subject: Setup Your Own Electrical Installation Firm [print this page] Setup Your Own Electrical Installation Firm
No home or office is complete until the electrical installation has been done. Many people are very wary when it comes to electricity (which is a good thing!) and for that reason it's a wise decision to make use of a professional professional for the task. In terms of electricity there are strict regulations that should be adhered do, therefore a do-it-yourself electrical installation is really not recommended to start with!
Before a person might start doing such installations or act as a qualified electrical contractor electrician, there are many of things that need to be set up. If you have ever considered installing and maintaining wires and fuses and upgrading electrical systems as needed for different types of properties, then you might be a good candidate for setting up an electrical installation business.
Think about the following steps before just going for it - you don't want your dream job to turn into a shocking experience. Excuse the pun!
Initially you will need to acquire the necessary licenses, certification, accreditation etc. Being an experienced electrician doesn't mean that you are permitted to perform and electrical installation. This differs from place to place and you need to examine all the prerequisites carefully to make sure that you don't end up in big trouble. Usually an electrical contractor license is required on top of an electrician license, but as said before, not all places operate the same; therefore you need to make sure to collect information first.
Once you've acquired the mandatory license you will first have to show proof of liability insurance and your up to date business license. Everything related to electricity is a risk (even changing a faulty globe can sometimes go wrong) and you need to make sure that you will be properly covered in the event that anything fails. Commercial insurance and workers' compensation are the next 2 must have's on the list.
Normally, a typical electrical installation can't be done by a single person. You will therefore need to source a number of trained electricians to assist you with the installation. Remember that your reputation and your client's safety is on the line, so even though an apprentice or trainee might be a cheaper option, you still need to make 100% sure the people are skilled enough to assist you properly.
The next items on the list are your automobile, safety equipment, clothing for all your personnel and all the tools, instruments and other items essential for an entire electrical installation. Not all installations are the same and some installations will need specialized equipment and tools, but you can start by acquiring the following basic tools: Pliers, screwdrivers, wire strippers, measuring tapes, power drills, hammers and drills, only to mention a few! Then there's the more specialized equipment such as circuit breakers, switchboards, lighting and fuses.
Then it's time to begin to build relationships with construction site supervisors and other builders. Even if you don't start with an entire installation right away you need to build up credibility in order for more and more jobs to be sent your way.
