Any Suggestions

masonking02

any one have suggestions on turing side jobs into a full fledge buisness , anyone started like that and took it to another level ? and also does anybody run a buisness outside of contracting, just wondering im trying to go all out this year with masonry being slow in the winters im also looking into cleanouts, thanks guys

BTD

The easiest way to make this hard transition is to do alot of jobs by time and material, take really good notes on costs and time, don't spend alot on advertising or develop excessive overhead debt. The transition needs to be focused first on the infrastructure(billing, proposals, collections, data entry, sales, product development) and then the fieldwork. This prevents your company from getting oveloaded with work but not having the systems established to be able to see the project through on the paperwork side.

All this presumes you want to own a business, not just owning a job.

I would recommend reading the E-Myth revisited for more. The other option is to just keep getting more work and spending money to do the work, this will result in going broke, like I did.

Tin Cup

depends on what your regular job is and what your benefits are. otherwise, jump in with both feet. always nice if you wife has a job with great benefits to take the pressure off.

Cleveland eh? Is the water tower still on top of the NTW building just above the Flats, the building that almost touches the bridge ?

Tin Cup

masonking02

thanks btd and tin cup and as far as the water tower im not sure, i know they been doing alot work in the flats so they mite have tore it down , where are u in ohio?

Cashking63

That is exactly how I started. It is kinda funny, when I started doing side work, I was one of those PIA hacks with the lowball pricing. Now they drive me crazy. Best advice I can give is keep a real job as long as you can. While it is still side work equip yourself with the best quality tools you can. Learn as much about the business aspect as you can soak up. You will know when it is time to go full time. It will get too hard to do a full time job and the side work.

masonking02

yea thats my thoughts i feel imma need to keep my 9 to 5 for awhile just dont want to get in that comfy mode of working 4 a contractor and steady dreaming and being pissed because i know that 27 a hour is chump change compared too what he is getting for my craft... thanks for the info

Lumpy

Careful there. I had the same perspective regarding what they were paying me vs. what they charged. I don't think you fully understand the costs in running a company. If the contractor is charging 2X for your services, he is probably clearing 10 to 15 % for the aggravation of chasing jobs, checks, materials etc. Do it all in your average 60 - 80 hour week and it DOES make you want to keep your day job.

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Fran Yetso Construction
professional remodeling

Cashking63

Very good advice there from Lumpy. Do alot of research on cost. It will surprise you how expensive employees are. Keep that 9-5 for as long as you can stand it. Once you go out on your own it becomes very hard to get loans or credit.

Susan Betz

Cost of a building, utilities, advertising, cost of equipment, trucks, payroll taxes, we can go on and on and on...

You have to love running a business, not just love your trade, to do this.

Shoot, I don't put up fences. I run the office and do the marketing. That's a full time job right there.

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Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com

masonking02

thanks lumpy , cashking , and susan betz ,thats good sound advice and 1 too grow on , imma go back to the lab and do a little homework , thanks

HomeSealed

It will never be an easy transition, no matter how long you wait..If it is what you want to do, then buck-up and do it!..In contrast to what was previously said, starting out, your focus needs to be on getting a steady flow of jobs. If you have too many jobs to keep track of and you are falling behind on bookkeeping, etc, those are good problems to have. You are sh!t out of luck if you are totally organized and structured but have no work to do.....Unless you have some $ behind you, you will have to start out just owning a job before you can own a business.

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milwaukee replacement windows , window replacement milwaukee ,attic insulation milwaukee, blog, roofing contractor milwaukee

Tin Cup

Columbus for last 22 years. got one brother in cleveland, one in cincy.

the water tower i'm asking about was on top of the National Terminal Warehouse apartment building. they converted the warehouse about 10 years ago. the water tower was empty but they kept if because they used it in their name and logo. it really needed to be rebuilt before it blew off, just wondered if they still have it.

about the business thing, i believe most should be self employed at some point, the key is timing is everything, different time for everyone, just be ready if that is your calling. keep costs/overhead down, be a paperclip counter, marry into good benefits !

Tin Cup

BTD

I wonder if you ever have had those kind of good problems. IRS bills and garnishment for getting behind on quarterlys, not knowing what you are losing or making on jobs, going broke and not knowing it because you are not charging enough and have not found out what enough is, these do not sound like good problems to me. Watch how owners of companys do business it will bridge some of the gap between good ideas and viable business. I think that was also a great suggestion HomeSealed made about having money behind you, a month or two of wages will buy some time if you have it saved.

masonking02

thanks 4 all the advise guys , btd i know where ur talking about but im not sure if they saved the towers sounds interesting il look into that.....100

Floordude

I own and run 4 businesses and the wife and I own another together.
Three started out as hobbies and turned into a small business. I purchased an existing business for my wife.

Flooring installation & corrections
Flooring inspections
Bowhunting outfitter
Jetski repairs.
Florist.

Without small business classes, I wouldn't really have any, as someone else ran my business for me, making sure I was on the edge of bankruptcy.

__________________
**Education is the key to success. Learn more, earn more.**
http://www.AustinFloorguy.com

EricTheHandyman

I did side jobs for a couple of years while still working my 9-5 job. I was considering the best way to go about starting on my own when one of my side customers called me and offered me a large project, T&M, no estimate required, start right away. Suddenly I was on my own. I've learned a lot since then and feel fortunate to still be in business, as there are so many others like me that jumped in without knowing what they were really getting into and went under in a few months.