Replies

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Dec 14, 2000 03:47pm | #1

   *
   yes... since you want general knowledge.. i'd suggest you go to the bottom of this business list and read your way the top...

   bookmark some of the threads as you find the ones you want to refer back to...

   after you've read thru them ... come back and ask your specific questions.....

   enjoy your work and your customers and keep integrity as your mantra.... roll with the punches... and look around ....not too many rocket scientists here...but the accumulated knowledge and experience is awesome..

   after 25 years on my own.....i like the business even more than when i started.......

   b but hey, whadda i no ?

1. 
   Francis_Voignier | Dec 14, 2000 09:20pm | #2

   *Oftentimes, a remodel job brings you in the private sphere of your customer for stretches of time. Being a nice guy has mostly advantages, but it is important to draw the line between business and a new friendship, where the potential for familiarities can greatly jeopardize the work thinking process. It is very important to understand the simple dynamics that separate business from play. I have had to learn that the hard way, the very hard way!fv

1. 
   Dan_Dear | Dec 14, 2000 09:48pm | #3

   *Stephen, after 30 years in the business and another 10 years in retail, still serving the public, one might think I have the "system" down pat.Wrong!The problem is that both knowledge must be mixed with wisdom to be totally effective. That wisdom tell you where and when to apply that knowledge. Yet, even both knowledge and wisdom are still slaves to our own personality quirks and nuances.Two weeks ago, while doing about $1800 in minor remodeling I made arrang ments with my glass company to install a set of sliding shower doors for the client. I was the go between. Big mistake. I should have just give the client, back in Tennessee, my vendors name and number and said "You two talk together." I now am the proud owner of a set of Alumax sliding shower doors in bright aluminum. The client wanted brass, and with handles as in a hinged door instead of the lucite towel bar/handle combination. I should not have talked to wifie - alone!One is never too old to make mistakes. Especially those where you slam the palm of you hand into your forehead and say to your self. "Ass$#le!! When you gonna learn!"The advice from Francis is worth more than gold. Take it! and create AND STICK TO your business procedures. The first time you don't, it will bite you in the rear end - guaranteed. And take Mike's advice also. There's a college education wating for you in these threads.Fortunately for me, I told my wife I "prepurchased" a set of shower doors for the new house we will start building in about 6 months. Now what was that finished width I needed? Oh yea - 58-1/2"

1. 
   Peter_Bush | Dec 14, 2000 11:31pm | #4

   *Sonny, what are you doing work long distance in Tennessee for? That's my territory. Things slow down in Florida? or do you miss the snow?

1. 
   Dan_Dear | Dec 15, 2000 12:29am | #5

   *Miss the snow & mountains.

2. 
   Adam_Harris | Dec 15, 2000 02:51am | #6

   *I would highly reccomend a book by Andrew Civitello called Contracting A to Z. He articulates the effects of changes, modifications and indecisiveness better than anyone I've ever heard.I think I spelled his last name wrong but check it out. It's available at Amazon.

3. 
   GACC_DAllas | Dec 16, 2000 12:53am | #7

   *Hey Steve,You do your best and you learn from the best. Don't skimp on subs.Good luck and welcome to the neighborhood.Ed. Williams

4. 
   Jim_Irvine | Dec 16, 2000 05:18am | #8

   *Stephen, do you really believe your statement, "I wasted a large portion of my life earning a B.S. in Business Administration. In our industry a college degree is a partial waste of time"?I see glaring problems with this. The first priority for any business endeavor is to become a businessman and be businesslike. If you do not apply the business principles that you studied and get an immediate handle on this, all of your actual work may be for naught.A college degree is never a waste of time. My guess is that in pursuing your B.S. degree you were required to take considerable doses of general liberal arts. It is in these courses that we can begin learning critical thinking and also develop our written and spoken communication skills that are so very necessary today. Whether you realize it or not, your college experience, if you were any kind of a student, has probably prepared you for this new venture in more ways than you realize.

5. 
   Jim_Walters | Dec 17, 2000 01:52pm | #9

   *I became a carpenter because I loved building things and had no desire to work for the man. To me, the business part sucks, but even so, through the last thirty years, I've lived a comfortable life as a mostly self-employed small-timer. Sometimes I worked a job, made some cash and headed for the hills for a couple of months. You can do either, and as long as you fix your f--- ups and don't rip anyone off you'll always find work when you want to. I learned my trade by reading,watching,asking, and NOT pretending like I knew everything. It's a healthy way to make a living (if you wear your protective gear when you should, and stop crawling around on your knees) 58 and still framing, don't need to join the gym or worry about getting fat. Life is good in this business. I can't tell you how many guys my age caught up in the corporate thing covet the freedom I have. The secret to success IMO is to love what you're doing, don't spend more than you make (keep the old pickup until it dies a natural death,) be carefull who you marry, and don't forget to pay you're suppliers/help on time. Always get at least a third up front and keep the money flowing your way. Let a client get behind in payments and you'll suffer for it. It's a good life, especially if freedom is your goal.

