Mike Finley

I'd advise you to keep working for others for a while.

It's great to be ambitious to want to go out on your own, it's smarter to realize you know basically nothing at this point about construction still.

Apprenticeship is the foundation of the trades. The little time you have put in is just the start.

Or go out on your own and you can be like all the rest of the handyman who are masters of nothing and have to stubble through everything and defend themselves and rationalize everything.

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rselectric1

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BattleRidge

This is the second thread I think your response is DUMB AS DOG ****. Zinsco

As far as working for other people, If you have done it for a while through school and a year or two out of school you have the experience to get the ball rolling. Another thing I did that helped was that I made lots of friends real quick since I had my paperwork, subbing for a good price. Making 25 an hour is pretty decent when you are 18 anyway. If you run your butt off for a roofer for a month maybe too subbing from him, you have now made a contact that you can reference. I would do that all the time. I still call my roofing friend duane when I dont know how to do something. The information to fill in the gaps is easy to find.

What getting your license does is give you an opportunity. Nothing says you cant sub for cheap prices under other guys to learn more while still making more then being a laborer. But when something does present itself, you can tell that lady Yes I am licensed and insured. Then you have your first kitchen job. Just network. I also said so no to some jobs that were over my head. I stocked sheetrock a ton and people would say hey my hangers are to busy to get here in time. Think you would be interested?
I said no a couple of times, but then I realized that even if I didnt know how to hang like a pro I knew other people that could. I would just call them and say that I could hook them up if I could work with them. I still do that from time to time. For the last 3 months I have done one HO job and the rest were just dropped to me from the same guys that I started networking with. Its just much less the skills and experience and more huste and flow really. IMO.
As far as college and being 30. The best rocker in town here is a good friend of mine(the rocker I mentioned) and is 25, the guy pulls in 120k easy and he hung rock for another business for a year then started his own. So when job schmo is just getting started he will already be a force in the market and well on his way to retiring.

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Eric K

Are you being serious? I know plenty of guys who take this approach and guess where they are. In the bar getting wasted right now because the people who hire them don't care about quality or professionalism. Just be cheap. Forget that. I'm 27. Started when I was 22. In the last 5 years I've gone from working out of an Isuzu Trooper with a circ and jig saw to a company of 4 employees, year round work, 3 trucks, a shop, with all the tools and equipment I need to stay busy. Got here by being professional, giving clients proof of insurance (and most recently in PA my license#), doing only quality work. Trust me those 4 things will lead to the best advertising possible IMO "word of mouth". Good Luck. But I do agree with Mike F. get more expirence with various contractors on how they run jobs and focus on what they do wrong and right and how you can be better. Also read up on business practices. Wish I would have 5yrs ago

SLSTech

Until you have enough money for licensing, insurance & all the other requirements - you have 2 options; work for someone else or stick with jobs under $500 to stay out of legal issues.

Working for someone else can help you learn more of the physical part of the trade & should eliminate you trying to figure out all the taxes & getting screwed at the end of the year. This will also give you time to learn the business skills you will need - pricing, taxes, contracts, etc... You can go to classes for that, read alot of info here, etc... In some cases you may find a contractor that will help teach you this

The $500 route - welcome to the school of hard knocks, but then you can start working on a customer base, still have the learning potentials listed above, etc...

Neither of them will guarantee you work, but it can sometimes be nice not worrying about your next paycheck (i.e. regular job)

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Zinsco

I'm just getting warmed up, you aint seen nothing yet.

supwd

Thanks for the tip. I know I'm not a professional, you can tell because I started this thread, but I had a good laugh at this. I don't want to to be looking over my shoulders my whole career for the IRS or some government officials lol. Your way sounds a little shady.

Thanks to everyone that posted, it's really encouraging. It really does motivate me, and i just need to realize that everyone has to start somewhere. I obliviously want to make money, but to me the most important thing is the quality of the job, I would never try to cheat anyone, because my boss has clients for 25 years through trust, and they don't even ask him for prices anymore, they just tell him to send the bill. He never had to advertise except for now because of the economy.

