Self employed worker

[casemx 270]

What sort of average rate for a fully skilled self employed machinery operator ? Becoming a sole trader what are the positives and negatives for doing this as a self employed machinery operator ? Thanks

 

[hendrebc]

Minimum £15 but probably should be £20+ especially if your good. Might struggle to find farmers that will actually pay what your worth though.
I bet you would find any number of tractor drivers doing it for £10 or even less

 

[Lofty1984]

Pointless question that’s been asked time and again charge what your happy with not what everyone else says, you won’t get a better answer than that because it can vary so much

 

[kiwi pom]

What will you do in winter? What will you do when it rains? How much do you need to earn a year to pay the bills? Are you willing to work 18+ hour days 7 days a week for a contractor (when the works there) or are you more suited to farm work?
My guess is you wont get a lot of work for more than 12 or 13 quid an hour (location dependant) There's people out there that will do tractor and man for 25-30 quid so you not going to get much driver only work for 15-20 quid.
Obviously if its for one customer you should be employed but don't worry too much as its the employer they go after.
There are some self employed drivers on here and plenty of employers so if my 12-13 quid is a long way off I'm sure they'll screenshot a pay stub or invoice.
Pluses are you can move around a bit but you may have to be OK with not having work for periods of time.

 

[Pigken]

Rate what ever you think you can get away charging , as a lot of farmers will say I only pay that self employed, no I set the rate, if not happy get some one else? But will also say you will have bad payers, at least on books you should be guaranteed your money,all mounts up when been used as loan service by some. Had worse year for been paid this year and had to chase most invoice, give me a full time job.
But nothing better than been in charge of your own destiny, well been your own boss.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

What sort of average rate for a fully skilled self employed machinery operator ? Becoming a sole trader what are the positives and negatives for doing this as a self employed machinery operator ? Thanks

And just how do you think you will be better off

 

[Chae1]

Guys on the books up here are on £15.75/hr. Not particularly skilled

Can't get staff at that.

 

[kiwi pom]

Guys on the books up here are on £15.75/hr. Not particularly skilled

Can't get staff at that.

Flat rate or overtime on top? Farm/contractor or site work?

 

[kiwi pom]

Rate what ever you think you can get away charging , as a lot of farmers will say I only pay that self employed, no I set the rate, if not happy get some one else? But will also say you will have bad payers, at least on books you should be guaranteed your money,all mounts up when been used as loan service by some. Had worse year for been paid this year and had to chase most invoice, give me a full time job.
But nothing better than been in charge of your own destiny, well been your own boss.

Other than choosing where you go how are you your own boss? You still get told what to do and the times you have to work, what you have to drive etc.
I agree its pretty good if you have heaps of customers and only do a day or two at a time for each one but working for 1 or 2 people all the time and being self employed doesn't really make sense.
Can you keep busy all year?

 

[Chae1]

Flat rate or overtime on top? Farm/contractor or site work?

There contractors. I don't know if flat rate or overtime on top. I imagine flat rate.

 

[Robt]

Get your HGV, Specialise in hazadous etc. Drive tractors in the summer and spring. Drive wagons the rest of time.

 

[Robt]

What sort of average rate for a fully skilled self employed machinery operator ? Becoming a sole trader what are the positives and negatives for doing this as a self employed machinery operator ? Thanks

Id also find a good accountant for help and advice, apologies if you already have this underhand. Friend of mines pays £20 per hour self employed for local chap but but its only 3 months a year max.

 

[AngusLad]

Was self employed for a couple of years out of college, mostly doing stock work but tractoring for a contractor during silage season etc. £13/hr or £15/hr with dogs. Didn't particularly enjoy it tbh, you're forever chopping and changing from job to job and rarely get to see the end results of your labour. Plus, as already mentioned, if you're having to wait for months to get paid its not a lot of fun.

 

[kiwi pom]

There contractors. I don't know if flat rate or overtime on top. I imagine flat rate.

Pretty good if they're employed all year round and get 35-40 hours a week minimum.
Plenty of farmers and contractors on here hiring drivers. Plenty of self employed drivers too. It shouldn't be that hard to find out what people are actually paying but they rarely comment on threads like this.
Why is it such a secret?

@casemx 270 A few people have mentioned having to wait for their money. I'd agree with that, I was self employed in the UK in the 90's (can't believe it was that long ago) and I had the odd slow payer. Mates there tell me it still happens.

 

[casemx 270]

Thanks for your replies

 

[serf]

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