I just got notice from the state today, if you are an LLC you need to have 2 license’s. One for the company and one for each member of the company.
They want $225 for the extra liscense, you have to fill out another application.
Just a pain in the butt that I figured I’d pass on to whoever’s left in Michigan, all three of us.
Woods favorite carpenter
Edited 4/2/2008 5:47 pm ET by MattSwanger
Replies
Well they have to make money SOMEHOW!
I love the way they do it: $hittin' on the businesses that are still left. You know what really sucks? You and I will go out and get that extra license, pay for it with money we really can't spare, and the unlicensed guys will just keep on going.
On the plus side (for me), so many builders have left my area or gone out of business that the competition is getting pretty sparse :p
I'm a little po'd today, those unlicensed parasites I mentioned earlier are working on the house across the road from me, not 400 feet away, while licensed and insured me gets to sit home and watch them, cause I hav
e no work.
I just lost a small job today to "the family favorite handy man".
Not a big job but I was counting on it to fill this week. I have a few kitchens coming up but until they're done they mean nothing.
The name of this thread says it all "Ya got to love Michigan".
Because there is no other reason to be here.
Good old Jennifer sure picked a tough time to institute all the new license regulations.
Like others have said it's only going to hurt us that go by the rules. Ad the home owners because we have to pass on the extra expense.
The unlicensed guys are going to be low balling us also.
But I do love Michigan, think I will stay and plant a garden.
Russell
"Welcome to my world"
That 1 billion dollar shortfall had to be made up somewhere. It's a little late for planting isn't it. The stuffs blooming here. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
One more thing it has to be on the states desk by May 31, 2008. If not you lose your liscense.
Just thought I'd add that. Woods favorite carpenter
They are forecasting a possible heavy snow on the 14th of this month.
A week ago monday we had 14" of snow in 11 hours.
We don't even think of planting in this part of the state until mothers day.
Like I said ya gotta love michigan.
Russell
"welcome to my world"
What choices does she have? The state needs revenue, but people are leaving in bus loads..
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"Thank goodness for the Democrats! If you are terminally unemployable, enjoy living off of govt welfare and feel you owe society nothing you're in luck: there is a donkey waiting for you."
Sorry to hear about your lost job.Slight hijack: what happened with the house in Onaway? If you're still traveling up there that offer for pie and coffee still stands : )
The house in Onaway.
Believe it or not i'm now just waiting on tax returns to reapply at the bank.
I have a 5 year tax abatement, a bank willing to fund me, and a builder waiting for the go ahead.
The problem is that my accountant is my brothers MIL so she takes longer getting everything done cause my stuff falls on her after-work desk.
I love it too, small businesses are the whipping boy of this state. No wonder people run from here, the more I find out about running a legitimate business here the more I want to leave here.
Woods favorite carpenter
I hear you!
IMO that license was a joke...just another MI tax. I knew some dumb as rocks goons that had it and I knew brilliant carps that didn't. Having your license doesn't make you a better craftsman than those so-called "unlicensed parasites".
If you can hold out another 10-12 years maybe you'll make it through the MI depression. Good luck to you, really..
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"Thank goodness for the Democrats! If you are terminally unemployable, enjoy living off of govt welfare and feel you owe society nothing you're in luck: there is a donkey waiting for you."
I dont want to start an argument here, but I welcome continuing education requirements, providing there' not a waste of time. as Jim Allen said, it was far too easy to get licensed in Mi. Stiffening the requirements may weed out some of the "hobby builders". At this time though they havent even figured out what courses would qualify.
As I understood, a part of the new legislation would also provide penalties for working without a permit, currently there really arent any.
By the way, I love Michigan, dont plan on leaving, not all parts of the state are as bad as southeast Mi. (Detroit area) as far as the economy
What you say makes sense to a point, but I think it's foolish for Granholm to be giving trades people any more reasons to leave that state than they already have.
I know a dozen carpenters in MI and most of them would have left months ago if they could sell their homes.
If she keeps screwing with the small businesses, she's going to drive all but the most loyal away...which is good for you!.
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"Thank goodness for the Democrats! If you are terminally unemployable, enjoy living off of govt welfare and feel you owe society nothing you're in luck: there is a donkey waiting for you."
Your right, Michigan is a good place and I don't want to leave either. There's a petition going around to make the legislature part time and tie their salaries to the median income of the state. It will help curb #### like this. If you see it, sign.
Check it out
http://www.parttimelegislature.com/
That is great! I donated $20.
