Self-employment is an excellent option for many people who have a unique set of skills that they want to offer the world, and when it comes to working with tools, such as welding, it’s a skill that is still in high demand in some circles. These types of occupations require lots of skills when it comes to safety at work, working practically, as well as having a natural affinity for working with machinery. But how can you become self-employed in these circles?
Double Up
In other words, making yourself employable in various sectors. When working as a self-employed blue-collar worker, it’s best to make yourself as multi-skilled as you can. This way, you will stand to be as employable as possible, especially when you are trying to gather the essential contacts and clients to build your business up from the ground. Being multi-skilled is a vital component in every business now, so it stands to reason that the more skills you have to offer, the more you will benefit in terms of contracts.
Possess A Worthy Toolbox
This is the biggest expense of running a business when you are a self-employed contractor. Lots of business owners tend to have a vehicle for storing all sorts of tools for the job they are heading out to. And whether this is equipment for welding, building components, or even paints and their various offshoots, the big expense upfront when you are starting out as a self-employed contractor is getting all of the physical tools in place.
Set Up Camp
You need to have one solid location or have a van where you are able to go to jobs. Depending on what avenue you are planning on going down can affect this choice. Most contractors would tend to operate out of a van, but if you are starting up a proper business where you can fix issues relating to customers, then a physical location will suit you better. This means you’ve got a sturdy base to run your company from, as well as it being a far more secure method of running a company rather than having your life in a vehicle. If that vehicle gets stolen, you have potentially lost thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment.
Market Yourself!
The figure varies, but approximately 8 or 9 out of 10 businesses fail within the first year. So if you want to avoid being part of that statistic, you need to gather some of the fundamental business knowledge to succeed. Marketing is a key component now, not just in how you promote your business, but also in how you conduct yourself. The goal is to get more clients or customers so the power of positive referrals will be one of the main things that will drive your business forward.
With the ever-increasing reliance of computers to do the jobs for most people in the world, the blue-collar industries are still demanding people be multi-skilled, so if this is your desired field, there is still a big market out there.