How Do You Find Workers ?

AnthonyTLLC

I've never been a guy that picks up workers from the streets because I don't believe in that but my workers come and go and I need a place where I can find a constant flow of help. Nothing full time really, I have 2 great full time guys but I need workers to help on a little bigger jobs for those things that I don't want to pay my guys their $30 for doing.

BTC

I’m trying out a new website to hire workers as I need them that I think I heard of in these forums, called postaneed . I’m in the same boat as you.

JonM

You can look in your local phone book (Yellow Pages) for temporary labor services. They take care of everything for you. You may even want to pay your stedy workers through a Temporary Labor Service, it can save you money. They do all the bookwork, issue checks, pay taxes and pay the workman's compensation for the workers.

AnthonyTLLC

BTC, I saw your posts on that website... not a bad idea.


JonM, thanks for the advice. I tried those temp. places and they don't really work for me and I just pay my guys as contactors to skip all that mess. Thanks anyways for the reply.

randybelk@comca

I didn't relize you could pay your help as contractors. I am assuming that you are 1099 em.

AnthonyTLLC

I'm not sure what you mean by the 1099 em ? I pay them per job.

plazaman

we 1099 our guys. Im not sure how I found my workers, lol... for some reason, they always us asking for a job.

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DavidC

He means paying them as subs instead of employees, thereby saving on workers comp, payroll taxes and the like. Most states require a weekly or biweelky pay period as opposed to by the job.

I didn't see where you said you did or didn't, but did wonder what you meant with "by the job".

More to your question, we've had responses aplenty from Craigs List, hired one, fired him, and have a few left in the stack to call. Most seem like crap by the responses (I wood like to go to work asap and will start cheep).

Also try letting your suppliers andf freindly competitors know, any circle you network in for business and socially.

It seems like we might go through 10 guys to get a keeper most of the time. By the way, we're looking.

Good Luck
Dave

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Mike Finley

He means, he's paying them illegally.

AnthonyTLLC

I pay them as independent contactors, you can read a lot about it on the IRS website and yes it saves a lot of money but not illegal. Thats why I think BTC's idea would work to find workers.

silvertree

The rules are pretty cut and dry on this subject. I do what the government requires. I don't like it, but it is what it is.
I know guys slip by by the 1099 rule. But it doesn't fly with my work comp group. I don't know how you guys get away with it. More power to you.
But one guy around here got audited, owed a little under $150K and now he's gone, and no license for him until he pays it. The answer to this question about how is easy, I got the flyer from the government and you have to do everything they require or your guys are employees. That means wages plus.
We use a group of questions to qualify people as subs or employees. Easy ones are, do you tell them what the job pays, you tell them how to do it, you pay by the hour ect, then they are employees. List goes on and on.

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Mike Finley

More power my ass. 1 step above using illegal aliens is what it is. I like a fair and level playing field, not bullsh*t like that. He's probably got the more power to em insurance package going too.

Duane1982

So, you pay your guys as contractors? I have a few questions:
1- Do you tell them what time to be there and what time they can leave? If so the IRS is clear on rules.

2-Do they have all tools to do the job or do they use yours?

3-Do you tell them "how" to do the work? As in "your" way??

AND Lastly:

4-If they get hurt how are they going to live?? They will have to sue you for money, and in my state workers comp will make you pay all medical bills and lost wages.

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silvertree

Mike, your right, I should just have said "Sounds like bullsh*t to me". I'm no saint, but the IRS rules are clear and you either play by the rules or not.
But hey, some guys call their boat an office and all kinds of other scams. I don't like paying taxes, and I use every legal option to put more money in my pocket. But I do follow the rules, and yes it puts me at a disadvantage at times. I just lost a 46K job to a guy who bid it at 33K. I'll bet he gets cheaper help than I do, or he's just nuts. I guess I'm tired of the old "all my employees are now subs" game, but some people seem to make it work.

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Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

DavidC

If you are paying these guys as subs you probably are breaking the law. That is clearly explained in the IRS rules.

To qualify they need to work for other companies as a sub also or individual homeowners, and they wouldn't be your full time guys. There are many more tests, but you don't seem to make this one.

Most likely they would require more than their $30 an hour to cover their insurance costs as subs.

This type of arrangement is not only illegal and a huge risk to you as their employer, but you are also cheating "your" men by making them cover all of their SS contributions (assuming they pay taxes), by failing to provide proper coverage in the event of an accident, and letting them go hungry if you laid them off w/o UI coverage. Deduct the cost of that on their own dime from $30 and they do better flipping burgers.

Better to pick up illegals of the street than treat a good tradesman that way. I hope your fixin' to ask a how to plumbing question next.

Good Luck
Dave

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Patrick

:furi ous: Thats all I can say. right up there with being unlicensed.

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

Meetre

most newer guys I run into don't even know about the IRS test for employee vs. sub. It almost drives me nuts, but when the tax man or WC gets them, someone else will try it in there place. We who run on the up and up just need to educate our customers as to why those guys are cheeper and let them know the risks that contractor is passing on to them. Most don't know that if a guy gets hurt and there is no WC and he "IS" an employee, whether treated like one or not by the contractor, that the home owner is also responcible for injuries that happen on their property. They hear that and suddenly they don't mind paying a bit more to a real contractor who does things the right way to protect everyone's interests durring a project.

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Meetre

Oh, and I forgot to answer your question. TREAT THEM RIGHT!! yeah, it's more paper work, and costs more money to do it right(run your business) but that's what professional contractors do. we write contracts to benifit ourselves and our customers. we pay taxes, wc, insurance, ui, and all the rest to keep it all legal and protect our interests, and the interests of those we deal with in our work. Your employees are just one more set of people you have to protect in your work. That's why we get the "big bucks"

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slowforthecones

home depot parking lots... can you say AMIGO?

AnthonyTLLC

I'm not sure where this went but I am the one that mentioned the IRS rules and therefor I Know the rules because I have them printed out. But lets not forget I don't run a charity. I am in business to make money and on the way I do things ethically and by the law. There is no beating the IRS but when there are resources, that can help, it would be stupid not to not take full advantage of them because your competitor is. That's business guys; that's life.

I have all the insurance and this and that but what I don't have is an easy way to hire a person as I need them. I said I like the website BTC suggested because if I have a pile of trash that I need cleaned up and thrown away, I can post it on that website and maybe I can get a local college kid or someone looking for extra money that can work for me to do that job. We all know that the construction business is not always full time so then why have full time employees all the time.

On that website there is a lady that needs someone to walk her dog and groom it after. She is willing to pay $50 for that service and that is it. Apply that now to the construction industry and you have a great way to hire workers on an as needed basis.