After reading some of the stuff in the ‘Just Getting Started” thread, I got to thinking.
What do you consider an acceptable method for someone to use to become a contractor?
If someone starts out cold, with no experience, they get hell for that.
If they work for someone else a few years to learn the ropes, that’s “stealing” knowledge from the contractor they work for.
If they start out doing side jobs, they’re called “weekend Warriors”, or something like that. Just a step above the dreaded DIY.
So what exactly *IS* acceptable? Or have some of you guys here become “contractor snobs” like some of the people in cooks talk have become “Food Snobs”?
Don’t laugh at these fogged up windows. It’s your daughter in here.
Replies
Boss, you just gotta buy yourself a set of RK's tapes. You'll be up and running in no time. It's a "Win-Win" for everybody. You don't want to be one of those "Small Toolbelt" guys like Ron Teti, do you? Come on buddy, ante up for the RKContractor Kit and you'll be rich and successful before you know it. Joe H
"f they work for someone else a few years to learn the ropes, that's "stealing" knowledge from the contractor they work for. "
No, if they are making money for there boss then they are earning it as they are leaning it.
What would be stealing knowledge would be to take the customer list with them or the "screte forumla" for staining concrete that makes people use that specific contractor for that technique.
".......if they are making money for there boss then they are earning it as they are leaning it."
I'm sure that not everyone feels that way. I've heard more than one contractor complain about someone working for them, then going out on their own as a competitor.
I guess that my point was that no matter what someone does, or what approach they use, they get 14 kinds of crap when they post here an say they're thinking about becoming a contractor.
Humpty Dumpty was pushed.
Boss,
I agree. It's a free market. Guys act like the employee that left is stabbing them in the back because they decide to fend for themselves. If they steal tools or protected info, that's one thing. If they take employees, that's their prerogative. If the pickings are better staying where they are most will do that. That's the challenge of being an employee.
Jon Blakemore
I want to hire people that will work with me for a while , and then, be able and willing to go out on their own. I am tired of hiring dummies, and I wouldn't mind having some partners to share the load. I worked for for others, learned the ropes, and moved along when the time came. I can't expect any less from anyone else in this business...I mean, I'm in it 'cause I don't fit the corporate mold (even though I am incorporated, HA!).
After being in this stuff for 30 years, I'm finally gonna shell out for the course that guarantees a GC license, and get it over with, is that an acceptable way? Thing is, I do know how to build houses, so I know what to expect. If I didn't come up through the trades, I'd think the learning curve could be a frown instead of a smile...
but, you've gotta start somewhere, even if it's not the beginning, good luck...
"It's okay, I can fix it!"
I think the easiest way to make money in this business is to know nothing.
Well, not exactly nothing, you just have to focus on $$$.
Just don't let the details get in your way.
I hate to say it but I think you might be right.The guys that know the least and just focus on the $:make the great $$$.
Look everyone from my point of view it's a little insulting for someone to think they can do what's taken me years to learn and do well, over night with some hokus pokus formula.
I'm a little tired of seeing new customers and having to hear the my contractor &^*@ me story,I become suspect because of someone else's inexperience.
Most guys don't want to produce a bad product,but there is so much crap being built out there mainly because of people not knowing how to build and being in it thinking it's a get rich kind of thing.Vince Carbone
John agrees with Bill,,so far I have had two young men learn all they can about the way I build decks, take pictures while they are on my payroll of the jobs,start their own business using my exact method, while going after my customer base. Is this working for them?? one has a warrent out for his arrest for runing up his accounts( which they would never even got if they dident know me) and buying a new pickup with the money he owed them,one has been kicked out of one supplier all together for underhanded tricks with the customer,,A countractor should know that geting the job and geting paid is about 30 points in a 100 point game. John Hyatt deckmastersllc.com
Boss, there's a scene in Shogun where Toranaga, the samurai lord, tells Blackthorne that "there is no acceptable reason for a subject to rebel against his liege lord", or words close to that. To which Blackthorne replied something like, "Unless he wins."
I think Bill and Andy are on to something.
When your Kung-Fu is good enough, go for it.
A man I know asked his employer for a piece of the pie. The employer said "If you think your the man, than go out on your own and get your own contracts." and that is just what he did.
A reasonable man learns a little something about lions before he sticks his head in ones mouth.
dl
you need to find someone who's close to retirement, someone who'lll show you what's going on, then retire, give you all or most of his stuff(you don't buy a construction business), thenbe around for a couple of years to come to the rescue when you need it.
no turn left unstoned
Hi Boss..........Acceptable way to become a contractor . From the good advice column that I never took dept. Ask the first contractor the same question he said "take that hammer out of your nailbag and hit yourself in the head twice ,the second time a little harder than the first and the idea will pass." Be kind to yourself my friend.
What IS acceptable???
well, who's doing the accepting. Ive been a licnsed contractor since 1981 in CA--I had to work for a licensed contractor for 4 years to be able to take the test. Thats the point of getting a license--to give you some credibility--does NOT mean you are better at it, only youve gone through the proper procedures.
This is how I got started and Yes, I underbid my previous employers--untill I found out why they charged so much--liability insurance for one thing. I worked for myself for low wages for some time untill I figured out how to bid.
A guy who works for an employer is "stealing his Knowledge" Give it a rest!! where did the employer get the knowledge (ans: learned it from someon else) When I was in the trades I saw people like this who would not teach apprentices for fear of training the competition. FCK Em!! If youre that insecure about your work, Burger King is hiring!!
Now, an unlicinsed contractor BETTER not bid against me, I will have that job shut down, once its going.
The BEST advertising is your own work and reliability. I have not advertised in 20 years and I can't keep up with all people want me to do--I'm trying to retire or at least semi retire but thanks to the economy I'm back to semi-work. I have a good helper now, I WANT to teach him the business so I can make side money helping him out, may even sell him my license (its transferable here)
Contractings a hard job to do right and make money, it took me a LOOOONG time to learn it--not the trade--the business. I'm making sure my son goes into the developing end of it. Wearing Levis all the time aint that much fun, esp dirty ones
james
Edited 9/14/2002 12:41:47 PM ET by EXLRRP
Edited 9/14/2002 12:44:41 PM ET by EXLRRP