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bobstrat

first off id just like to say hello to everyone. i cant believe in my good fortune stumbling over this site. i hope i havent broken any rules but im not a contractor (yet) but ive been working for one or another since high school (87) i am very much considering the move this year as im tired of being #011000230 if you know what i mean.the past 5 years ive been with a utility contractor in se pa i joined this forum to get some insight from guys who have done it
i have to be honest i dont even know where to start as far as the whole process goes ( license insurance and all the legal aspects) so i figured id come here and ask some of you guys.

my plan isnt that extravagant i just want to start with a contractor dump and a skid steer .... while once again trying to find year round employment .... i bumped into a friend of a friend who is telling me a pool company he works for hires subs to do nothing but back-filling and grading ..... i hope that would pave the way for some driveways and so on and so on any thoughts ,advice or anything to point me in the right direction.

Nathan

This site is for Contractors... owners, tradesmen, apprentices, and students all fit into this category in my book. So you aren't breaking any rules.

Hope you enjoy the site!

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

rino1494

Who do you work for in PA, if you don't mind ??

Since you are a utility contractor, why not look into getting a backhoe and maybe pick up a few water line jobs and repairs and some sewer hook ups.

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Life is hard. It is harder when you are stupid

Uncle Sam wants YOU....to speak ENGLISH

bobstrat

well i did give that some thought but in this area there arent a lot of guys in this line of work so that would have me butting heads with my current co. ........ in fact most of my days are as a rental operator working for local plumbers and these guys are pretty well established so i just dont know if goin up against them is how i want to start .... i would name them but with my luck im conversing with my boss now..... hahaha i just figured the pool guy has a ton of work and not enough people so it would be a start

Glasshousebltr

Welcome to the forum.....

However, ya can't learn to swim from the beach, put your trunks on and jump.

Bob

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Bob

jmic

Bob,
I thought trunks were optional.

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___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe

denick

Bob,

Welcome to the site. Since you came here to ask You must want to listen?

Start with the the business end. Learn everything you can about running a business! Learn what it is and how to apply markup and profit. Learn how to figure ALL your costs. Find a lawyer that deals with contractors in your area! Find an accountant that works with equipment based contractors. Find out all the state requirements.

You didn't mention about how old you are. Or if your married with kids or if you are financially well enough off to make mistakes for two years with out going broke.

Somethings to start you thinking.

If I can be of help I'm here.

Nick

bobstrat

yes i came here to listen and learn so i thank you for taking the time to respond. im 37 single and financially no better off now than i was 10 years ago.... i have what i consider a pretty good work ethic... i mean i think i took 2 days off maybe three in the past 2 years and 1 week vacation in 5 years.(not including lay offs) i love what i do but i am treated the same as the guys who show up drunk(sometimes a little too much of a perfectionist for my own good but if im puttin my name on it ) ive only been operating for the past 5 but i just seem to have a knack for equipment ( in other words i still have much to learn but i will only get better )

rino1494

haha, well I can assure you that I am not your boss.

I know how you feel when you say that you are not being treated better than the person that shows up to work just for a paycheck. Getting started with the pool guy might be a good start. It takes a long time to get your name out to ppl and it won't happen over night.

__________________
Life is hard. It is harder when you are stupid

Uncle Sam wants YOU....to speak ENGLISH

bobstrat

yeah thats what i figured too, im just to the point where im gettin too old to be getting laid off every year im too proud to collect so i just kill my savings aaarrrgghh but i figured if i dont shoot for the moon off the bat who knows ??? thanks for the input

denick

Bob,

You might want to start with your state web site. They usually have a section on starting a business. This should tell you about any permits, contractor registration, licensing and taxes. Rino may be able to help. Or post a question up on business for your specific question on these topics.

For accountants you might want to go to the cfma.org site. The construction financial managers they list members by state I think. You might find a CPA listed there. You also could try foundationsoft.com they are a construction software company that lists CPA's that are construction specific.

For lawyers if you know someone that is the owner of a lumber yard, supply company or good contractor they may know someone who deals with construction often. You might want to start off as an LLC?

I mention these professionals as construction specific or experienced for reasons that I could fill pages with, it's worth it to spend the time interviewing them. Just ask them outright if they charge for the interview. Some push the button as soon as you start talking. It might be worth it but you want to know. Don't be afraid to ask for references.

Would or could you take a business night course?

Read everything up in the business, marketing forums. Read posts by Sonny Lykos.

Could you start nights and Saturdays part time?

Nick

bobstrat

hey thanks alot this is a big help and im sure a time saver as well

chrisherk

I started with a little backhoe, that i could pull around with my truck, on the side. then i quit my job. That unemployment came in real handy for 30 weeks. Its your money that you put in, If you dont take it the gov't keeps it.
chris

dayexco

in south dakota, the employee contributes nothing to unemployment benefits, the employer does

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someday, i'll be as patient as Nick.

jojo

Hey Bob,,welcome to the site,,these guys in here are great ,,,they give some excellent advise,,,,Where in SE pa. do you live,,I am from lancaster co...I am just starting out myself,,I have a backhoe and dump truck,,,maybe we could send each other some biz.....sub each other out stuff like that,,let me know what you think....

Eric K

www.paopen4business.state.pa.us

Check out that site. Hope it helps you start.

denick

Bob,

If you are considering a skid steer, do you like operating one?

Are you really good at all the things a skid steer can do?

What size machine were you thinking? Why?

Do you have the finances to buy some attachments?

Will you be doing most of your own mechanic work?

Are you a disciplined person could you make a business plan and stick to it?

What kind of contacts do you have in your area?

I ask these things to start you thinking at the beginning. I feel that a person who specializes in a one machine company needs a few things to succeed.

Knows or is going to learn how to run a business.

Likes what he does.

Is very good at what he does.

Is dependable, on time and completes the work as promised.

Is always looking for new opportunity for the equipment.

I think there are many opportunities for a creative, thinking person who specializes at something he is very good at.

As for pool companies, at one time we did a lot of work for the three biggest pool companies in Fairfield County in CT. They can be good customers. They can also be very demanding. They can also be very economy driven as to how busy they are.

Nick

bobstrat

hey nick i appreciate the food for thought .....

the only reason i figured the skid steer was the nature of the pool guys work ..... i figured maybe a cat 247 to start cause im pretty sure thats about as big as you can go to drag around with the f350 f450 legally and though most of my time is in a backhoe i gotta admit i love those cat track skid steers.... sometimes i almost feel bad getting paid to run it (thats what we use now ) ive been seeing some open cabs for 7 or 8 thousand so for initial cash outlay didnt seem too bad and at least as i try to establish myself i could keep busy with the pool guy .... sort of a safety net .... as far as attachments go i guess i could rent as needed till i get a feel for what would be used often enough to buy....i mean i would like to get to a point where that would not be my only piece,
i'd like to add a mini excavator to the list as well and maybe go after some residential water and sewer jobs and after seeing what a 590 does to someones yard i think the loss of digging speed is definitely outweighed by the overall neatness of the job.......
im not saying i have the answers here im just throwing it out there so if you see flawed thinking feel free to say so

bobstrat

that would be excellent but im only in the thinking about / plan formulating stage right now if i do make a go at it you have a deal .... (fairless hills area about 25 min north of philly)

jojo

Bob,,Fairless hills,,,there should be plenty of work around there,,,,here in amish country you can get a pretty good buck for cleaning out barns with a skidsteer,,,sounds kind-a crappy,,(pun intended),,but it pays well,,,lol