This will never happen though: View ImageView ImageLawmaker salaries reduced by half from $79,650 to $40,000, expense accounts limited, and no state paid pensions or lifetime medical. .
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"Thank goodness for the Democrats! If you are terminally unemployable, enjoy living off of govt welfare and feel you owe society nothing you're in luck: there is a donkey waiting for you."
One can only hope. With the current Kwame situation, it could turn out to be open season on politicians.
MI needs a government coup..
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"Thank goodness for the Democrats! If you are terminally unemployable, enjoy living off of govt welfare and feel you owe society nothing you're in luck: there is a donkey waiting for you."
Another thing I got in the mail recently was a letter saying that if I wanted to be in good standing with the state I needed to send them something like $25 a year.
I sent them two years worth, not sure why. Any of you other liscensed guys in MI get this notice? Or am I a sucker that the state keeps sending junk mail too? Woods favorite carpenter
Matt,
Wasn't that extra charge, to reload the construction defects fund? Which ,was broke from paying out to HO's to cover the shoddy work of some licensed builders.
They need to make the requirements tougher, and put alot of enforcement behind it. Including punishing the unlicensed. Right now, as I recall, practicing without a license is a fairly small fine.
I'm a closely held S-corp, and haven't recieved any communication regarding an extra license, in the company name, or the continuing education requirements.
I have my home base in Wisconsin though, so maybe these only apply to in state companies. Doubtful though. Maybe, it just hasn't gotten here yet.
I think things will improve, atleast in the vacation areas, as spring comes.
The people buying summer homes usually don't have alot of problem financing them.
Brudoggie
Whst needs to happen is the initial requirements need to be tougher.
You went bankrupt, you don't get a liscense. You have a felony, you don't get a liscense. You owe money to everyone, you don't get a liscense.
The list could go on, but it won't change and the state will continue to punish those who can make it work for the handful who can't and hide in the states loopholes. Clear as mud? Woods favorite carpenter
"I think things will improve, atleast in the vacation areas, as spring comes.The people buying summer homes usually don't have alot of problem financing them.Thats typical wishful MIschpeak LOL! The summer properties are the first thing that people get rid of. It took me two years to move one on Lake Huron at a 30% drop from where we were two years ago. The guy had plenty of trouble getting financed and if I didn't finance a large second, he wouldn't have been able to get the property. Now he's grumbling about not being able to sell some other stuff that he owns which was going to pay me off. MI is (has been) in a viscous cycle that affects everyone. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Jim,
Bear in mind, I work in the UP. I know things in the cities downstate are horrible.
The economy here is never great. We seem to cycle a bit less than the rest of the state. Our lows aren't as low, and our highs aren't nearly as high.
Most of our vacation home customers are from out of state.
Most of my customers are: "old money", medical professionals & legal professionals both of which don't seem to be lacking for work right now, and blue collar workers, who live within their means, and save to finance their projects.
It seems the only ones here that are losing it at this point are: the McMansion owning, 2 big new SUV or Truck, every toy known to man owning folks, who are financed upside down on everything. Kind of goes back to the Sub-prime lending thing.
There are probably going to be some great deals on "toys" this year!!
The funny thing about the UP economy, to quote a friend is, " we are forced to cannabilize each other to earn a living", but it seem to work. There aren't too many folks getting rich, but most of us get by alright.
There seems to be less of an entitlement attitude up here. My newest truck is a 2000 model, with manual windows, door locks, and vinyl seats. My former boss, who is probably the most successful small builder here drives a 2001. Before we each bought these, we were both driving 1986's. I'm sure we could both afford a brand new fancy truck, but there is nothing wrong with the older ones. And they are paid for long ago.
Sure ,things are bad most everywhere, and probably going to get a bit worse. But I think the folks who have a good cash position, or maintained good credit options, with plenty of collateral, will begin to see the values available now.
Material prices aren't too bad, competition from the labor end is great, leaving a great deal to the customer! That will bring the turnaround.
For those who weren't ready to weather this storm. Remember for the next one, because there always is a next one. And it could be worse than the last.
My dad owned a lumber yard during the "adjustment "of the early eighties. If he hadn't been good with his finances, we probably would have been in pretty tough shape.
Sorry for the rant! I'm just getting tired of the pessimistic attitude lately. I'm a glass half full kind of guy.
Heck ,this adjustment might just eliminate some of the competiton. Survival of the fittest, so to speak.
