http://www.contractortalk.com The business of contracting discussed here.Sub-Topics: Contractor Licensing File Swap en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:47:12 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.contractortalk.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.contractortalk.com http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/im-about-get-sued-68458/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:21:06 GMT Long story short, trademark infringement.

My company - North Star Construction.
Other guy's - North Star Homes Inc.

US- Open for business 1 yr.
HIS- 20 yrs, 2 time Builder of the Year, well known/respected.

Some info:

-We are a registered company, licensed under this name, name search complete at time of registration.
-We never heard of them until today
-He is a New home builder/developer
-We consult,manage,design/build. We don't do new homes under this company name.
-Our logos look nothing alike
-None of our literature is similar.
-There are a slue of other North Star's in construction related sectors in Toronto.

I found out through my rep at the Builder's association, of which he is a member. He objected to my membership application due to our name. Now he wants to start a suit or force us to change the name.

I called him up, it didn't get me anywhere. He claims he will stop at nothing to stop us. I basically said, I understand his position but now it will come down to whether he has the legal grounds or not. His reply was, "I was hoping reason would prevail, but if you don't change your name I will fully pursue the legal route and I will put a lot of money behind it. It will cost both of us money but I won't back down, that's up to you".

Alright, so now I need your guys' opinions. Can he do it? Will he win? Changing our company name is going to be a huuge hassle.

BTW, he is not TM registered. ]]> Business Heritage http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/im-about-get-sued-68458/ http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/help-some-advice-needed-68441/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:34:37 GMT Ok here goes..I have never been so frustrated in many many years here. I have a repeat customer I have been doing business with for years. He is a high end bean counter accountant. I will start here. He has a monster of a home in the high end of town where I live. This home has well over 2000... Ok here goes..I have never been so frustrated in many many years here. I have a repeat customer I have been doing business with for years. He is a high end bean counter accountant. I will start here. He has a monster of a home in the high end of town where I live. This home has well over 2000 square foot cedar deck 2 leves with dual staricases and and spindle handrails all the way around.All in cedar. I stripped ceaned and resealed the deck 2 years ago for them. While there I replaced some rotten cedar boards( not many maybe 3 or 4) His total invoive was for over $4000.00 by the time he paid tax.Well here it is 2 years later he asks to have the deck redone.This time no rotten boards!!.So when I estimated this time I backed out $1100.00 from the estimate 2 years ago.I thought I was being a reasonable guy by not jacking the price on him.Like everything else has in life. so I told him that I have time and the weather is looking great for the week. He tells me to just go ahead and submit a bill to his secatary. I said no I dont work like that and that his estimate was going to be $2900.00 this time and I need a deposit of $1100.00 to cover expenses. I was in bit of a hurry due to weather concearns so I brought a skilled tradesman along with me to get the job done. well we got it done in 2 days.stripped clean and sealed. I submit the invoice for $ 2900 minus the deposit plus tax. he then sends a reply via emal stating that is not good enough. He wants a break down of what im charging. Thats funny he has never asked for that before?? So i provide him with a simple breakdown.as follows
$1500 labour
$ 800 materials
$ 500 to return in the spring to look it over and top up sealer where needed.
$100 for rentals (good pressure washer)
Then he says still not good enough he wants a breakdown of hourly weiges and material expenses ect. ect. I reply with I shouldnt have to do that seeing it was an estimated job and provided him with a breakdown on how I price my jobs and that in fact it isint any of his business how I run myme. An estimate is questionable before I begin not after the deposit has been given and the project is complete. so I folded and gave him a breakdown of what materials I used and how many jugs of each i used. I had to go to 4 different stores to get everything I needed. The cleaner was the better part of 30 a jug before tax and so was the sealer. Remember this is before tax.So ibumped it up to $50 a jug x 7 of each. He then replies he understands ark-up but not 250% to 400%?? I was blasted right then and there. So I ask him where he comes up with that figure and he says he found the same stuff for 12.95 a jug :eek:. So now I have an accountant that thinks he knows what what I used and how much I payed for it..Here is my question.I dont know where to turn with this guy. Im lost for the first time in 10 years.I have never had such an isue.what should I do? Any advice? I want to show him my recipts but I honestly feel that is my private business not his what I charge for mark-up. Lets say the product was $35 tax in is $50 a jug fair mark-up in your professional opinion? Remember I had to go to 4 differnt stores to get enough product to complete the project.Please if you think i have done somthing wrong I want to hear it.I can use all the help i can get on this so it never happens again.
signed Lost In Ontario Canada.... ]]> Business GRR http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/help-some-advice-needed-68441/ http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/new-construction-financing-68431/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:24:02 GMT I'm entering into a new venture, I've been a contractor over 20 years and a realtor for 4 years. I've built a few spec homes and several owner financed homes. I have taken lots of an investor and will be coupling these with blueprints and listing on the MLS. Construction will not begin until I have a buyer with accepted construction loan. Can I avoid "sellers closing cost" as if this was builder/owner type transaction? Where can I find the proper contracts to implement this type of transaction? ]]> Business fshrs1 http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/new-construction-financing-68431/ http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/anybody-else-getting-sick-68405/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:38:29 GMT Is anybody else getting sick of being asked for discounts? I have been asked by four perspective clients in the last week alone! Client number one just bought a vacation home that needs repairs. They were quoted for the repairs prior to closing escrow. Now they are low on money , and want me to... Is anybody else getting sick of being asked for discounts? I have been asked by four perspective clients in the last week alone!

