One Man Show.

TMF

This is for contractors in biz for awhile,Ive been a one man show for two years now. I would hire grunts here and there but no one ever did finish work but me. All guys I ever hired said they can do this do that but really they know nothing.Tell me how long does it take to get really established to hire some good workers for a good price.How long did it take some of you get established when starting with nothing.

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Peladu

Everyone grows at different rates....

What do you mean, "Hire good workers for a good price?" It can be taken two ways, what way do you mean?

joasis

I worked alone for 6 months before I hired a helper. But I stepped into a vacuum of sorts, I had very little competiton, so growth just came. It has been my experience visability is important, and about 3 years, you will get calls for jobs you couldn't have given a bid on after only a year.

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marc

Every one that you interview comes in wearing a red cape with a big S on their chest. They usually know how do do it all.
Make yourself a list of EVERY immaginable tool that you can think of and ask them to check off the tools that they already own. They usually won't lie about this because they know that you can walk out to their truck and check. The true Supermen will own 2 of everything. THe others don't own anything except maybe their hand tools. Also check out what they are driving.

TMF

thanks for all the input,it's just Ive been working 7 days a week since i started on my own and good people are very hard to find these days.But this week I took off to consider if I want to still keep going on my own or not to.Just dont know yet. thanks again

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Mike Finley

I'm of the firm belief that for me any workers not full time are a waste of time. Part-time is a waste of my personal efforts and my companies efforts. You can spend all the time you want getting them up to speed and teaching them, but they are still only going to be part-time and part time is temporary. Anybody who can work part-time pretty much has a problem already.

For me it's all just treading water business wise until I commit to hiring one full-time guy. Then you can make an investment into him, you can look at things long term. However, in order to hire that first full-time worker I have already conceded that in the beginning he will probably be making more than I will in order to keep him.

ron schenker

That kinda sucks...maybe you're underpaid

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Don't worry, the baseboard will hide it!

Gordo

For me, it took five full years of working six days a week before I could justify hiring a full timer. I hired one, then two........then went back to one, then two....depending on work loads.

They usually last about a year if they are good and then they go out on thier own and then go into another line of work cuz they could not cut it in remodeling. All they saw was me collecting checks.

My right hand man has been with the company for 3 years.......I treat him good.....nice hrly wage, retirement, gas card for HIS truck...health insurance on the way.

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Looks like some pros were here.

painterjim

This is my 15th year in business. When I started, it was me and a very used Ford pick up, and some busted ladders. I stayed a one man show for a grand total of one month. Over the yearsn Ive gone through countless men. Painters are notorious for saying one thing and doing another. For the past five years Ive developed a hiring system that works for me. I feel I have 4 of the best crews in the state.

I dont know what you mean when you say good men for a good price, my good men have been with me on average over 5 years, and make much more than they can make anywhere in this industry in this state. During the first 6 months Im a bear to work for, I demand alot for not much pay. If guys can get past that period within 12 months they will be highly rewarded for their duration.

Some folks love the one man show aspect of things. I knew right from the get go it wasnt for me.

maj

When I started on my own ten years ago, I hired three full time employees right from the start. The main guy was an ex auto mechanic - he knew absolutely zero about construction. He did not know the difference between 16d and 8d nails..... He would ask, "The big ones or little ones" I sent him for a 2x4 one time, he came back and said their are no 2x4's only 1 1/2 x 3 1/2!!!!!

The other two had just graduated from high school, looking for summertime work 'till college. One was worthless, the other real good. The later actually went on to trade school and is now in Cedar Rapids doing construction.

That first year with three helpers was a nightmare. I spent more time showing & explaining them what to do, than actually doing it. Now I have one full time, and a couple of others I can call on when the need arises. The two of us can get more done, and done RIGHT, than when there was four of us.

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The views expressed in this post are merely opinions of named poster and in no way shall be deemed meaningful by members of the herd. By no means does anything posted by named poster mean a damn thing for anyone else partaking in this thread.

TMF

well for me when I started the only tool I had was a hammer,no loans for my biz just from scratch now I have about 10 grand worth of tools all paid for and still a beat up truck.Ive hired many guys I had only one who was worth the $15 dollor an hour rate I paid him and benifits,But one day he picked up and left the state never heard from him since.When I bid jobs no matter what I rate myself out at $35 an hour and If I need other grunts I add on to that.and how long I esimate it will take.and if I buy material so i make pretty good money just finding good help has been impossible.

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PROMARK

I have had many business ventures in the trades with up to 25 employees, partners etc.My most recent for the past 5 years has been home improvements.I mainly work alone by choice. I get my son to help me when I need it.My advice is do not hire more than you need because to keep loyal guys you must have steady work for them and if you get slow and you want to keep them you find you are underbidding jobs just to cover you payroll!