Taking risks, oh why not!

I still use the Yellow Pages. Or phone my friend who seems to have an army of tradesmen on whom to call.
I wish you luck with your new venture, my neighbour is a decorator, and is always fully booked for months to come. There is definitely a call for your expertise.
Welcome to GN if you are new, it would be lovely to hear how it goes.

Firstly I ask friends and neighbours for recommendations, then I use the local 'directory' produced by the Local Authority. I also use the Internet. Good luck in your new venture!

We have a lot of free newsletters with advertising in, I always go to those first because they're all local tradespeople.

Online there are 'trading standards' people. However, before you can be on there you need some word of mouth recommendations, as most people use this way. We also look in our local newsletter, as local people have to live in the same place as you and rely on your good word.We always get 3 quotes, but go with the gut feeling as well as price, cheapest isn't always best.Sometimes doing a leaflet 'blitz' in your area may work. good luck.

Thank you for you well wishes. X

Leaflet 'Blitz' is ongoing, I find I quite enjoy it when the weather allows.

Good luck, I use my parish magazine. Most of the tradesmen we use are found there, and none of them has ever let me down.

Your local Age UK may well also keep a list of tradesmen for local older people to consult. I would emphasize your presence in the advertising, many old and vulnerable people feel much safer when a woman is involved in doing anything in her house.

There are also online directories Checkatrade, I have no idea what they charge but a lot of people use them. DD uses them for eveery trade where she doesn't know someone local, again, with good results

Other things to do are to print leaflets and go round stuffing them through doors and put them on local noticeboards at shops.

Parish mag first and foremost. Good luck with your venture. I "jumped ship" at the age of 50 and left my job in SW and retrained in photography - I had 12 good years doing this and enjoyed myself. Never too late and all that.

We have a local advertising magazine that comes every other month or so which I think is quite cheap to use for advertising.

Otherwise, FlicketyB has it covered.

Good luck and welcome if you are new.

Our local Age Concern has an 'approved' list of local tradesmen and that's always high on my search list. Alternatively, word of mouth or if I see a van in the neighbourhood I might check them out...good luck to you!

Have you thought of facebook? They usually have lots of "local" pages. People are always asking for recommendations for specific jobs etc., On mine they also have a page for local tradesmen listings.

Good luck with your new business. If none of my friends could recommend a tradesman to me, I would look for various sites, such as Age Concern, that have some sort of vetting/customer review process.

Have you got your own website? I think younger people increasingly look to the Internet rather than local advertising when they need something.
If you can't do it yourself there are lots of people who will do it for you.
It doesn't have to be complicated, just project an image of honesty & reliability (presumably that's what you want people to think you are), with some examples of your work and if possible, testimonials from satisfied customers!
Good luck.

I would always go to the Internet to find local tradesmen and services, and since we moved have found some good local people - my window cleaner, gardener, upholstery cleaner and someone to fix the dishwasher. Other services came by recommendation.

So I really do think a website is a good idea!

Thank you every one for ideas and well wishes :-).
I will definitely get in touch with Age Concern. Have a lovely day

I have the husband from heaven when it comes to odd jobs, decorating, plumbing etc. so have never needed to find anyone else. If I did it would be on the internet followed by a quick phone round to see if the likeliest looking candidates have been used by anyone I know.
Welcome to Gransnet Nanp15 - hope to hear how you get on.

Word of mouth (painters/decorators around here are like gold dust). We also have a ''local pages directory' which is very useful.

www.lkcalpages.co.uk

Sorry:

www.localpages.co.uk to see if it covers your area

trading standards approved tradesmen.
personal recommendations

Yes, personal recommendations, always. If your SiL already has clients you could build on that. If not about doing a few jobs really cheaply just to get your partnership started?

Good luck.