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Stanley Steamer
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« on: January 13, 2016, 04:51:56 PM » |
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I got liability insurance today for my tractor business...my dump truck and tractor are insured....got a couple of guys at work wanting some work done....I've waited until after the new year for tax reasons....time to get the paint dirty....  |
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Stanley "Steamer" "Ride Hard or Stay Home" ![](http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetempbig/language/www/US/GA/Athens.gif" alt="Click for Athens, Georgia Forecast" border="0" height="40" width="467") |
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Serk
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« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2016, 05:19:16 PM » |
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Wishing you much success!
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...  IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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DirtyDan
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« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2016, 05:22:11 PM » |
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time to get the paint dirty that's my specialty dan |
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Do it while you can. I did.... it my way
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16802
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2016, 05:39:31 PM » |
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Wishing you much success!
+1 +2 -Mike |
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2016, 05:59:44 PM » |
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Having dabbled in small business myself, I recommend getting a simple estimate form, a standard form contract (which limits your liability as much as possible) (which includes a detailed description of the work to be performed) (and a time line of work completion), and at least half of the money up front.
It is absolutely essential to have a complete meeting of the minds on exactly what work is to be done before any work is ever started.
I would also make it a practice to have an after-action meeting/walk-around with each customer, to ensure they are happy with the work in every particular. Not only do you want happy customers, you want happy comments on the inevitable Angie's List and other consumer web stuff.
And I'd rather have independent contractors than employees.
I'm sure you know all this Stan, it's just my mother hen talking here.
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« Last Edit: January 13, 2016, 06:01:17 PM by Jess from VA »
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Stanley Steamer
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« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2016, 06:00:03 PM » |
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Wishing you much success!
+1 +2 -Mike Y'all still wanting that driveway graded smooth and gravel added to it? |
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Stanley "Steamer" "Ride Hard or Stay Home" |
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Stanley Steamer
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« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2016, 06:02:29 PM » |
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Having dabbled in small business myself, I recommend getting a simple estimate form, a standard form contract (which limits your liability as much as possible) (which includes a detailed description of the work to be performed) (and a time line of work completion), and at least half of the money up front.
It is absolutely essential to have a complete meeting of the minds on exactly what work is to be done before any work is ever started.
I would also make it a practice to have an after-action meeting with each customer, to ensure they are happy with the work in every particular. Not only do you want happy customers, you want happy comments on the inevitable Angie's List and other consumer web stuff.
And I'd rather have independent contractors than employees.
I'm sure you know all this Stan, it's just my mother hen talking here.
I've already located some forms like that and plan on using them....good advice.... |
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Stanley "Steamer" "Ride Hard or Stay Home" |
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2016, 06:16:04 PM » |
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There's lots of standard form stuff on line. Look them over. If one you like is good but has a sentence or two you don't like, delete those sentences. Add anything you want (you take checks or only cash?) (if you accept a deposit, then full payment is due on completion). Then type up your own form, adding your business name and info centered up top. Leave plenty of room for writing in the work particulars.
Customers may want a copy so get a clipboard and carbon paper.
Unless you're a whiz with a laptop.... but you still need an original signature in your possession.
One other thing. Make sure the person you are dealing with has the right to make improvements/changes on a parcel of real estate (as in an owner). A leaseholder (renter), or even a non-owner family member, may not have the right to do things to the land.... it may be an improvement in your eyes, but if the land owner hates it, you could have trouble.
And.... you may find it prudent to take pictures of your (just) completed work. Especially if you have any inkling you are working for a wingnut. Lest any argument about quality of work come up weeks or months after the job is completed.
If, during the initial interview, you decide the person is an absolute wingnut, always consider declining the job, nicely and politely. No single job is worth a year of litigation or irate phone calls.
When I hung out my own shingle, I starved the whole year and needed every penny I could get to survive. Still, I quoted $2000 as the fee for 3-4 of them (the regular fee was $350). 'Cause that is what it was going to cost them for me to put up with them. They went away mad, but they went away, which was the whole point.