6. 
   Peggy_Wright | Dec 17, 2000 05:00pm | #10

   *Stephen,Congratulations on your endevor. I have been in business for myself a mere 3 years (in the business for 10) and, as the rest here, still learning. You will find that folks on this post are open and actually concerned about the success of others. You'r not asking for any deep secrets, you are asking for guidance and I hope you receive it. There are many books out there for reading, and I have found if you don't make the time to read them you can't learn from them. I set aside 1 hour every night to read....period. Now, I may not get though a book in a week that way, but I get through it!There have been many posts listing books you can read, I would like to add to that The Profit Zone ISBN 0-8129-2900-4 and The Experienced Economy ISBN 0-87584-819-2. Sonny recently passed this on to me. Some others to consider, that I have but am waiting to finish others prior to starting include Managing the Small Construction Business (borders, Journal of Light Construction online http://www.jlconline.com) The Strategy & Tacktics of Pricing: A guide to Profitable Decisionmaking ISBN 0-13-669376-8I am in the process of overhauling my business, literally. Don't do like so many of us have done and run with your information in your head. Get it on paper, or in a palm held! Get everything in writing (ohhh, painfull memories) and stick to it. Do not allow your clients to make you feel bad, even the kindest will try, so they can get it cheaper, especially with change orders.I would recommend you go to the site http://www.turnkey.com I have recently purchased this system and am going to DC in January to take 3 days to work ON my business and put together systems that apply to my business. There are other programs out there that can help you document your business, such as A Better Act http://www.9dots.com. In my opinion, it is all about documenting and communications. If it is on paper and you hand it to your sub (requiring he initial you copy showing he received his) he can never say he didn't get the requirments.Good luck. Have a fun adventure, after all, isn't that what life is?Peggyalso check out the site http://www.jlconline.com forums. Lots of shared information there as well, you will see a lot of folks who are here and there.

7. 
   jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Dec 22, 2000 05:33am | #11

   *Stephen - Many, many people will tell you you need "a business plan" and "business training" to succeed in this business. And I guess it depends on your definition of "success", but this is still one business you can run by the seat of your pants. I've said it many times here, to the rolling eyeballs of many others, but it's worth saying again - I just drift along in the river of life, dealing with whatever life brings my way. And because I'm drifting, I have plenty of time to look around and my little boat follows currents I might have avoided if I tried to control the journey. And those unplanned for currents have brought me riches far beyond monetary rewards.It's awfully hard to see opportunities when you're working as hard as you can to control your boat because you're going as fast as it will carry you toward that "goal" that you laid out in your business plan. Now I'm not saying this approach is sound business advice, or that it will work for everyone, but I am willing to bet there are many, many contractors out there who make a damned good living following a similar philosophy. Good luck, and I think Jim Walters gave the best advice in this thread when he said all you really have to do is love your work. That's the phrase you'll hear over and over as "successful" people testify.

8. 
   Ron_Veillette | Dec 22, 2000 08:46pm | #12

   *Stephen,Remember, the most important jobs are sometimes the ones you don't get. That little bit of advice has been huge to me. I have been on my own since 1984 and that is one I never forget. Good luck

9. 
   Jim_Walters | Dec 22, 2000 11:08pm | #13

   *Hey Blodgett, A man after my own heart, my philosophy also. I never had a business plan or anything else for that matter, just a good hammer and a love for the game. Never been without.

10. 
    Mike_Smith | Dec 23, 2000 12:26am | #14

    *""" I just drift along in the river of life, dealing with whatever life brings my way. And because I'm drifting, I have plenty of time to look around and my little boat follows currents I might have avoided if I tried to control the journey. And those unplanned for currents have brought me riches far beyond monetary rewards. ""gag me wit a spoon , blodgett....how b'bout editing it to this ....???b what, me worry ?

11. 
    jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Dec 23, 2000 01:57am | #15

    *And happy holidays to you too, Mike.

12. 
    Mike_Smith | Dec 23, 2000 02:17am | #16

    *and to you and yours , jimbo.....

13. 
    Adrian_Wilson | Dec 23, 2000 05:27am | #17

    *Mike: picture this. You, me and Blodgett, drifting along in the lifeboat of life. I say we eat Blodgett first, see how we get along. And stop looking at me like that. I don't care if you're still hungry.I'll tell you what, though; I see it working for some folks. And they seem to enjoy ther lives a lot.

14. 
    Mike_Smith | Dec 23, 2000 05:52am | #18

    *the owl and the pussycat went to sea ..in a beautiful pea -green boat....

15. 
    CDC_ | Jan 18, 2001 06:37am | #19

    *Keep up on all your tax fillings. I am still having trouble with this after six years!It is not rocket science of course. I just get lazy and miss the date occasionally by a day or two. I always get slapped with a $20 penalty or so. I vow to do better next month.It is still cheaper for me(even with an occasional penalty) to do my own payroll and fillings.

2. 
   Stephen_Levick | Jan 18, 2001 06:37am | #20

   *
   I've just started a residential remodeling business, and even though business has been good, I'd love to hear from experienced carpenters/G.C. concerning past mistakes they've made.... and maybe, find in the goodness in their hearts, steer me away from financial disaster. I can avoid the same. (It's like getting the chance to see someone avoid a certain financial ruin.) Besides that, I love remodeling never thought I could find such pride in work; when I'm into the groove-time flies! ...yeah, I know, wait a about twenty years and we'll see what's up the idealism! Since I'm new to the business side of the industry, I hope what I'm asking for isn't too taboo. Some people may take offence that I'm cheating my way through the school of hard knocks; maybe partly true; but I wasted a large portion of my life earning a B.S. in Business Administration. In our industry a college degree is a partial waste of time, and it seems that there's an art to knowing how to bid; I know estimating must be similar to taping drywall: People can teach you tricks, but it really comes down to practice, practice. Any tips to help a struggling new guy?