Utility Bill Savings
How often do you work?
When the children are at school I generally work between 2-3 hours per day, making phone calls, arranging appointments, or just doing a little paperwork. I generally have one or two appointments a week where I go and see someone in their home but initially the work involves seeing family and friends and offering them opportunity to save money on a wide range of essential utility services for which they are probably being overcharged by somebody else.
How does the job fit around your family life?
It is amazingly flexible - to the extent that you can choose when you work. There are no required targets/timescales so you don't feel under pressure – and if you want to take six months off, you can! I personally only work during school hours but I know of others who conduct appointments in the evening or on Saturday mornings etc.
How much time do you commit?
I generally spend about 2 to 3 hours a day, during term time. Some of that time is just spent thinking about what I'm going to do and whom I'm going to offer the services to. Consequently I do a lot of my thinking in my 'non-productive time' such as when I'm washing the dishes or sitting in the car stuck in traffic. It turns my 'non-productive' time into valuable 'productive' time.
Where do you carry out your work?
For appointments I tend to visit people in their homes as it gets me out of the house and is very sociable. Most of my work is conducted on a one-to-one basis over a cup of coffee. The follow-up paperwork, which comprises one simple form, I check at home and then post to the Utility Warehouse – job done!
How much space do you have for your kit/stock?
You don't actually need any space as I carry around my 'office' in my briefcase. There is, no stock to buy and nothing to store. Access to a computer and the Internet would be useful but is not essential.
Do you need a car?
No you do not need a car and because you'll just have one bag with your forms and literature in and you could easily manage your appointments on public transport or people could come to you. Having a car does make life easier especially when your business builds and you might want to have more appointments.
Do you advertise?
I didn't advertise initially as I just mentioned it to family and friends who then recommended me to others. I live in a village, which has a parish magazine, and I put a flyer in that for a couple of months, which had a good response.
How did you hear about the job?
A family friend who is an accountant told me about it. He is also an Authorised Distributor and recommends Utility Warehouse to all his clients – it provides him with an additional income stream and because it provides residual income he looks upon it as an additional pension for the future.
Do you get support/training?
Yes - and it is excellent and free. There are currently 25 training centres throughout the UK. The support is also really impressive - although you are self-employed you feel very much part of a team. We regularly hold gatherings so that we can meet up with other Authorised Distributors to learn from each other and give mutual support.
Are there any downsides to the role?
No - you are helping people to make genuine and worthwhile savings so it really is a win-win situation.
Would you recommend this opportunity to other Mums?
Absolutely. Although my children are older this is still a great opportunity for Mum's with younger children. One of the most successful Authorised Distributors I know has a one year old and four year old, and another has seven children!