Hey everybody,
I’ve been a Carpenter for about 10 years and a Superintendent for the last 3 years. I’m thinking about starting a Framing, Siding and Trim business of my own and would like some opinions on whether or not success might be in my future. I’m slightly insecure about the risk but I’d like to see what y’all think.
I have a college education and work very hard at whatever job I’m doing. I live in an area where the builiding market is very strong, mostly with vacation and second homes.
Will I be laughed out of town if I ask customers and g.c.’s to sign a simple contract protecting me from excessive changes during the project that weren’t covered in the estimate? It seems as though all subs and g.c.’s in this area work together based solely on a verbal agreement. I’ve seen enough pissed off subcontractors struggling to get work done or cutting corners so they wouldn’t lose money after changes were made to know I don’t want to be there.
Are y’all hiring carpentry subcontractors these days or are you doing the work with your own crews?
Can I compete with the dirt cheap(i.e. poor quality, etc.) carpentry subs out there if I charge a fair price and provide a quality product? How often do you guys really take the lowest bidder?
Look into your crystal balls and provide me with some insight please.
Thanks!
Replies
I don't know if you are ready to go out on your own or not, only you do.
In regard to your question about competing with the dirt cheap carps that don't give good quality, don't compete with them, if you are doing good quality at decent price then I wouldn't worry what they are charging. Good GC's are not looking at the poor quality carps.
I would never worry about my bids based on what the lower end of the industry is getting, unless that's the people that I am competing against. Don't make the mistake of trying to compete. Give them something that others are not, that's what you have to offer, and that's what will get you your next job.
Doug
""""How often do you guys really take the lowest bidder?""""
never!!! its taken about 5 years to find a decent set of subs who turn up when they say, call if they can't and do good work.
i try to keep everyone happy (i have even been known to share the wealth a bit) hoping that one day when i really need it they will be there to give a hand.
i'm sure that people have already told you that you need some savings to back you up for a while. i wish i hand thought of that a few years ago!!!!!!
i say go for it, i reckon that people are prepared to pay more for good work and people who turn up, don't swear every other word etc.....
oh and beleive me there will be plenty of days when you wish you were working for someone else again!!LOL
There's a thread here about every 2 weeks virtually the same as yours.
Try using the advanced search for similar threads using the words "start" or "on my own". That should get you plenty of good reading.
Also - Hang around here and read for a year or two. You wouldn't believe the collective expertise here.
It's actually longer than the new Harry Potter book. And both of them, I believe, are about a boy and his wand. [David Letterman, on Clinton's book]
If you want to start your own business then you need to run it like a business, a professional business. To me that means written contracts. I would not/ do not do verbal unless its family/friends ( read charity work). In your contract you could have a stipulation on how change orders are dealt with.
Seems that more and more companies are subbing things out. Company I work for is small ( personel and volume), but we sub out a number of things ( boss has found a number of good subs). They are faster, better, and cheaper than us ( most of the time!).
Good luck and go for it,
m2akita