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« Last Edit: January 13, 2016, 06:43:29 PM by Jess from VA »
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hairyteeth
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« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2016, 07:34:27 PM » |
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Congats on the new venture!
My .02 would be to call before you dig. Last summer my sister wanted to replace her concrete drive. It was so cracked and uneven in some places you could practically see under the slab. I hate going to town with my farm equipment but couldn't see paying someone to pop out this 20x40 slab. I started out by the street and within an hour had it loaded on three tandem dumps. The problem was every time I drove across the area that the sewer line was under I kept going deeper and deeper with my tires. The last few buckets full of concrete had the hoe sinking to the frame. I called the city to report the presumed water leak and promptly got my butt chewed for not calling oops. I told them I wasn't digging just lifting out a slab on top of the ground, the problem was my tire tracks some as deep as 18 inches were filling with water. After a three day wait for an oops check revealed the only service in the driveway area was a six foot deep sewer line. A camera proved the sewer was intact and working properly. It turns out this 40 y/o house which was built at the edge of the subdivision next to the farmers field use to have an open ditch draining the field. They used water sand to backfill the ditch including the sewer line, every time we get big rain as we had this spring it would turn this subsoil to jello. So now I know why the concrete drive failed, and why I will not dig in the city. HT
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cookiedough
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« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2016, 09:30:31 PM » |
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best of luck.
gotta have some type of liability insurance in your line of work just in case - the necessary evil.
I for one do not have ATV nor boat insurance though since I'll take my chances on both causing an accident that is my fault while fishing or ATVing the few times per year we do it. Yah, I know, accidents can happen, but paying enough on 3 car insurance already, plus I never let anyone drive or operate my ATV's or boat besides my immediate family with me there as well all the time.
I hear talk in legislation of boating being drunk tied to your car driving record, probably a good thing, but that is a different topic all together.
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16802
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2016, 04:15:48 AM » |
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Wishing you much success!
+1 +2 -Mike Y'all still wanting that driveway graded smooth and gravel added to it? Yes. We were talking about needing to get the gravel delivered just the other day... We'll get on that... -Mike |
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Patrick
Member
Posts: 15433
VRCC 4474
Largo Florida
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« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2016, 06:34:56 AM » |
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Wishing you much success!
+1 +2 -Mike Y'all still wanting that driveway graded smooth and gravel added to it? Sorry, I just done did mine a couple months ago. 16 tons. |
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Serk
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« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2016, 06:55:39 AM » |
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Sorry, I just done did mine a couple months ago. 16 tons.
...and what do ya' get? |
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away... IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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vanagon40
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« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2016, 07:39:48 AM » |
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Having dabbled in small business myself, I recommend getting a simple estimate form, a standard form contract (which limits your liability as much as possible) (which includes a detailed description of the work to be performed) (and a time line of work completion), and at least half of the money up front.
It is absolutely essential to have a complete meeting of the minds on exactly what work is to be done before any work is ever started. . . .
On the subject of forms, I have absolutely no idea if there are similar laws in Georgia, but Indiana has very specific laws governing contracts with individual consumers ( e.g., home improvement contracts). If the contract fails to conform with the statutory requirements, not only is it difficult (if not impossible) to collect any remaining balance, the consumer may be able to successfully collect money from the contractor. |
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #15 on: January 14, 2016, 09:37:36 AM » |
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Patrick
Member
Posts: 15433
VRCC 4474
Largo Florida
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« Reply #16 on: January 14, 2016, 06:19:54 PM » |
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Sorry, I just done did mine a couple months ago. 16 tons.
...and what do ya' get? Another day older and deeper in debt.  |
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Serk
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« Reply #17 on: January 14, 2016, 06:24:49 PM » |
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Sorry, I just done did mine a couple months ago. 16 tons.
...and what do ya' get? Another day older and deeper in debt. Saint Peter dontcha call me 'cause I can't go... I owe my soul to the company store! Glad someone got it!  |
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away... IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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