Brudoggie
One of the fundamental reasons why the upper peninsula (and other oustste areas of MI) doesn't have higher highs and lower lows is because the majority of the citizens are living with state subsidized incomes. I was tired of the pessimistic attitude five years ago too. Now I'm in Austin and I haven't heard one pessimistic voice since I've landed (except mine...I'm traumatized by the MI economy LOL). Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Jim,
"Now I'm in Austin and I haven't heard one pessimistic voice, since I've landed"
Do you think that optimism has anything to do with the current success of the Austin area?
Personally, having lived here for 40+ years, I don't think I know too many people with State subsidized incomes.
I don't think our percentates of welfare or terminally unemployed are much higher than the rest of the state. The unemployment rate up here reads higher, but there is alot of seasonal employment. I also suspect that the "under the table economy" may be flourishing here more than other areas.
Occasionally new customers will ask for a "cash price" after recieving my bid. Looking for some discount. Too bad I won't operate that way. Although, I think a few do :)
Glad to here things are better for you in Austin!
Brudoggie
"One of the fundamental reasons why the upper peninsula (and other oustste areas of MI) doesn't have higher highs and lower lows is because the majority of the citizens are living with state subsidized incomes."
Yeah, and we don't have cable t.v. or indoor plumbing neither. C'mon man....
Doobz,Wow, you have cable tv and indoor plumbing!!!! You must be a rich yooper :).With attitudes like that towards us yoopers, it no wonder we were trying to become a seperate state!! Darn trolls! Personally, if more people new how nice it is to live here, I'd probably have to leave, as it would get too crowded.Brudogie
Maybe I should take it back and say that when I lived in AuSable, the county there had basically two groups of people: retirees who brought their income with them or welfare recipiants. As a result, there was no highs or lows....everything was just....low. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
10 or 12 years, gee, thanks for the encouragement!I know that a license doesn't make you a better builder, but trust me, these parasites are HACKS!
Well, it's for the better because working for a neighbor is almost as bad as working for friends and family...trust me!.
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"Thank goodness for the Democrats! If you are terminally unemployable, enjoy living off of govt welfare and feel you owe society nothing you're in luck: there is a donkey waiting for you."
Ha! Good point!
Parasites? Isn't the state the real parasite here?
I'm going to be broke by the time i'm legal.
I have both an S corp and an LLC. I was just told I now need "continuing Education" for my license and now your telling me I now need TWO LICENSES!?
I think i'm going to call them tomorrow.
Continuing education HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That reminds me of the time I went into the Secretary of State to renew my drivers license. I had told someone that no one fails them. They didn't believe me. I went in and took the test and marked all ten answers wrong on purpose. I was right...I walked out of there with a license after the nice lady told me the right answers.Continuing education: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That'll cost you several hundred more dollars every year to listen to some pompous azz who is making a lot of money off you!HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Breaks down like this: Licesnsed under 6 years, you need (over three years) 21 hours.
Licensed over 6, you need three hours broken down as follows. One hour on codes, one hour on safety, and one hour relating to changes in construction and business management laws.
I can hardly wait.
Sorry for laughing Matt...teehee.
Are you saying that MI wants all the officers licensed to be builders? If so, set up the LLC as a single member LLC.
I am so glad that I got out of there when I did. I let my license go years ago when I partnered with Frank because he had a license. I've never been enamored with those things and every Tom Dick and Harry has one. I could get ten guys to pull a building permit for me any day of the week.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Multi member, single member, it doesn't matter. You need two liscenses for a LLC now.
I am a single member LLC and they want any and all officers to have a personal liscense now.
Woods favorite carpenter
Just got off the phone with the state. QO and the company has to be licensed. So in my case (since im the QO) I need two licenses @ $210/ lic.
Unreal its slooow up here, hard enough to pay legitmate bills without all this ####.
The lady also said that "they have no idea how or where or how much these classes will be, but you'll have to take them".
The state want s all businesses licensed but according to the lady I spoke with its just a paper on the wall. The company cannot pull permits with that license, onlky the QO can do that. If the company is sold the comp lic. is temporarily suspended until another QO with a license comes along.
Complete ####!
Edited 4/3/2008 9:12 am ET by MSA1
I agree. I let mine lapse last year (lack of activity). I have 3 years to reapply, after that you need to retest. I did talk to the State a few weeks ago, and they sent me the relicensure app. and fee is $245.00 (if I were to send now it would expire in 2011). Nothing about continuing ed., etc. Also, I will pay when things pickup here so I have 2 years left the way I am looking at it. We will see what shakes out the rest of this year. Our single state depression is getting old, but as others have said SE MI is probably the worst hit. Although slow in GR, it is doing better than SE.
I tell you i'm getting very sick of the government.
