One man shops

[Rewire]

two years ago I was sidelined with a shoulder injury it took surgery and almost a year of rehab to return function.It was the closest I have came so far to shutting down we were small with just three guys and I was unable to keep on top of things.I had a lead guy but he saw it as an opertunirty to start a side business with my customers.I always woundered what would have happened if I was just a one man show.Do the small shops have a backup plan?How would you deal with the ongoing jobs?

 

[jrannis]

two years ago I was sidelined with a shoulder injury it took surgery and almost a year of rehab to return function.It was the closest I have came so far to shutting down we were small with just three guys and I was unable to keep on top of things.I had a lead guy but he saw it as an opertunirty to start a side business with my customers.I always woundered what would have happened if I was just a one man show.Do the small shops have a backup plan?How would you deal with the ongoing jobs?

It helps to find out who the other one man shops in your area and try to build some kind of alliance, issues such as covering injuries, vacations and larger jobs where you might need a hand.

 

[B4T]

I have talked to other one man shops like my own and we have a "mutual help" agreement. Sometimes you need backup and the only person who REALLY understands is someone standing in your shoes.

Too bad your employee turned into a dirtbag. I hope the same thing happens to him someday

 

[cadpoint]

If it's a solo shop, then there is no side business, I asked and got that from former employee's, My client where mine a contract was signed.

Your state Status may vary!

I'm not here to supply an IN to someone exposed to some work that I found!

No !

 

[Rewire]

I was getting back to full time when he quit saying he was moving well I thought nothing more about it other than it came as a surprise. A few days later I was passing a store we did work for and I saw his truck outside I thought I would stop in and say hello well to my surprise when I walked in I saw him working on some light fixtures. A week earlier the store manager had called and said he wanted this work done but was in no hurry and we could fit it in any time. I talked to the store manager who said he did not realize he no longer worked for me and he would not use him again. I latter found out from a few other customers that he had been telling them just to call him directly on his cell.

 

[triplstep]

I was getting back to full time when he quit saying he was moving well I thought nothing more about it other than it came as a surprise. A few days later I was passing a store we did work for and I saw his truck outside I thought I would stop in and say hello well to my surprise when I walked in I saw him working on some light fixtures. A week earlier the store manager had called and said he wanted this work done but was in no hurry and we could fit it in any time. I talked to the store manager who said he did not realize he no longer worked for me and he would not use him again. I latter found out from a few other customers that he had been telling them just to call him directly on his cell.

What a downstream bum, to kick a man when he's down. I am open minded, but this behavior is arrogant. This guy needs to have his reputation dragged through the coals at every supply house in town.

I know of a shop or two, not one man shops, that I could trust enough to take over the current load if I found myself laid up.

 

[Fulthrotl]

It helps to find out who the other one man shops in your area and try to build some kind of alliance, issues such as covering injuries, vacations and larger jobs where you might need a hand.

i've got that with a couple people... it works well for all of us...
if i have work booked, and get a call.... work get reshuffled.
they will do the same for me. sometimes we are all busy, and nobody
can help each other, but that hasn't been a problem lately..... :wink:

 

[jmsbrush]

It helps to find out who the other one man shops in your area and try to build some kind of alliance, issues such as covering injuries, vacations and larger jobs where you might need a hand.

That's very good advice, Where I'm at there are just as many one man shops as the big boys, maybe more. We all help out when there is a time of need.

 

[jrannis]

I was getting back to full time when he quit saying he was moving well I thought nothing more about it other than it came as a surprise. A few days later I was passing a store we did work for and I saw his truck outside I thought I would stop in and say hello well to my surprise when I walked in I saw him working on some light fixtures. A week earlier the store manager had called and said he wanted this work done but was in no hurry and we could fit it in any time. I talked to the store manager who said he did not realize he no longer worked for me and he would not use him again. I latter found out from a few other customers that he had been telling them just to call him directly on his cell.

Funny situation. Some people get lead poisoning from that, some you don't ever hear from again

 

[480sparky]

That's very good advice, Where I'm at there are just as many one man shops as the big boys, maybe more. We all help out when there is a time of need.

I do the same thing. I keep in touch with 5 other 1-man bands and we help each other out when needed.

 

[Mule]

ReWire has a very valid point, I just barely missed a rotator cuff injury, from pulling conduit bundles off the top of the van backwards over my shoulder. Injured my shoulder,and it hurt like heck for a month and it still talks to me on occassion, but its healing up and doing well. But what if it had not?

In truth if you worked as an employee, short and long term disability insurance are the answers. So there is a risk in working for yourself, but heck I love what I do.....

Our plan is my son in law taking a leadership role when he becomes jman. He will run one truck and I will run the other. Catch is, he takes the more labor intensive work......and I get the gravy, taking some stress off of my OLD carcus.