Client number one just bought a vacation home that needs repairs. They were quoted for the repairs prior to closing escrow. Now they are low on money , and want me to work for nothing, because of the "state of the economy".

Client number two also bought a vacation home that needs repairs. He would like a discount on the repairs because "he hired us to do the septic inspection" and "his pockets are tight".

The list goes on...

ARGGGG.....I guess I can consider myself fortunate that I have work to quote, but I'm just getting sick of people asking me to take a cut, using the overall economy as an excuse. I don't own a vacation home, but they want me to work for nothing so they can repair the one they just bought....?:censored:

Sorry for the rant. Just had to vent. ]]> Business FthillGuy http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/anybody-else-getting-sick-68405/ http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/1099-question-68398/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:04:55 GMT Now, before you make fun of me, I am 99.9 percent sure I have the correct answer and just NEED to make sure. Some of you might know that I am not the actual owner of the company but the "right hand" man. I ran into an old buddy from HS. He wants me to snow plow for him but he said he wants to 1099 me. I told him that if I were to be 1099 I would need to be in actual business for myself already, be licensed and pay all appropriate fees and taxes. Since I am none of the above I would need to be hired on as a regular employee of his correct? He seems to think I am wrong but maybe thats cause he used to try to make me fit into lockers at the old HS :censored:

Please let me know guys. Thanks. ]]> Business BamBamm5144 http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/1099-question-68398/ http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/ia-il-sub-checklist-ensure-payment-68343/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:52:03 GMT We are a subcontractor that does commercial interior finish work (drywall, framing, acoustical, insulation, etc.) in Iowa and Illinois and have been in business for 10 years. Most of our work is thru general contractors. I am looking for info and hope to use it to put together a checklist for other... We are a subcontractor that does commercial interior finish work (drywall, framing, acoustical, insulation, etc.) in Iowa and Illinois and have been in business for 10 years. Most of our work is thru general contractors. I am looking for info and hope to use it to put together a checklist for other subs to use that gives the process of ensuring payment. I know that some states have pre-liens and others have Notices to Owners but I can't find the requirements for IA & IL. Also, would love it if someone could upload the forms that can be used with instructions.

Example:
Iowa
1. When contract received file this form: _______ and instructions ______
2. Within 90 days of completion file this form: ________ and instructions ______.

Same as above for Illinois.

