Basic Rules for The Self-Employed Decorator

If you’re a decorator and you’re thinking about becoming your own boss, there are a few very basic things that you must get right in order to succeed. I’m no big professor or guru so this blog is going to be very basic, but getting all the points right will be vital for your next step. These are the basic rules for any self-employed decorator.

Don’t Under-Sell Yourself as a Decorator

Running a small business isn’t cheap and you’ll have running costs to pay from the start, up until you retire. Not just that, but you do a lot of unpaid work in the evening, either quoting, washing tools or getting organised. You need to find a way you can make it pay, so do not undercharge on quotes, even when you’re desperate for work!!

I’ll give you an idea of what I mean. Your running costs include your insurances, keeping your van on the road, tool maintenance, mobile phone and any scheme memberships. Everyone’s running costs are different, but mine are roughly £30 per day.

So if your running costs are £30 per day and you’re only charging £120 on your day rate, then your actual wage is £90 per day. If you have to do some running around after your day on the tools, maybe go out and price a job, then you’re working 10 hours for that £90. That’s only £9 per hour!! You can earn a better working at Asda!!

Remember that’s a self-employed rate, so you don’t get holiday pay, sick pay or pension. You’re earning the equivalent to about £6 per hour. Hardly seems worth it really? So, the first basic rule for any self-employed decorator, is charge your worth. If you’re worried about losing work, focus on marketing for a while, but don’t drop your prices.

A Decorator’s Uniform

A decorator need to come across in the correct way!! If you turn up in a car with paint up the sides and scruffy genes on, then you’re not going to win the work. Have a van, keep it clean, make sure you’re wearing whites and keep them clean too. By looking the part, you send a message to your customers. You’re clean, tidy and care about appearance.

Look After your Decorating Tools

For no other reason than it’ll be expensive if you don’t. Wash brushes and rollers every week (or every day if you have time). Keep everything in a box or bag and make sure you can get your hands on the tool you need, when you need it. As a decorator, you will need to invest in dust free sanders (maybe not straight away). You’ll need sprayers too if you want to maximise your earning potential. It all costs money, so look after them.

Leave a Clean and Tidy Job When Decorating

Your work needs to be bang on as a decorator, that goes without saying. The other thing that goes a long way is keeping the job clean and tidy. Set your base out and keep all your tools on it. When you finish a job, get everything looking immaculate before you go. Get it dust free, remove any waste and make sure there is no paint on anything there shouldn’t be paint on. You’ll impress everyone you work for by doing this.

Don’t be a Mug!!

You are the expert!! Do not let your customers tell you how to do your job or push you around. Your price is your price and you are available when you are actually available. If a job runs over, do not be afraid to pick up the phone and have an awkward conversation with your next client to push their start date back. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed!!

The Stress of Being a Self-Employed Decorator

Do not let anyone tell you “Decorating is therapeutic”, because it isn’t! Being a self-employed decorator can be very stressful. There is a lot that can go wrong, from nightmare customers to jobs running over. Rain can stop play, or a supplier might mess up an order. Maybe you smash an expensive TV with your roller pole.

Being self-employed is like being on a rollercoaster; One minute you’re flying, the next it feels like you’re drowning. Make sure you have the correct liability insurance in place, and do not take your work life stress home with you.