Starting a scaffolding design business

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How do you start?

You start with the "beginning", deciding if you want to trade as a sole trader or you want to trade as a limited company.

There are a few differences between the two: if you want to operate as a sole trader, you will be completely responsible for your business and its finances, whereas, with a limited company the business itself is a separate entity in the eyes of the law. You can find more information on the internet about the advantages and disadvantages between a sole trader (self-employed) and a limited company (ltd).

I recommend starting small, as a sole trader because is easier to set up and is the most popular legal structure in the UK.

Naming your business as a sole-trader

You can trade under your name, or you can choose another name for your business. You do not need to register your name as a sole trader. You must include your name and business name (if you have one) on official paperwork, for example, invoices and letters.

I chose my initials EK Scaffold Design. 'E' from Edmond and 'K' from my last name Kalauz.

Building a website

Having a website is very important because you can promote your business and you will be able to reach more clients.

Assuming you are not a web designer, building a website on your own can be difficult you would think. Learning new programming languages like HTML, CSS or javascript sounds laborious and time-consuming.

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Choosing the right software to design scaffolding

Creating fast and precise 2D drawings or 3D drawings is very important and it can make a real difference between you and your competitors.

I recommend products like:

Autodesk AutoCAD LT - for 2D scaffolding drawings.
Autodesk AutoCAD - for 3D scaffolding drawings.
Autodesk Revit LT - for Building Information Modelling.

You can choose the full package Architecture Engineering & Construction Collection adding Robot Structural Analysis Professional, 3ds Max and a few more.

Setting up your workspace

Spending hours at your desk every day can be painful, that is why you need a good ergonomic chair and a decent desk to work with.

I recommend the following, but can be any other, as long as the work gets done:

A better chair will encourage better posture and reduce health costs - Herman Miller
A good desk should have enough legroom and the right height - Herman Miller
A performant laptop will give you a boost and will increase productivity - ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo
Drawing with a comfortable and ergonomically designed mouse increase productivity - G703

Insurance

Many clients will require you to have professional indemnity insurance in place before you can start working with them.

I recommend at least 2-5 million professional indemnity insurance as most of the clients are happy with this amount.

Tips and expectations

Once you are ready to trade, do not expect clients to knock on your door straight away. Having patience is the key to success!
Promote your business on social media!
Check your new clients online if they are genuine and ask for email confirmation before you start any work!