I would really appreciate some help with this! ]]> Business 1drywallet http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/ia-il-sub-checklist-ensure-payment-68343/ http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/toronto-question-ontario-68337/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:58:15 GMT Hi everyone im 26 years old the company i work for is slowing down im just looking to keeping my options open i have my ticket for cement finishing during the summer i have enough work on the side to keep me busy but i wondering what will i need to open up a business in toronto as a GC thanks for... Hi everyone im 26 years old the company i work for is slowing down im just looking to keeping my options open i have my ticket for cement finishing during the summer i have enough work on the side to keep me busy but i wondering what will i need to open up a business in toronto as a GC thanks for any input . ]]> Business bigg_poppa http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/toronto-question-ontario-68337/ http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/general-liability-insurance-68325/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:01:15 GMT Can anyone recommend a good insurance agent in New Jersey for general liability insurance? I am just starting this business, so this will be my first policy. Thanks in advance. Stan Can anyone recommend a good insurance agent in New Jersey for general liability insurance? I am just starting this business, so this will be my first policy. Thanks in advance.

Stan ]]> Business StanDre http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/general-liability-insurance-68325/ http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/starting-business-68276/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:25:20 GMT Hello. I'm new to this forum and I'm hoping to find some help on what is sure to be a long quest that I've been working on.

I am working on putting together a company that does many things. My main focus is to be to offer services that are "Green" with the intention of saving my customers money over the long term and of course minimizing their carbon footprint. My goal is to have a company that offers these services:

Native and low-water/maintenance Landscaping

Solar Panel installation
Energy-saver windows and doors
Sola-tubes and attic fans

I figure that the landscaping business is actually going to be a separate company with a different staff of different skill-sets. The rest of the services can be offered by a team of contractors.

I've had a really hard time finding where to even start! I don't want to spend hours on a business plan yet because I need to make sure it is even going to be possible for me to attain the licenses I need which is my main question for this board. Do I need to attain a different license for all these services or will a General Contractor License suffice? Should I be looking at finding contractors to partner with instead of going at this all alone? I understand how ambitious this project is, I currently have a government job which is very safe and secure so my goal is to start this business while keeping that job for my family. I guess I'm more looking to be a business owner with a crew of guys doing the majority of the work while I keep the government job and help out on as many jobs as I can on my days off.

I'm open to all kinds of ideas, suggestions, guidance, etc. As long as you don't tell me to give up on the idea!

Thanks for any time and help ahead of time.

Edit: Guess it could help to note that I am located in the San Diego area in California ]]> Business krocky07 http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/starting-business-68276/ http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/pricing-labour-quote-68243/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:37:51 GMT Hi there, I just recently started my renovation business about 6 months ago and so far its been alright. Now it's starting to pick up since i've been networking with alot of different people.

I am about to price a job which is mainly based on labour costs.

To refinish hardwood
Tile a bathroom and shower
Tile a kitchen

I am wondering for those who have been doing this for years, how do i find my rates for those 3 jobs? and is it a good idea to do jobs that are just "labour"??I am starting out and it keeps my overhead low. what are your thoughts?


i'm open to all opinions and suggestions. ]]> Business RENO-IHS http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/pricing-labour-quote-68243/ http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/what-customers-buying-68224/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:56:29 GMT Recent news reports that with declining home values there is no pay back for remodeling work. Return on remodeling investment is a negative. I have seen this in my cabinet work orders. Most my work now is repair, maintenance, or thermal updates including window and door replacement. What... Recent news reports that with declining home values there is no pay back for remodeling work. Return on remodeling investment is a negative. I have seen this in my cabinet work orders. Most my work now is repair, maintenance, or thermal updates including window and door replacement.

What types of work are your customers paying for in 2009 and into 2010?

Also, I am expected to start each contract immediately. If I don't, someone else will. Is this common in your areas? ]]> Business macatawacab http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/what-customers-buying-68224/