware of or by quality that customers are aware of. Either approach is fine but it really needs good finances so that you can get the best out of.
I have done the whole 100 hour work week so as to build businesses. I am now too old in my forties to do that.
Why can you only hit thumbs up once?
Glad it was helpful!!
Really useful for me! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Really helpful and interesting, I related to so much ( James BH Kitchens )
Thanks awfully for the interesting video's Alistair. I've learned the hard way with pricing but now pretty much contented with it all except friends and family but you can't can you! How's the weather over there?
SA Martin thanks for commenting I appreciate it! For me jobs from family and friends were a help when I was starting out but fill me with dread now (regarding pricing them I mean)!
SA Martin the weather has been a little bit chilly where we’ve been staying with family near Sacramento but right now we’re spending a few days further south in the desert area and it’s actually pretty warm out today! Maybe 20C, they still call it cold!
Very interesting video, thanks.
Glad you think so, thanks for commenting
Brilliant!
I appreciate you sharing, thank you
Great video! Really informative
Alex Young thanks I’m glad you found it helpful 👍
Thank you for your wisdom.
another good video with very sound advice , wish I could stick to some of your points , but I'm too much a craftsman than business man :/ Karl
We can learn and slowly reconcile both aspects , it might look different for each person but good craft deserves to be good business too
Great video mate!!!
askwhynow askwhynow thanks!
Fantastic video thanks
Tomasz Twardzik you’re welcome.
Good video very helpful 👊
Great video
Luis Faustino thank you 🙏
Good video