Replies

1. 
   PaulBinCT | Nov 13, 2009 11:25pm | #1

   I've made quite a few valuable friends right here.  Maybe post a thread asking about BT members in your neck ofthe woods?  Start a breakfast or dinner get together?  If you've spent much time in the trades, I imagine you've met other guys, don't be bashful about asking them about things you don't understand.  My experience has been that when you ask the right questions, at the right time (as opposed to when they're rushing to meet a client say), tradespeople are some of the best about sharing what they know... ala BT ;)

   PaulB

   http://www.finecontracting.com

2. 
   Hazlett | Nov 13, 2009 11:26pm | #2

   contact Erie insurance

   their rates are very reasonable-and if you qualify you can get an artisan policy for peanuts

   then- contact an organization called S.C.O.R.E.- it's primarily made up of retired executives from a variety of industries

   it may take a few attempts to get hooked up with a SCORE execuytive that is a good fit for you-a lot of their experience may not be relevant to what you need
   HOWEVER-you can learn a lot from an executive from a different industry.

   I am a roofing contractor- my best SCORE contact was the owner of a place called West Point Market---in (Akron Ohio.)- I suggest you google it.- It's a fairly small( but always growing,) specialty food market- the Owner of the market- MR. Russ Vernon was hugely helpfull to me-we now share the same customer base

   now- what does a guy selling gourmet cheeses,wines,baked goods, organic fruit etc.-have in common with a dumb roofer?- well-our core businesses sell basic commodites-food/roofing.

   you can go to piggly wiggly and buy a can of tomato soup for,I suppose 80 cents?-Russ will sell you a can of tomato soup for $4-$5 and you will SWEAR it's the best tomato soup money can buy. He makes shopping at Whole Foods seem like dumpster diving

   somebody else might sell you a commodity roof for $290/sq.--ME,Personally?- I am interested in roofs at $400or $600- to over $1000per square-and portions of roofs even higher than that.
   russ helped me wrap my head around THAT situation

   so-a mentor in a different industry might be VERY helpfull to you.

   Best wishes,
   stephen

3. 
   DanH | Nov 14, 2009 05:04am | #3

   SCORE -- no guarantees, but your best bet if you're starting from nowhere with no good contacts otherwise.

   A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter
4. 
   MikeSmith | Nov 14, 2009 05:11am | #4

   diverse.... the difference in cost between a $5ooK gl & a 1 million  gl is not that much

   i joined my  local builder association in 1975... it's just another cost of  doing business.... except that i got back way more than i have ever paid in

   Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
5. 
   Sphere | Nov 14, 2009 05:15am | #5

   Get the million insurance, cuz it costs about the same as a 1/2 mill, really. AND, if in the event of a claim? A million suddenly is like a tick turd, real small.

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

    

6. 
   Kowboy | Nov 14, 2009 06:09am | #6

   I think I pay about $750 bucks a year for $2,000,000.00 in liability coverage. That's a small cost of doing business.

   Kowboy

7. 
   craigf | Nov 14, 2009 06:48pm | #7

   My liability policy also includes commercial vehicle insurance and tool insurance which covers tools in my van, on the job or in the garage I use as a shop.

   The whole package wasn't too bad.