Full Service contractor.

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tmbrk said:
I agree. But I bet if it doesn't say licensed, bonded, insured there is an even higher chance that they aren't.
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I'm not so sure about that. None of my advertisements say "licensed, bonded, insured" nor does my truck (although i am). I have my license number in small print at the bottom of ads and on my business cards. I like simplicity. Around here the trucks that say "lic., insured, bonded" look like the ones you don't want to call. None of the big shops around here put that stuff on their trucks either, and I'm all about duplication. ;)
 
brantmacga said:
I'm not so sure about that. None of my advertisements say "licensed, bonded, insured" nor does my truck (although i am). I have my license number in small print at the bottom of ads and on my business cards. I like simplicity. Around here the trucks that say "lic., insured, bonded" look like the ones you don't want to call. None of the big shops around here put that stuff on their trucks either, and I'm all about duplication. ;)
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Sounds like in your neck of the woods, that's the way to go.

I live in a state that does not require licensing at the state level. However, most municipalities do. Some of the towns I do business in though do not require a licensed electrician. The homeowners, however, would prefer an EC that has licensing and in this case even if you are licensed in a different community it is better to them than nothing at all.
 
480sparky said:
What's wrong with stating to the world that you play by the rules?
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i guess i should clarify:

in my area all the trucks that say that are old raggedy hunkers that i as a customer wouldn't want to see in my driveway. this may be area specific, i don't know. i'm just saying i don't see any of that on the trucks of the more well known EC's. Heck, I don't even think the Mr. Electric truck has all that on the side; and they've got a whole team of marketing folks who know what to put on a truck, don't they?
 
I make it clear in my advertising that I do residential/light commercial work. We do new construction, remodeling and service work.

I do, however, state that I am a full service electrical contractor in these areas. I feel this is for the benefit of the homeowners. They are obviously not as savvy as we are when it comes to the trade. I have gone to peoples homes on service calls to troubleshoot or other small service jobs and have had them tell me, "Oh, by the way, we are remodeling our basement and will need an electrician, but I suppose that is not work that you do."

My way of thinking is when I say I am a full service electrical contractor in residential/commercial it is for the benefit of those who wouldn't know otherwise, not other ECs.
 
480sparky said:
I do not use the word 'industrial' at all. Heck, I'm in Iowa. We don't
have​
industrial.

Can I use 'agricultural' instead? :grin:
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I agree. I consider places like John Deere and Firestone either residential or light commercial at best.
 
brantmacga said:
i guess i should clarify:

in my area all the trucks that say that are old raggedy hunkers that i as a customer wouldn't want to see in my driveway. this may be area specific, i don't know.
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We have them in our area also, you turn off the lights and let out the dogs when they pull up, we have them here also, we call them hackers, or part time hacks, they usually have a full time day job, and pick up a beater truck , but the mag sign is usually in better shape then the truck, they try not to put too much information on the truck, and leave the mud on the non commercial license plates.
 
tmbrk said:
I make it clear in my advertising that I do residential/light commercial work. We do new construction, remodeling and service work.

I do, however, state that I am a full service electrical contractor in these areas. I feel this is for the benefit of the homeowners. They are obviously not as savvy as we are when it comes to the trade. I have gone to peoples homes on service calls to troubleshoot or other small service jobs and have had them tell me, "Oh, by the way, we are remodeling our basement and will need an electrician, but I suppose that is not work that you do."

My way of thinking is when I say I am a full service electrical contractor in residential/commercial it is for the benefit of those who wouldn't know otherwise, not other ECs.
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that's a good reason, and i know just what you're talking about.
 
In my area, I always notice that the vehicles of a very large, legit, global, well respected, and diversefied electrical contractor don't even have a phone number on their vehicles. In fact, they don't even tell you that they are an electrical contractor. Name/logo....nothing else.

Talk about brand recognition!
 
R Bob said:
In my area, I always notice that the vehicles of a very large, legit, global, well respected, and diversefied electrical contractor don't even have a phone number on their vehicles. In fact, they don't even tell you that they are an electrical contractor. Name/logo....nothing else.

Talk about brand recognition!
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same way here! our largest local EC doesn't even have a phone number on their trucks, yet their tractor-trailers are parked in front of every major construction project in the area.
 
I don't state in any way what type of electrical work I do. If I get a call for a certain type of work I pretty much know if it's something that I can handle.My MI.Contractors license legally allows me to perform any type of electrical work that is covered in the NEC and a host of other code books, it's up to me to decide if I have the technical ability to perform the work safely and correctly. I have found that over the years if you don't feel comfortable from the get go with taking a job, it's best to pass on it and leave it for the ones better qualified.
 
It's funny you say that, I had some problems with the 12V wiring on one of my utility trailers, I took into a shop that does that type of work every day they found the problem and fixed it for $40. I know full well I would have spent hours screwing around with it and probably replaced everything but what the real cause of the problem was.
 
nizak said:
It's funny you say that, I had some problems with the 12V wiring on one of my utility trailers, I took into a shop that does that type of work every day they found the problem and fixed it for $40. I know full well I would have spent hours screwing around with it and probably replaced everything but what the real cause of the problem was.
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was it a bad ground?
 
brantmacga said:
was it a bad ground?
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It was a partially broken corroded wire in the molded plastic pigtail.I guarantee I would have started looking and taking apart everything but that.
 
Rewire said:
I have my name on all our vehicles I like the advertising.
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Most all the vehicles here are lettered. Company name and logo with telephone number. Some say licensed, insured and bonded and some even give a list of the types of work they do.

The only trucks that I see that may not be lettered are the ones provided for job foremen to drive. The bigger delivery vans that transport tools & materials all have name and logo. The job trailers are marked or have a sign out front.

The trucks that list the licensed, insured and bonded on the side are normally residential service vans. For bigger commercial & industrail accounts you don't need to tell them you are licensed and insured because they check it out for themselves. Some jobs want proof of insurance to include commercial auto before you set foot on the job site. You need to pass muster as a qualified vendor before you do anything.

That's why a lot of the largest companies don't need much on the truck, they they have already provided their qualifications up-front. They don't advertise in the yellow pages either.
 
I don't do everything but I do a little bit of everything.

sideofvan.jpg
 
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