Hi All,
Posted earlier this week about contractors schools in CA and frankly got more responses warning me of the pitfalls. I highly appreciatte them BTW but here’s my situation: I come in as a “ace carpenter” for a tile setter with a B1. I do everything involved in a typical kitchen or bath remodel and this means minor electrical and plumbing. I have no lisence and am usually just paid cash/check and am on my own wether to declare it. I easliy run it through my other business. I work about 2 weeks or 2 jobs a month. Some times less. Not sure if I want to step it up or not. I have over 15 years experience.
With all the hidden costs of being a general contractor I’m wondering if I should get a specialised classification. Maybe rough framing and/or finish carpentry. This still precludes me from leagally touching any electrical or plumbing so…. But are the hidden costs lower? Is there any advantage going general?
It’s very confusing. I love the work. I have another business that really prevents me form doing it full time. Seems like the lisencing board doesn’t care if your going part time or not insurance and fee wise. I understand how you who have taken the step must feel at someone like me who’s basically breaking the rules but I’m trying to find an easy way to come correct without being buried in paper work and still focus on the carpentry.
Thanks,
N
Replies
"...without being buried in paperwork and still focus on the carpentry..."
Please take this as well-intended: If you don't care to take on the hassles and pitfalls of operating a business and just want to do the work, you should probably get employed with someone who IS a businessman and will pay your insurance and your withholding and offer you at the very least, some medical benefits.
If you've got 15 years experience and are solid employee material, you should shed this cash-paying skunk you're working for, who is, in effect, one of those who creates problems for the rest of us.
"you should probably get employed with someone who IS a businessman and will pay your insurance and your withholding and offer you at the very least, some medical benefits.
If you've got 15 years experience and are solid employee material, you should shed this cash-paying skunk you're working for, who is, in effect, one of those who creates problems for the rest of us."
Well...
I'd love to, but you show me a contractor who will hire part time yet give full time benefits. I've worked for 10 different contractors over the years and am usually a victim of lay offs as my wage/benefit package out grows my usefulness. Not one time has a contractor made a decision not based on money. It's called business and I don't hold anything against them. the game is set up where you have to be working full time to make it woth their while.
This contractor is not who is causing problems for the rest of you the state is. This is a contractor who busting his butt like the rest of us and is handicapped because he doesn't want to or isn't in the position to expand. To legally pay someone $150 per day he would need to come up with closer to $300 through a contractors service. I don't consider him a skunk for giving me the entire $300.
More on the story I'm already self employed and am covered with my own insurance and take care of my own taxes. I'm not getting short changed in any way. If you've been at this game for any length of time you know how rare it is to find someone who thinks like you and is on the same page with jobs. We have a good thing going and are trying to find a way to come correct.
How does this effect any of you in the least? I mean I feel bad about not paying my share and am here to find a way to get in the fold without taking a major step backwards. I love working and if I have to put in more hours to keep it even that's not a problem. Please remeber I'm here to find out how and what to do about this not thumb my nose at you who are doing it by the book.
But there is obviously a point at which ya just wanna move to a right to work state.
I should also add, many jobs are come across that this contractor doesn't have the skils, desire or time to take. If he hands them to me through him the above hassles have to worked out. If I'm lisenced I legally bid on them myself. He's not trying to take advantage of me but trying to figure a way to get me work where he doesn't have to do the paperwork.
Regards,
N
Edited 5/24/2003 2:19:48 PM ET by notrix
Well, if you'd been a little clearer in the beginning on what your role is with this guy, I would have probably given a little different answer.
It probably would be better for you to get a license of some kind so you can sub for him those tasks he doesn't care to do or know how to do. I don't know CA's licensing breakdown, but I would imagine that a limited license of some kind that restricts you to 4 or 5 SIC codes would do you just dandy.
Just a correction: If he hires you through an agency, his mark-up is not going to be anywhere near equal to your wage, unless California is even wackier than it's said to be.
"Just a correction: If he hires you through an agency, his mark-up is not going to be anywhere near equal to your wage, unless California is even wackier than it's said to be."
I beleive he was quoted close to 2x the wage. Something like $125 and the emplyee gets $75.
Sorry I wasn't clear right off the bat. Having made my own provitions for insurance and taxes does shed another light on it.
Thanks for the input,
N