switched jobs

[puckman]

how many guys out there worked as an inside electrician for many years and then all of a sudden you are forced into being a contractor because the company you worked for closed up for what ever reason?
after 25 years working inside and at 55 i found myself being a contractor and i can say its tough getting to learn all these procedures with permits and the poco ect. has anyone else found it tough going making the switch?

 

[Mr. Timothy Curtis]

Yes I made the switch also. It was because the guy I worked for became greedy. He wanted me to do more and take a pay cut. I ran a big housing project for him in Colorado and when I got back,2 yrs later, he wanted and did cut my pay. I found that working for myself was the smartest thing I decided to do. Its hard as hell, like learning a brand new job. Bidding, estimating, billing, stuff I have never dealt with. But like I said it was the best decision I have made in my 10 years as an electrician. My attitude is sink or swim Im going for it. I made alot of other men alot of money, and now its my turn. Good luck , we all need it:roll: :roll:

 

[Fault Finder]

switching

switching

Me too. Luckily I am working my job for the greedy so&so I'm employed by with incompetant people above me taking credit for what I do while I get started. There are two reasons for this. #1 I like the customers I work for and I dont want to leave them in bad shape by just bailing out. #2 I can start slow and save alittle for when I learn some hard lessons. GOOD LUCK TO YOU GUYS. MORE POWER TO YA!!

 

[ty]

The best electrician, might not be the best businessman.

It seems there is a growing trend in more and more guys going 'out on their own'.

I would advise to try and take some business classes wherever or whenever possible. Or at minimum discuss the business side with a close friend or relative that might run a successful business.

 

[electricguy]

my biggest hurdle was getting away from "Charging the going rate" All I can say is where did I ever get this Idea from .
It was years before i buckled down and did a cost analysis of my business was i ever surprised that it ended up between 140-170 per hour
no wonder i was working 7 days a week and frustrated every month when the bills were due.

 

[satcom]

my biggest hurdle was getting away from "Charging the going rate" All I can say is where did I ever get this Idea from .
It was years before i buckled down and did a cost analysis of my business was i ever surprised that it ended up between 140-170 per hour
no wonder i was working 7 days a week and frustrated every month when the bills were due.

I almost hurt myself form laughing, the thought that a boss is making all kinds of money, from the men working for him, just cracks me up, when someone leaves, with the idea they are going to make all kinds of money, that usually lasts, until the the first market down cycle, or when they really see the cost of running a business, and find out only a small amount of all that money is theirs.
Operating a business is a good thing, if your prepared, and have some business skills, along with a good understanding of the boom, and bust cycles, that are part of this industry.
Make it in the years you can, so you have some for the down years, all that money, you think the boss is making, is most likely keeping you employeed thru the bad times.

 

[brian john]

I worked for speciality division of a large company for a number of years one Monday morning they called us into the office for a meeting, we were told that on Friday they would close our division. Like a dummy, I assumed we were going to be incorporated into the big company, so I asked what we suppose to do next Monday, the response from the boss "I really do not give a SHXX what you do, just don't do it here." Thought about it for 2 days and decided to give it a try, 23 years later still at it. Luckily I had all the licenses, which simplified things a bit.

 

[mdshunk]

I worked for speciality division of a large company for a number of years one Monday morning they called us into the office for a meeting, we were told that on Friday they would close our division. Like a dummy, I assumed we were going to be incorporated into the big company, so I asked what we suppose to do next Monday, the response from the boss "I really do not give a SHXX what you do, just don't do it here."

Were you wrapped up in the Dynalectric thing?

 

[puckman]

switched

switched

i though ater 20 years of having my license that was all i needed to get by .i though i knew most of what it took to be an electrician. what a shock!! there is so much to being a contractor and it isn't easy without that proper training to deal with all that it takes to succeed.