I have been doing all types of finish trim and building/installing cabinets for over 7 years now. I've been working for my boss but I'm about to totally switch career paths hopefully, but I'm going to need to do finish side jobs here and there while I'm getting a new business started with a friend.
I heard theres a limit on what you can make without having a license? Someone told me if its under $500 I'm ok? Is it really worth getting a license, i know theres commonly a $1 Million liability coverage required around here and im not sure what that would cost me. I live in Northern California, where costs are high.
My boss just says to figure out what i want to make for that day. I'd like to be able to bid fairly to both the customer AND myself. (for a while these will be weekend side jobs)
I have a job coming up where they want a custom built in cabinet to fit their plasma and theater equipment. I always build or trim then the customer uses their own painter etc.
2006-12-28 13:40:57 · 8 answers · asked by Kwikiewit 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
I contracted on and off for over 30 years. Please don't get me wrong, because I am trying to help you out here. If you have to ask that question, you should be spending your time working for a man that has already got a licence and enough work to keep you busy.
Let me ask you this question and I will give you the answer before I finish.
What is worse than bidding a job and not getting it.
Well I may as well go ahead and answer it now.
It is UNDERBIDDING IT AND GETTING IT.
I once spent about 5 or 6 weeks building a bathroom addition and in the end, I spent $47.68 out of my pocket doing the job.
Another thing I learned. You can break even sitting at the house.
OK, with that said, I figure you are probably like I was when I was younger. I want to be my own boss and that's it.
You can not go in and underbid the pros and make money. They have been doing it so long everything is second nature to them and they have all the tools needed.
If I haven't changed your mind yet, good. I hope I didn't. Read on.
Keep the job you have now. Buy every tool you can think of and store them. Don't break them out to use on your bosses job.
Get your truck set up the way your boss has his set up.
Get you a contractors licence and get bonded. Please don't try to work under the table. You have got to pay your taxes or it will come back and bite you in the ***. Sooner or later it will get you.
Now, as for bidding the job, call several contractors and tell them a lie. Make them think you are looking for a sub to do trim and want to know what they are getting per foot of trim. I am not sure what it is where you are at, but I would think it is probably somewhere around a buck a foot.
If you have everything in order, you can underbid them 20 to 30 % but be careful even at that. You have got to move. You don't have any time to play around. If you are going to start a company like this, you have got to stay on a roll. Put yourself on a small payroll, no more than what you are earning now to start with. Build a bank account.
If you can get hooked up with several builders for thier trim work, you MAY BE ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK, but if you do, you will be working twice as hard as you are now, for just a little more true income.
You will have to pay taxes, everything that goes into transportion, (tags, Insurrance, fuel, tuneups, tires, etc., etc., etc.,
Please don't work under the table. I am on disability drawing $745.00 a month because of it. I fell 10 feet and will never get another job, unless I build it for myself, which I am working on, but it wasn't worth it.
My advice to you is stay on the job you have and invest every extra penny you get. That, and trusting in the good lord and praising him for what you have, is the way to get to where you want to be.
Good luck and God Bless
2006-12-28 16:59:39 · answer #1 · answered by dennis_phillips7 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-03 23:38:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By all means get a contractors license and get insurance along with a bond. If you accidently do damage to a clients property, you will be glad that you have insurance. A $1000 deductable would be awhole lot better than repair some worth many thousands of dollars. In order to price, there are manuals available for guidelines on pricing. Talk with your boss, find out what the going rate is in your area, usually around $65 an hour.
2006-12-28 16:47:13 · answer #3 · answered by Gary S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Watch your butt - if you bid without a license you can get yourself in big trouble. Your customers are using you because you will be cheaper than a licensed contractor. Verbal quote a ballpark figure based on how much time you will have involved and let them pay for the material (you can make the list and pick it out).
It is very expensive to get licensed and insured in CA, not hardly worth it if you are not doing it as a profession.
2006-12-28 15:41:32 · answer #4 · answered by justwondering 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2017-03-08 20:40:19 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check your local building code, or go to the Building Department and ask. If you go into business, for sure you will need a business license. If you are owner/builder you don't need it, otherwise you need a building permit aside from the business license.
GOOD LUCK!
2006-12-28 13:59:49 · answer #6 · answered by Pepela 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can ask your old boss if you can work under his license, providing you don't mess up anything. Bidding is hard, minimum $35.00 an hour plus they buy materials.
2006-12-28 14:15:30 · answer #7 · answered by Mt ~^^~~^^~ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
bid by the foot for installation, more for stain finish.
2006-12-28 14:21:07 · answer #8 · answered by T C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