This week we shall cast our net to who ever might want to become a Tiler this year. It is an extremely had work but if you are determined you can certainly make a career out of it.

From the clients we work with,  the amount you can earn depends partly on the number of days you work and the length of your working day.

You may decide to stick to normal business hours, for example 8.30 am until 5.30 pm Monday to Friday and perhaps Saturdays too. Or you may decide to work longer hours – perhaps an earlier start. Perhaps you are prepared to work very long hours at times when your services are in demand, taking some time off during quieter periods.

You should have a good idea of how long certain types of job will take you. It’s very important when quoting for a job that you can make an accurate estimate of how long it will take. It’s no good basing your quote on two days work if it ends up taking you four!

The speed at which you work depends on your own skills and experience and on the type and standard of the work that you do. Your charges should reflect all of these things.

Non-productive time

Unfortunately, not all of every working day will be spent earning money. Here are a few examples of reasons why you may sometimes find yourself working hard but earning nothing:

• visiting sites to cost new work and give quotes
• finishing off jobs that take longer than you had thought (possibly due to unforeseen problems, such as unsound plaster discovered after removing old tiles)
• rectifying faulty workmanship free of charge
• travelling to and from jobs, or to get tools or materials from a supplier
• repairing tools or vehicles

Sometimes you may find that you are unable to work at all, because:

• you are waiting for tiles to be delivered – or the wrong materials have been delivered
• a vital tool or piece of equipment is broken
• another contractor has fallen behind with his or her part of the project (for example, a plumber installing bathroom fittings or a builder laying a floor screed)
• unforeseen problems crop up on a job – for example a sub floor turns out to have damp problems, or a fault with an under-floor heating system comes to light
• you or a key employee are ill

Take all of these factors into account when you are estimating the maximum number of productive hours that you can work each month. Be realistic! When you plan your working schedules, try to minimise the amount of time that will be wasted. For example, you may be able to build a contingency into your work schedule so that you can move straight on to another job if for any reason you are unable to work at the original one.

Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) and Compulsory Registration.

The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) sets out tax rules for builders who pay sub-contractors to do construction work that falls within the scheme.

The rules require all contractors to register with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Sub-contractors don’t have to register, but if they do they can avoid having the higher rate of tax deducted from their payments from contractors.

If you need to speak to a  CIS Advisor about registration as a Sub Contractor, Contractor  or Operate a PAYE Scheme, please contact us on 0208 679 4690 please Visit our  website.