HOW ONE GAS ENGINEER BUILT A 60K BUSINESS FROM SCRATCH
After 23 years at British Gas, Paul Randall decided it was time to take control of his own future. With confidence in his skills and an eye for opportunity, he launched Randall Gas Ltd in August 2019. What he didn’t know then was that just months later, the world would be turned upside down.
“It’s mad to think about now,” Paul reflects, “but I was pretty clever to get everything set up before Covid hit.”
But Paul’s success wasn’t down to luck. It came from making smart decisions early - and one of the smartest was investing in the right technology from day one.
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN DO THE SAME
BETTING ON YOURSELF AND STARTING SMART
Paul had the trade skills. He had the customer understanding. And thanks to his side hobby as a qualified pilot, he also had a love of tech. When he launched Randall Gas Ltd, he didn't just want to "get going" - he wanted to do it properly. Efficiently. Professionally. All from day one.
"I had a fairly good idea of what I was looking for - something that would bring all my job info, customer records, and admin into one place. I didn't want spreadsheets and scribbled notes. I wanted structure."
Just weeks after leaving British Gas, Paul came across Powered Now at a Vaillant event. After a chat with a team member (and a bit of a friendly challenge to prove the platform's worth), he signed up. Less than a month later, he was live and running his entire operation through the app.
"Chloe from the Powered Now team told me I'd never look back - and she was right."
USING TECHNOLOGY TO DELIVER BETTER WORK AND WIN MORE OF IT
INSTANT DIGITAL CERTIFICATES
Instead of post-job delays and manual paperwork, Paul could instantly issue branded, digital certificates the moment a job was complete.
BUILDING CUSTOMER TRUST
"The moment I finish a check, the landlord has the certificate. It builds trust - and it gets me paid quicker. That's the kind of thing that makes people come back."
PHOTO EVIDENCE
"A photo speaks for itself. If there's sludge in the system or damage to a part, I send a picture. That seals the deal more often than not."
REMOTE SALES SUCCESS
During lockdown, those visuals weren't just helpful - they were the difference between closing a sale and losing one. One absent landlord upgraded to a £1,000 boiler based on photos alone.
A SEAMLESS SETUP THAT MAKES A ONE-MAN BAND LOOK LIKE A PRO TEAM
Professional Branding
From clean digital invoices to consistent branding and organised job records, he found himself projecting confidence, even when he was just getting started.
Established Appearance
"I didn't want to come across as some white-van-man doing jobs on the fly. Powered Now helped me look established from day one."
Inspector Approval
Even the Gas Safety Inspector who reviewed Paul's work took notice - complimenting the thoroughness and clarity of the documentation provided through the app.
LESS TIME ON ADMIN. MORE MONEY IN THE BANK.
Admin can eat into a tradesperson's week faster than you'd think. Between chasing invoices, logging jobs, quoting, and managing a diary, the hours add up - and the stress does too.
Powered Now turned that around for Paul.
Digital invoices with SumUp integration
Meant 97% of bills were paid within a week.
GPS tracking and ETA notifications
Made scheduling jobs and managing customer expectations smooth and professional.
Job records, customer notes, and quote templates
All lived in one place, meaning less time wasted and fewer mistakes made.
"I'm not chasing payments. I'm not digging through emails for info. It's all there. That means I can focus on the work - and getting the next job in."
THE RESULTS: A NEW BUSINESS GROWN FROM SCRATCH
Despite launching just before a global pandemic, Paul's business quickly found its feet — and then hit its stride.
£60,000
Turnover
In just over two years, Randall Gas Ltd reached this impressive figure
97%
Paid Invoices
Bills paid within a week thanks to digital invoicing
Repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals became regular. Customer trust soared, thanks to transparent documentation and clear communication. Audits and inspections became easier, faster, and more collaborative.
"It's been a great experience - and Powered Now is a big part of why we've done so well."
FINAL THOUGHTS
For any tradesperson wondering how to grow a business, streamline their operations, or finally get control of the chaos — Paul's story offers a blueprint. One built not just on skill, but on smart tools and smarter decisions.
INVEST IN THE RIGHT TOOLS
Paul chose Powered Now from day one to build a professional foundation
FOCUS ON CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Digital certificates, photo evidence, and clear communication built trust
REDUCE ADMIN TIME
Streamlined operations allowed more time for actual work and growth
"If you think you can't afford to use Powered Now, you're not charging enough. It's a no-brainer."
If you want to learn more about how you can take care of your backend admin, freeing up more time to focus on growing your business, earning more, or getting more free time visit www.powerednow.com or click the button below to book a call and we can show you the exact system Paul used to scale his business.