Right now I started to rip all the carpet out of my older sisters 2 story house, and I'm putting in laminate flooring and then baseboards on both floors on the weekends, and during the week since I'm not working as much I've been doing some volunteer framing work.... don't worry, it's for a good cause, and makes me feel good . But in a couple months after I get some stuff taken care of I'm gonna try to start getting some work of my own and see how it goes... I'll keep you guys updated.... whether its good or bad

stuart45

Thats really good, sound advice supwd. I've heard that San Quentin State Prison has got some really nice cells these days, and the food has improved a lot since Gordon Ramsey did a show there.

BamBamm5144

I am only in my mid 20's. The exterior trade is something I was born into with both grandfathers doing it, four uncles, my dad and two older brothers. I was fortunate that one uncle took over my grandfathers business and gave me a job as a laborer at 13. I worked all through the summers and actually went to college. While in college I realized how much more I enjoy working with my hands and went back to work with my uncle full time. I got lucky because his best guy started his own business and asked if I would join him back in 05. He offered more pay so I accepted. Eventually I learned enough things and was mature enough that he promoted me to be his operations manager beginning of 08. Recently, he offered me to partner with him. Now that I am alot more hands on to every aspect of the business, I realize how hard it truly is to be legit and compete with a lot of these guys. Also, being a young guy, it is hard to get people to trust your knowledge but you can do it. I have gained the respect of all the older men who work with us mainly because of my work ethic. I find that being trustworthy, honest and focused on quality will get you the furthest in the construction trades.

I have thought of going off on my own but I don't think I am quite ready for it yet. There is a lot of things involved and still numerous things I have to learn although I do feel like I know a lot more than 90 percent of the exterior trades guys in my area. I guess my whole point is that you can do it if you really want. Will it be hard? Of course. When I first started we did only about 400,000 gross sales up to 1,100,000 last year (mainly thanks to a huge project) and now back down to about half of that. I think it will be very hard for a 19 year old man to get started especially in an area like California where business is so cut throat. My advice, work for the same guy long enough that you can learn about all aspects of the business.

WilsonRMDL

I'm 22, started on my own at 18 and it is both good and bad at the same time.

I started in a cabinet shop at 14, worked their until the owner retired and closed up shop when I was 18. Started doing kitchen remodels, trim, stuff like that. Got licensed and insurance when i was in college to keep the ball rolling.

Mainly the biggest tip I can give you is to work for a few guys and learn from them, and do your own jobs on the side, that way your gaining experience as well as building your business. Then when you think you can handle larger jobs by yourself go for it. even now I still help out on jobs with the guys that got me started in remodeling, and learn something new everytime. Just remember that you control your income, and it's up to you if your successful.

As some others have said, your 19, go for it. I'm 22 with a 1 year old daughter and now I have a family to worry about putting food on the table and keeping the bills paid. I would love to be able to just collect a paycheck at the end of the week, but I know that I would hate depending on someone else to keep me busy at the same time.

I guess either way you have to decide what your going to do, and go after it. You can't just say "i'm going to start my own business" and take it as it comes, you have to go out and find work, and sell your ass off.

BTW, licenses and insurance are a must. You'll be glad you got them when you can tell a HO that even though your bid is higher than the other guys, you have a license and insurance, and you can bet they will check to see if he does.

Sorry for rambling on, its just cool to see someone in the same position I was in a few years back, with the same optimism I had. Kinda gave me a boost of enthusiasm for the next work week

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KennMacMoragh

Good luck with that, you realize around 9 out of 10 contractors fail in business within the first couple of years. Two reasons they fail are that the people who start them don't know their trade well, or they don't know business management. If you start your own company now, you will know neither. You do not want to be still unsure of the trade when you take on the challenge of management.

wellbuilthome

I agree with mike , You need to learn a trade .
The money will come .
With out real life experience in building it will take years to learn any thing.
I built my first house when i was 14 years old
I went to trade school.
Then i worked for a remodeling company for 8 years 60 hrs a week . We built around 300 additions in this time . Ive probably built another 300 jobs since. Life is to short you need to be schooled. If you work with the right guys you could start out on your own in 4 years or so .
Then there is sales and marketing . This is my week area . People will buy from me because of my experience and because I'm a nice guy , I always do the right thing for the customer . Relax you should chase girls for a few more years . John

Lubs

I would see about going to school and learning about the business side. If you not only know your trade but also about business practices you will gain a lot of respect. I started when I was 22 while going to college. I had worked for some other contractors and they liked me. Two of them helped me get started and would give me referals. Once I started getting a couple of jobs it was not hard to find others because contractors do talk to others. Now a lot of the generals I did work for have moved on but if their old customers call they tell them to call us. Do a good job all the time and others will find out about you.

