What You Need Before Starting a Business as an Electrician

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Electricians are tradespeople that are always in high demand. No matter where you go, there’s always going to be somebody who needs an experienced electrician to conduct repairs or replace the wiring in their home or office, or help with electrical faults, problems and hazards.

As an electrician, you could be dealing with anything from electrical appliance safety inspections to completely rewiring buildings. It is a job where no two days are the same, and you can always be certain of high demand.

When you train as an electrician, you can either work for a company or start your own business. Many decide to go with the business option since this allows them a greater degree of control when it comes to the hours that they work and the work that they do, not to mention unlimited earning potential compared to working as an employee. So, what do you need to get set up with your own business as an electrician?

Training

First of all, you’ll want to make sure that you have completed all the basic training to become an electrician and have all the required qualifications. You can take electrician training courses at a local college or in some cases, through online training programs and schools. Once you have completed basic training and qualified to work as an electrician, you will need to ensure that you continue to learn and improve your skills to stay up-to-date with all the latest wiring regulations. Furthermore, you will need to ensure you are aware of the ways to stay safe during your time as an electrician. Having the right safety equipment, for example, is a must, like making sure to check out a good site for arc-flash gloves to protect your hands. For example, you can take 18th edition update training from Skills Training Group to get up to date on new electrical instalment regulations from January 2019 onwards. You can read the 18th edition update here; they are mandatory even if you have a Level 3 NVQ

Registering Your Business

Once you are ready to start your own business, you will need to ensure that it is registered as a company in the country in which you want to trade. If you have decided to move overseas to start a business as an electrician, you should research the new company registering requirements for that particular company. In the UK, you can register as self-employed and work as a sole trader, or register a limited company (LTD) with HMRC. You will generally need to do this online at the Gov.uk website and it will cost around £12.

Branding

Now that your company is set up, it’s time to think about how you are going to advertise and market your services as a professional electrician. Most tradespeople use their own name or surname, but you don’t have to limit yourself to this; pick a name that resonates with you and what you do and is unlikely to be confused with any other businesses or services in your area. You should also choose your logo and brand colours as these are going to be the visual aspects of your brand and how people recognise you. Most electricians have their branding and colours added to their van for instant recognition of their services and increased brand awareness in their local area.

Taking Bookings Online

You will need to consider how you are going to take bookings for work and expand your customer base. The best way to do this is by having a strong online presence since Google is likely going to be the first place that potential customers will turn when they are looking for an electrician in their area, no matter where you are located. Sign up for sites like Trust a Trader and Checkatrade if you are in the UK, or look for the equivalent if you are based overseas.

Wherever you are located, you should set up your own website where potential customers can learn more about what you do, find out more about your business and get in touch for quotes for your services. You can pay a web designer or developer to create the website for you, or do it yourself using an easy-to-use website building platform like Wix or Weebly.

Further Improving Your Online Presence

The stronger your online presence, the more likely your business is going to be found online and the more bookings you will take. To make sure that your online presence is as strong as possible, be sure to fill out the ‘Google My Business’ form so that there is a higher chance of your company appearing in the local results in Google when somebody searches for an electrician near them. In addition, it’s a good idea to make sure that your business can be found on social media. You might want to start profiles for your company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and post regularly; making posts about electrical safety, for example, will help you engage with your existing and potential customers and drive more brand awareness.

Starting Up Overseas

Electricians are in demand all over the world and after working successfully as an electrician in the United Kingdom, you might be considering working overseas either by expanding your existing company or starting a new one. You might be able to start your company overseas and hire locals to run and oversee it, or you might want to move overseas yourself, especially if you are longing for a warmer climate.

Before you can start a business overseas, you’ll need to make sure that you have all the necessary requirements, such as a Visa and the right to work in the country of your choice. You can usually get all the required information by visiting the official Government website of the country that you are hoping to move to. In most cases, individuals who have a solid business idea that will improve the country’s economy are welcomed. You’ll also need to consider any language barriers that there might be when working abroad, and how you plan to overcome this, for example, by taking language classes.

Electricians are always in high demand and as our homes become even more connected, electricians are going to be needed even more in the future. Starting your own business as an electrician can be a very lucrative and successful way to make a living.