Has anyone had their business dry up and been forced to back to work for someone else?
I hired a guy who had a cabinet shop in town to replace someone who left. This was about 6 months ago, it did not work out. I could tell it was difficult for him to accept the $23/hr pay, among other things.
I would be interested to hear any stories, and how you handled it. It would be even better to hear of any growth areas in the construction industry, and if you have found them.
Replies
I just had to lay someone off this week because of slow business. It was a lousy thing to have to do but it was necessary.
Dave
I just gave up working for me lately. Its really hard to accept some things a bout it but others really suck. Guys I've hired in the past thet were self employed have not worked out either maybe we were both to set in our ways.
After almost 3 years in cabinet making myself I gave up last Fall and went back to my old job. So far it's the best decision I've made in decades.
Steady pay check every two weeks...and I don't have to beg to get paid like some bum!
$23/hr pay for cabinet making? How could that be hard to accept? That’s about twice what they make in northern Indiana. Was he some kind of Japanese master craftsman?
-T
5 going on 6 years ago ... I left the world of self emply and took a job as an employee. It was pretty much planned ... wife was prego with the first kid and I had always planned on working for a mid-sized company to learn more anyway.
Timing was right ... so I went out and got hired.
Fell into being an employee pretty quickly ... was a pretty good employee if I say so myself ... then when the place reorganized and laid most everyone off to focus one working with subs ... I was one of the guys offered to come back and bid work as a sub.
That also worked great for me ... as I just lowered my liability ins ... never cancelled it ... got laid off on a Fri ... was handed a set of bath prints ... took the follwoing week off and started as a sub that following Monday.
Maybe the guy U hired just wan't ready to take orders yet?
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I remember your "should I be an employee" predicament like it was last week...man time is weird....
Mike Maines"This is a process, not an event."--Sphere
Yup ...
time/does/did fly!
Cath was prego with Corey ... today he was feeding his little sis a bottle!
I'd never rule out working for someone again ... probably won't look for it ... but never say never ... right situation for the right money ... I'm there.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
My work didn't exactly dry up, but I quit a design job, left the city for a couple years, then moved back planning to start up again as a trim carpentry sub. Had trouble finding work--everybody wanted employees. Ended up subbing to the company where I used to work, eventually hired on as an employee, two years later I'm a foreman (current job $700K, last job $2.5mil) and I'm making less than you were paying your guy.
Want some help?
We work for other contractors almost weekly. One day a week we allow for small projects and if nothing else is going on we have some contractors that can use some extra help. They like it because we're tooled up, don't need supervision, have our own insurance and simply do good work.
We're able to charge our regular T&M rate, maybe that means were too cheap, but really it's just good business for the guys who are short handed and need the help.
If we had a like minded solo contractor nearby that needed some extra work we could probably send close to a months work his way, or he could work with us and we'd cycle through our current job a month early, although currently the local guys in our niche are all busy.
The way I'm used to, a contractor simply agrees to a $$ and is assigned smaller segments of larger projects as a sub. It would be harder to work for normal low wages.
Best of luck
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
I should also pass on how well it can work to loan employees out. In the past we would sometimes take in a foster carp until business picked up for the other guy. It was good for the slow carp since he doesn't have to lay anyone off and it's good for us when there's too much work.
Of course to make it work the loaner has to be a good carp or at least a good worker and the stronger the relationship between the two contractors the better.
Too often we see business as black and white, when there are numerous opportunities to work together in the gray.
When I switched from a lead carp to being self employed it was a bummer to be working solo all week, so I'd hire friends on weekends or when they could get a day off to catch up on things and provide some beer money for the other guy.
Cheers
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
I used to do the swap thing , or temp. work thing with a number of small contractors here.
We would trade around when in need .
Always worked well after you eliminated the greedy one or two who thought they were worth more than the rest of the guys , or would "forget " that they owed a day or two to the common cause.
Nice thing is they come trained, tooled up and ready to go because they knew that they were gonna be needing you some day.
greedy one or two who thought they were worth more than the rest of the guys , or would "forget " that they owed a day or two to the common cause
It's interesting that the trades you know about didn't always include payment, but you'd trade time. We treat it like hiring a sub for the most part so there is no hard feelings if the trade isn't reciprocated. I can appreciate the benefit of keeping it off the books though.
It's interesting to read about those who belong to coops and trade carpentry for other services. Our painter worked off one kid's birth with his pediatrican. Strange, but interesting.
Good trading.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Heard an interesting story today.
Was talking to a hod carrier, everyone in their company went to work for a different contractor lastyear when things were slow, including the boss. All went as hourly employees of other masonary contractor.
The other boss said, "I would never hire your boss to lay brick again, he can supply me guys when you guys are slow and I will pay him for that. He will never lay brick for me again he is to slow"
Found that kinda weird, these guys have been friends for yeas. I have worked with both of them on different jobs.The bad news is you've done exactly the right things to be exactly where you are today.
"IdahoDon 1/31/07"
hee hee That's funny. When bosses become bosses it doesn't take long to forget how hard the indians work!
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.