Dairylander

I second this notion, and it brings up a good analogy.
Should you get your girl pregnant at age 19?
You're mature for your age and could probably handle being a father, but you'd really miss out on the freedom of youth.
I was an employee until I was 26 and I miss those carefree days.
Punch the clock and walk away.

bmaurice

Very good point my dad owned a company for many years. and it was union so i think thats twice as bad, anyway real long story short. He now works for someone else, and he says its the happiest hes bean for a long time. because of that fact once you clock out your done.

ruskent

I started my business when I was 19. Now I am 23 and am about to start my 5th six figure job. It was extremely tough starting out and it took a good 2 years to really get rolling. Starting young was the best thing I ever did. I was able to make financial mistakes and take the hit and keep on going. If I had a house, wife and 3 kids I never would of made it 5 years in business. Not having a family allowed me to take hits, learn from them and bounce right back.

Go for it.

bconley

Just do it! Start small, surround yourself with the best people and subs you can find, learn the numbers and charge enough to cover plus profit, if you don't get a job you didn't want it anyway move on.
In this economy I believe working for somebody else is more risky than working for yourself, you don't have all your eggs in one basket and are open to all opportunities that present themselves. Which will happen when you start doing jobs on your own.
Then you will be asking how to get all that work done!

Bill

bconley

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dairylander
I second this notion, and it brings up a good analogy.
Should you get your girl pregnant at age 19?
You're mature for your age and could probably handle being a father, but you'd really miss out on the freedom of youth.
I was an employee until I was 26 and I miss those carefree days.
Punch the clock and walk away.

Or you can retire at an early age with the kids gone from home!
I started late and sometime wish I had done it different, but things happen for a reason.

Bill

B.K

Being 21, working my way through the apprenticeship system (here in Canada), I can relate to this.

I started at 16 working for my father, all i did was the labour work, the shovel and pick were my best friends for the summers. Loved the work so much, that my bosses had to tell me to stop working, and take a break. (Learned very quick, when its hot out, TAKE A BREAK! Nothing worse than overheating half way through the day).

I work summers for my father all the way up till i graduated from high school. Than i started my apprenticeship in carpentry, i love the broad range of things you can do in Carpentry, from Concrete to Framing to Finish work, so much stuff you can do.

I'm in my 3rd year now, and i'll be honest its by far been my hardest year. Responsibility is setting in, there are a few things im expected to know, and things im still learning. Some days are hard as hell, some bosses are hard as hell on ya, but you can't break. And im learning to battle through that, and put your best foot foward everyday. And when your struggling just to go back to the things you know. Its a long hard way to the top.

I don't think i would go out on my own yet, I'm not confortable with everything i know...yet.

I'd still want to get more experance in the trenches working, only because when you work your way outta there, you'll know what it takes, and have a respect for people that are going through it. That way you can relate with people when **** starts to hit the fan.

Also by working longer, you can start to see what you like and what you are good at.

Like right now, before i jumped on this site, i was just drawing up a set of plans to build myself a dresser over the winter months, something to keep me busy and more importantly hown my skills. I have a real passion for finish work, i really enjoy it...to early to tell if i want to make it my carrer, but the door is open, and maybe in a few years i'll walk through it...who knows.

-Bill

Also, "Good on ya, for having the balls to actually try and step out on your own, I wish ya the best of luck"

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KennMacMoragh

Another good point, and it's not just getting a girl pregnant that can slow you down. In this day and age any sort of serious relationship with a women is likely to be detrimental to starting your business. Some over all good advice is, work hard, work smart, and don't let a women get in your way.