07/09/2025
๐ท ยฃ250 a day for a business ๐ท
Thatโs what the public think is enough for a business like mine to charge. Letโs actually do the maths:
๐ ยฃ250 a day, 260 days a year = ยฃ65,000
๐ Take off 28 days holiday (no, I donโt get paid for them) = ยฃ58,000
๐ No employer pension contributions (so thatโs on me) = ยฃ56,260
๐ Fuel โ ยฃ400 a month = ยฃ51,460
๐ Public liability & indemnity insurance = ยฃ49,960
๐ Tools (because they donโt last forever) = ยฃ47,960
๐ Uniform = ยฃ47,460
๐ Accountancy fees = ยฃ46,260
๐ Advertising & marketing (because work doesnโt magically appear) = ยฃ45,060
๐ Phone & internet = ยฃ44,460
๐ Training & certifications (we have to stay up to date) = ยฃ43,660
๐ Vehicle maintenance, MOT, tyres, tax = ยฃ42,160
๐ Downtime/admin/unpaid quotes = ยฃ38,910
๐ Tool theft (average ยฃ4,470 per incident) = ยฃ34,440
๐ Van breakdown/major repair = ยฃ31,940
๐ Other unexpected hits = ยฃ29,940
So from ยฃ65,000, Iโm realistically left with under ยฃ29,000 โ BEFORE tax, before bad debts, before anything else life throws at me.
And hereโs what the public donโt see ๐
โข We have to chase and hunt down our own work. No work = no pay.
โข No sick pay.
โข No holiday pay.
โข No employer pension.
โข Evenings and weekends spent quoting, doing paperwork, or on call.
โข One van breakdown or set of stolen tools can wipe out months of earnings.
โDo you still think ยฃ250 a day is enough for a tradesman?
I saw this post somewhere online and it was an interesting topic. I spend a lot of time day & night plus weekends keeping things going.
