I started working for myself 3 years ago. I love the work and have been well received by my clients, some “love” me. The problem is that the busier I get the more frustrated I get with the office work. I hate the buisness end of the buisness. Some times I wish I would just go out of business, and then several good jobs come along. How do the rest of you deal with the home office and paper work when all you want is to build?
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Hey Joe-
I know what you mean. I felt the same way and it was really hurting the way I did things. I finally, for the sake of my family, ended my business. No shortage of work whatsoever, but I could not do it any more.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all suggesting anything. I realized I am a better employee than a boss at this time. I am being groomed for a lead job, but the other carps are all at least 10 yrs older than me. I'll just bide my time.
NO WORRIES!!
Good Luck. Stick with it. Have you tried some pro help for the bookwork, or looking into other's successful systems? I have read and enjoyed Gerstal's "How To Own a Successful Construction Company". I pull it out now and again to re-read. Try searching for past discussions on business plans, etc.
Hook
ADH Carpentry & Woodwork
Quality, Craftsmanship, Detail
Hire office help.
blue
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
Joe,
There are a lot of really sharp pencils here.
Look through the business folder, and keep your eyes open for books to read.
Get some advice/help from an accountant.
Someone here recently stated that the carpentry is the easy part.
Good luck.
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Joe,
I love to sell, it's who I am.. but the paper work that used to go with all of it drove me crazy, At one time my blood pressure was 200 over 120.. woke up in the morning with the shakes..
Switched companies and found things much easier.. switched again and they became a breeze..
Perhaps you are your own worst enemy.. maybe a wife or girlfriend could help you maybe you need the assitance of office help, try something differant, keep trying untill you find what you can live with..
PS my blood pressure is now 120 over 80
I know exactly what you mean. And it's not even like you can work at the site in the morning and in the office in the afternoon. Sometimes ya gotta do what the job requires today. Seems like you are at the mercy of the site schedule rather than the office schedule. Right?
Now read carefully. Building is a business. Simple. Contrary to what we thought when we signed up, it is about making money. What insures the money is made? Paperwork, scheduling, organization and phone calls. That's business. You want to build? Work for a Builder. He's/ She's the business person. Want to make money? Treat your work as a business.
Here's what ya gotta do:
a) Set THE schedule - YOUR schedule - for the job. Tell everyone what THE schedule is. Everyone works on YOUR schedule. Inititialy, everyone will resist. So what. If they want to work at their own schedule, they can get their own co. Failure to plan/ schedule is basically planning/ scheduling to fail. Corny; yes. True; absolutely.
b) Streamline your paperwork. Change Orders are a natural part of the job. Make a form and have 20 copies in your briefcase (if you don't have one, get one. You need more than just a clipboard.). Same goes for time sheets, to do lists and job reports.
c) Get a laptop. You can use it to fax purchase orders, change orders, estimates and proposals; retrieve and send email; and get on the internet all from a remote and ever changing location. This is a tool that is more valuable than any hammer or drill that you'll ever own.
d) Organization. One of the most important words in business. File as the day goes on. Don't wait until you have a critical mass. Make a purchase: file the receipt. Get a Change Order signed, put it in The File. I have so many 5x8 and 9x12 envelopes and file folders that I bought a mini plastic file cabinet (like a lunch box on steroids) which I keep in my truck. Every peice of paper goes in there with a little note scribbled on it if I need to remember something. Takes a bit of time upfront, but saves so much time when I need to document something in the future.
d) Focus. Stop BS'ing on the site. Sure, that's half the fun but, just like your employees, you're there to work. Focus.
I made some assumption. Please do not read them as judgements. I just responded to your post as though I was writing to myself when I was thinking in your terms. I hope this helps.
F.
c) Get a laptop. You can use it to fax purchase orders, change orders, estimates and proposals; retrieve and send email; and get on the internet all from a remote and ever changing location. This is a tool that is more valuable than any hammer or drill that you'll ever own.
Franie, good post.
What remote internet service do you use?
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
RE: Remote internet:Most, 99%, of my clients have internet access at the site. On the occassions where they haven't moved in yet and are remodeling/ renovating before they move in, I have a clause in the Aggreement/ Contract stating that the Client must provide a telephone line and broadband internet access. I then run a cat5 line to a temp office on the site or use a wireless router which I picked up along the way.If all else fails, I log onto AOL via dial-up, as a sub acct to my sister's acct. Very rare and not worth having a reg acct for. Time Warner/ RoadRunner (my internet access provider at home/ office) used to permit dial up access to AOL for free but they stopped offering that last year. So no more AOL acct for me.F.
Frankie,
Where you been??
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Witness Protection. Gotta go!F
Thanks. A lot of good advice. Organization seems to be the real key. And your right, it is about making money, or making a living, depends on how you look at it. It is a business, MY business. Thanks again. I still welcome more advice. I hope others can benifit from this as well.