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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this a good idea for a business?

62 replies

IsThisAGoodIdeaOrSilly · 18/06/2021 15:06

I’ve got an idea of what I’d like to do next for work and would be grateful for feedback.

Background: I quit my full time marketing job 11 years ago to be a SAHM. I enjoyed my job but mostly because of the people I worked with, and although I studied evenings for three years to get qualified in the field and was good enough at my job I never felt passionate about it. I then left to be a SAHM and 10 years went by. My professional skills are now quite out of date and I’m not confident to get back into that world, and don’t much want to. I’ve always been practical, did a furniture making course a few years ago, and have done lots of big and small making / building / decorating jobs in our house. What really fires me up is mentoring people and watching their confidence grow.

My idea is advertise myself locally as a “DIY Coach”, aimed at SAHM who want to get smallish DIY jobs done at home but don’t have the confidence or tools to know where to start without a bit of help, and/or who don’t want to pay a man to do the job and maybe make them feel stupid in the process. So a sort of mix of a handywoman and guide.

YABU: this is a weird / dumb idea / not much demand for it / will never make enough money to be worth the faff / you’re not skilled enough to charge people and you should just update your marketing skills and find a normal job in that field.

YANBU: go for it, I would have loved to have found someone like you when I didn’t know where to start with DIY projects.

Thank you for reading and for your time!

OP posts:
preferteatocoffee · 18/06/2021 15:21

I personally think its a great idea. Can be notoriously difficult to get tradespeople to do small jobs like putting up shelves/rewiring light fixtures. Id be happy to do these things myself but not very confident with them. If I had a skilled person to do it with me would be fab.

Wildest · 18/06/2021 15:22

I don't think it's a bad idea. However, it's not a business I would use, personally. Particularly because you don't actually have a lot of experience and also because there are a lot of youtube videos with very detailed tutorials for all sorts of DIY projects that I could learn from for free.

dancingbroccoli · 18/06/2021 15:24

It sounds a good idea but if it's a small job that Im already not wanting to pay a trades person for I'd be unlikely to pay someone to teach me how to do it when there's so many online tutorials out there

OneofPansPeople · 18/06/2021 15:25

I'd love that.

Biancadelrioisback · 18/06/2021 15:27

Tbh, if there is a job I can't do, I just Google it

Ahwelltoobad · 18/06/2021 15:29

Oooh, I'd love that! Go for it!

Veryverycalmnow · 18/06/2021 15:31

Good idea if done right

Merryoldgoat · 18/06/2021 15:32

I think YouTube has this covered.

UrAWizHarry · 18/06/2021 15:32

People are either going to just want someone else to do it for them, or will just look up guides/videos on youtube if they want to do it themselves.

The idea that someone would pay a tradesman to supervise putting up a shelf is very silly.

seensome · 18/06/2021 15:32

I can't see people willing to spend much on it or they may as well just pay someone to do it. I would YouTube it, maybe you could be a YouTube guru The DIY goddess 😀

Sensateria · 18/06/2021 15:33

I think You Tube beat you to it.

Ruthietuthie · 18/06/2021 15:33

I would absolutely LOVE this. I have all sorts of small jobs around the house that I would love to do, but don't have the confidence to start (I've had a few disasters after googling and trying to do things myself). Plus, tradespeople are really hard to get (for small jobs) and cost a fortune. Sign me up!

steakandcheeseplease · 18/06/2021 15:35

I'd do this!

Crankley · 18/06/2021 15:36

I thought You Tube covered that sort of thing? Plus if I was going to pay someone it would be a handyman to do the job for me. There are several where I live and assume the same applies in most towns.

CrimsonImp · 18/06/2021 15:38

I see some people saying they'd use it but I suspect the amount they want to pay versus the amount you'd need to charge to make it a viable business are poles apart.

BikeRunSki · 18/06/2021 15:39

I’d pay for that. I much prefer to be shown how to fo something for real than by a YouTube video.

ikeepseeingit · 18/06/2021 15:40

Maybe a mixture of Youtube tutorials, in person coaching and online guides with a small fee attached? You could also put all of the guides together for the price of a hardback and sell them together. All of your in person coaching, that will cost more, can have the whole guide included so that they have something to refer back to. It seems like a really good idea, but I think these days branching out into social media alongside something like this will be the absolute best form of advertising you could do.

UrAWizHarry · 18/06/2021 15:41

@Crankley

I thought You Tube covered that sort of thing? Plus if I was going to pay someone it would be a handyman to do the job for me. There are several where I live and assume the same applies in most towns.
Indeed. You'd have to charge more to do this than just as a handyperson, both for the hassle of having to actually talk to the client and because doubtless jobs would take longer to complete as you explain to idiots which end of a screwdriver you point towards the screw and fix all their mistakes.

So yeah, £20 an hour for a normal handyman or £40 an hour for a handyman working with a shit assistant Hmm

cruisecrazy · 18/06/2021 15:43

How much would you charge?

GrimDamnFanjo · 18/06/2021 15:44

I'd look into running classes to groups as you'd be unlikely to make much money teaching one to one.

Cocomarine · 18/06/2021 15:45

I am possibly an over thinker, but I’d be concerned about the insurance aspect of it. As you soon as you market yourself as a “teacher”, you’ll have some liability.

You teach someone how to put up a shelf. They put up the second shelf after you leave, with the right size and type of screw. But they decide it’s perfect for the . It falls and there is breakage.

Would I want a friendly guide who was trying to present themselves as coaching and empowering me to be able and confident to do this myself, but at the same time was getting me to sign a disclaimer if the result of that teaching went pear shaped. No.

I think you’d be better off just working as a handy woman.

SherlockandJohn · 18/06/2021 15:46

I like it but maybe look at a class instead? I took a power tools course. Best thing I ever did

Scarby9 · 18/06/2021 15:47

I do think it is a good idea. A sort of 'Work alongside' approach.
There is a lady near me, a qualified garden designer and horticulturist who offers ' Garden with me' services. She and the person whose garden it is both work in the garden together for an hour or two. She provides expertise and advice as required, as well as physical (but knowledgeable) graft, but the person whose garden it is still feels fully involved and gets the physical exercise, benefits of being outdoors. The social aspect is also really key to the success.
I think your DIY with Me idea could work in just the same way.

Cocomarine · 18/06/2021 15:47

^ I’m not saying you would be liable in that shelf example by the way. But do you want someone using their free home insurance legal cover to test that out?

Also, aside from legality, reputations are easily trashed via online reviews.

Dozycuntlaters · 18/06/2021 15:47

I think it's a great idea although I think you would be better off running courses. I am crap at most practical things and did look at my local college to see if this is something they covered but they don't. I wouldn't want a 1-2-1 though but if I could book say a six work course covering different but basic stuff that would be great.