We just moved into foreclosure in West Bloomfield and are paying $4800 / year in taxes. That doesnt even cover garbage pick up (an added expense). Then today I get a letter from the road commission about repaving our sub. They are expecting the bid to come in at about $8600 / house.
Wait a minute, "what about that $4800 every year?"
"Well sir property taxes dont cover roads, gas taxes do."
"Huh, you mean like the gas I already buy everyday?"
"Yes but that doesnt cover subdivisions, just main roads."
"You mean like Orchard Lake Road that is impassable?"
"Yes like that road."
I'd die a happy man tomorrow if I could witness an uprising amongst the people. Hang these Goddamn politicians out to dry.
I want desperately to see the capital building stormed by citizens that have had enough with taxation without accountability.
I'm tired of everytime I come up short having to cut out of my budget while the government just takes a little more to cover their shortage.
Guess i'll have secret service agents at my door after those comments.
I hated the summers the worst in MI. They'd put the orange barrels up everywhere and choke every main roadway down to one lane. I am so glad I'm outta there. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Yeah, better to choke every east/west freeway instead of putting all the guys on one at a time.
Used to ove that when I drove truck. We couldnt move anything anywhere.
Can't win for losing I guess. Many people in our state are having a difficult time, lack of work and feelings of being stuck. The high gas prices have all but squelched any development in the far flung suburbs of Livingston County, along with the massive layoffs, buyouts and closings. Michigan is expected to lose population for at least another 4 years, so demand will be close to non-existant. We desperately need leaders who are future focused, our old ways of doing things in Michigan are history. All of the Jenny voters sure are silent now though.
It kills me evverytime I hear Jenny say shes going to bring back manufacturing jobs. First of all, you're not. Secondly, why would you want to?
How about some retraining (which she has also talked about) and giving up on manufacturing for now?
That state just gets more and more screwed up every day!
.
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"Thank goodness for the Democrats! If you are terminally unemployable, enjoy living off of govt welfare and feel you owe society nothing you're in luck: there is a donkey waiting for you."
The state picks on its tax base to make up for its shortfalls, they can't balance a budget so they figure out who to tax next.
Smokers pay almost $6 a pack, builders now being targeted to make up for their screwed up budgets. I have an idea, maybe if they didn't hand out new schools like welfare checks we wouldn't be in this spot.
Woods favorite carpenter
Or waste money by re-paving the same roads every 3-5 years instead of doing them right the first time. That one always pizzed me off..
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"Thank goodness for the Democrats! If you are terminally unemployable, enjoy living off of govt welfare and feel you owe society nothing you're in luck: there is a donkey waiting for you."
They recently stopped doing that, my wife has bent three rims on her car in the craters in the road. At the tune of $350 each tire I am sick of it.
They don't plow snow until it stops snowing either. Woods favorite carpenter
Come on now, they took the lowest bid to "save us money" remember?
Better to pay four dollars three times than to pay ten dollars once, right?
lol you and MI check writers had the same economics teacher?
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"Thank goodness for the Democrats! If you are terminally unemployable, enjoy living off of govt welfare and feel you owe society nothing you're in luck: there is a donkey waiting for you."
Edited 4/3/2008 6:40 pm ET by Buttkickski2
I know it doesnt make sense. Its just getting the thieves in Lansing to understand.
Edited 4/4/2008 12:46 pm ET by MSA1
Just remember, Jennifer didn't raise taxes.
What your talking about if fees...that's different.
Also FYI I hear there are new regulations requiring commercial 24,0000 and under plates for any combo of truck and trailer with a GVWR of 10,001 or more. 3/4 ton hd with a tandem (3500 per) 7000gvw needs an almost 500 dollar plate for the year.
Not taxes....Fees
Pissed in Michigan
Garett
How are things going in Petoskey compared to the rest of the MI economy?.
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"Thank goodness for the Democrats! If you are terminally unemployable, enjoy living off of govt welfare and feel you owe society nothing you're in luck: there is a donkey waiting for you."
Slow here, I don't think it's as bad as the rest of the state yet.We have enough old money and out of state property owners that we feel the pinch less than the rest of you, BUT... the big guys are bidding out the medium jobs and the mid size guys are doing layoffs and the small guys are fighting everyone off. If I wanted work done I'd be bidding it out now. Lot's of competition.garett
I know they are fees, we are being fee'ed to death. As you probably know.
Just like trailers now, you have to buy a permanant plate now that costs a ton of money. You only need to buy it that one time but the cost is very high for that.
Woods favorite carpenter