Important Things To Remember As A Self-Employed Electrician

Being self-employed can be an incredibly liberating feeling, knowing that you set your limits and your working hours and don’t have to answer to anyone above you.

However, this freedom comes with its own set of worries too. The responsibility for any mistakes with your business lies with you, and that includes the mistakes of people you employ as well.

As well as this, it’s important to remember that you are indeed running a business and therefore need to treat it like one. This responsibility adds a significant increase to your workload and is a big trade off for the added flexibility of being your own boss. Here are some of the most important things to remember as a self-employed electrician so you don’t get caught out.

Qualifications And Licences
There are plenty of tradespeople out there that operate without the right qualifications. This tends to be because they’ve learned the skills they need to do the job and then wonder why they should pay to earn a piece of paper to prove that they can do that job. However, when you take a step back and really think about this, it’s understandable that members of the public would want to know that they can trust you and your alleged skillset.

Getting electrical qualifications, however dull you might think they’ll be to acquire, is the only way to prove you’re able to complete a job safely.

It’s also important to note that it’s actually the law for you to have the correct licenses and qualifications to conduct major electrical work on a property. It’s not worth the risk of getting caught, so do things the right way.

Health And Safety Assurances
Whenever you install electrical equipment, it’s important to remember the risks of doing so. Over time, electrical components will degrade, and regular checks are essential.

In rented properties, it’s recommended that these checks should be done every 5 years or whenever there’s a change of occupancy.

You’ll need to organise an EICR or Electrical Installation Condition Report to ensure plug sockets and light fittings, among other things, are safe for use by tenants.

When it comes to new build properties or if you’re completely rewiring the property, you’ll be required to generate an Electrical Installation Certificate or EIC for the property.

Business Plans And Budgets
As a self-employed electrician, you should remember that you’re running a business, whether you have any employees or if it’s just you.

This means that a business plan, as well as a budget, are key to your success.

Of course, you may be able to get by without thinking about these things, but the chances are you’ll run into many more complications than usual if you don’t spend some time organising and planning your business.

We highly recommend writing a business plan as soon as you begin your journey as a self-employed electrician, and once you’ve drawn up a budget, stick to it.

Managing your money without a plan, whilst trying to complete your contracts is not going to be an easy task, so spend some time preparing your funds before you get inundated with jobs and have no time for business management.