 

[tonyou812]

What a downstream bum, to kick a man when he's down. I am open minded, but this behavior is arrogant. This guy needs to have his reputation dragged through the coals at every supply house in town.

I know of a shop or two, not one man shops, that I could trust enough to take over the current load if I found myself laid up.

I would much rather have "Peter big nose" and "Jimmy the Mouse" pay him a visit one night.

 

[tonyou812]

I have become pretty good friends with another EC. I even did some sub work for him when I first started out. And from time to time he lets me borrow some of his guys, or larger power tools that I dont own yet. And in return I let him beat me in poker when they play after work sometimes.......:wink:

 

[220/221]

I worked by myself for decades. I was lucky to remain healthy and fearless.

As I hit my 40's, I knew that I need to take steps to build some kind of a real business, one that would run without me.

I was fortunate enough to, along with the help of friends, family, all my coworkers, and some good timing, to be able to do that.

When I hit my mid 50's I realized how fortunate I was to not be working alone because I can no longer physically do enough work to prosper.

Construction is hard on the bones

 

[220/221]

Here is a thought for the one man operations.

If you have relationships with other one man operations, build on them. If you don't have those relationships, start them.

Sit down and come up with a partnership arrangement that will be a win/win/win/win. Keep your businesses separate but share things in common.

 

[growler]

I was getting back to full time when he quit saying he was moving well I thought nothing more about it other than it came as a surprise. A few days later I was passing a store we did work for and I saw his truck outside I thought I would stop in and say hello well to my surprise when I walked in I saw him working on some light fixtures. A week earlier the store manager had called and said he wanted this work done but was in no hurry and we could fit it in any time. I talked to the store manager who said he did not realize he no longer worked for me and he would not use him again. I latter found out from a few other customers that he had been telling them just to call him directly on his cell.

In most areas commercial accounts will not make payments to an individual so an employee/ex-employee would have to start a company and provide tax information even to get paid for doing a job. Many will also want his insurance information.

How did this store pay this guy and what records did they keep for tax information? If the employee was dumb enough to use your company's tax information then he could be in deep trouble with the IRS and if he cashed a company check he is a thief.

If a guy wants to do residential work for cash money there isn't much you can do but it's hard to fake being a commercial contractor. Most want to set a company up as a vendor to aviod liabilty, with a business license, liability insurance and workmans comp. and then with the correct tax information they can write all repairs off as a business expense.

If all customers are used to making out checks to a company they will find it very strange when someone comes in wanting cash or a check made out to them.

I think this customer was just jerking your chain, there is no way he can use this as a business expense and not know who he's dealing with.

 

[petersonra]

I have talked to other one man shops like my own and we have a "mutual help" agreement. Sometimes you need backup and the only person who REALLY understands is someone standing in your shoes.

Too bad your employee turned into a dirtbag. I hope the same thing happens to him someday

I would not call him a dirt bag.

Just as likely that he figured the boss was out of it for an indefinite period of time and knew that was not a good thing, so was all but forced to go out on his own or starve.

 

[~Shado~]

One of the shops worked for in late 90's would do that. I never gave it much thought as I felt I was going to retire with them.

Since then, I have pondered this issue.

So, how do you handle the financials and libilities in these instances? If you get an employee or two from the other company and vice versa?

 

[mjf]

You can't be serious

You can't be serious

I would not call him a dirt bag.

Just as likely that he figured the boss was out of it for an indefinite period of time and knew that was not a good thing, so was all but forced to go out on his own or starve.

So you think it's ethical to go behind your employers back and try to steal his customers????

Fine, go and try to start your own business, but do it like the rest of us did.....Hard work, advertising, bids, and word of mouth, not by stealing customers.

I had a plumbing buddy years ago, when (his bosses) customers would try to get him to do side work, thinking they would save money, he would give them a price 2x what the shop would charge, do the work, and split the money with his employer (who would be aware of the whole scenario). Loyalty not often found.

 

[petersonra]

So you think it's ethical to go behind your employers back and try to steal his customers????

Fine, go and try to start your own business, but do it like the rest of us did.....Hard work, advertising, bids, and word of mouth, not by stealing customers.

I had a plumbing buddy years ago, when (his bosses) customers would try to get him to do side work, thinking they would save money, he would give them a price 2x what the shop would charge, do the work, and split the money with his employer (who would be aware of the whole scenario). Loyalty not often found.

I don't know the exact situation this guy found himself in. If the employer was hurt and unable to employ him anymore, I can't fault the guy for going out on his own.

As for stealing customers, if the guy was hurt and unable to work, just who do you think was going to service the customer? the customer was not going to wait around for him to heal up.

I am willing to bet that the real issue here is that the EC chose not to plan for a time when he would not be able to devote his full attentions to his business. IMO, the employer has as much obligation to the employee in this kind of situation as the employee does to the employer. These things are not a one way street.