If working for yourself with 0 employees . what is the minimal amount of work you have booked for the coming season and still feel good? How much do u want to have on regular years not crazy busy like it's been......Im torn between going back to the man or going solo.....could have 3/4 of my current gross booked if I want to try....
seasonal worker business owner ?
- Thread starter Bowkills
- Start date
Buckmaster
Senior Member
Buckmaster
Senior Member
SE tax was around 37%-41% last I realized it depending on the year. That’s part of the reason I went back to work for the Man.
I think that is the wrong question to ask. If you want to work for yourself, then the important question is "how much money do I need to make, and can I make it with my own two hands?"
I know how much work I need to make the amount of money I need/want to make, but my time is worth something different than yours, and my profit margin is different than yours. if you know your business, your costs, your ability, and your work ethic/discipline level well enough to think you can make it on your own, then you need to do YOUR math to figure out how much work you need to do to earn the living you want/need to make.
and for the record, I take as much work as I can possibly get/do until I want to go hunting, then I don't take any more. been working for me for 30 years. getting more work isn't always easy, turning it away because you have too much always is.
I know how much work I need to make the amount of money I need/want to make, but my time is worth something different than yours, and my profit margin is different than yours. if you know your business, your costs, your ability, and your work ethic/discipline level well enough to think you can make it on your own, then you need to do YOUR math to figure out how much work you need to do to earn the living you want/need to make.
and for the record, I take as much work as I can possibly get/do until I want to go hunting, then I don't take any more. been working for me for 30 years. getting more work isn't always easy, turning it away because you have too much always is.
I've tossed it around for years. Once I get a house built, the money aspect won't matter as I could be a stay at home dad if I really wanted to be. At that point there's zero reason not to try. The next few years is the only time in question right now. Just a steady stream of phone calls without trying to drum up any work has me questioning for the upcoming season.
Growing like mad here. I guess I know what I'm going to do in my future from my last post but am considering starting it sooner.
Wife have benefits and retirement? I know you are a union guy. Our packages are hard to walk away from. Or are you thinking about sticking with it for part of the year?
You won’t know if you can fly unless you decide to jump.
That being said, Jamie pretty much nailed it with his comments. Every small business is different. The amount of time and effort that makes a comfortable living for one business doesn’t necessarily apply to another business. Only YOU can quantify that and decide what to do or how much to work.
Constant calls and interest is great. It’s a good start. But running your own business isn’t all roses all the time. Bidding jobs, answering calls/emails, taxes, redoing jobs, dealing with difficult customers, unexpected delays/losses, taxes, people who ghost you, people who don’t pay on time, or pay at all, sleepless nights, more fuggin taxes.... These are things you need to seriously consider before you decide what to do. Also decide how successful you want to be. People go through the motions all the time and do “okay” running their own business. And if that’s your goal, that’s 100% okay. The people I know that absolutely kill it running their business are people with extreme ambition and tenacity, always brainstorming how and coming up with ways to be more marketable and efficient.
My suggestion to you, if you want to go for it... Ease into it. Figure out your system. Get GOOD at what you do before your go balls to the wall. If you’re already good, get BETTER. The last thing you want to do while starting out is get overwhelmed and deliver a disappointing product to your customer(s). Word of mouth is an incredibly powerful tool. It can make or break you.
That being said, Jamie pretty much nailed it with his comments. Every small business is different. The amount of time and effort that makes a comfortable living for one business doesn’t necessarily apply to another business. Only YOU can quantify that and decide what to do or how much to work.
Constant calls and interest is great. It’s a good start. But running your own business isn’t all roses all the time. Bidding jobs, answering calls/emails, taxes, redoing jobs, dealing with difficult customers, unexpected delays/losses, taxes, people who ghost you, people who don’t pay on time, or pay at all, sleepless nights, more fuggin taxes.... These are things you need to seriously consider before you decide what to do. Also decide how successful you want to be. People go through the motions all the time and do “okay” running their own business. And if that’s your goal, that’s 100% okay. The people I know that absolutely kill it running their business are people with extreme ambition and tenacity, always brainstorming how and coming up with ways to be more marketable and efficient.
My suggestion to you, if you want to go for it... Ease into it. Figure out your system. Get GOOD at what you do before your go balls to the wall. If you’re already good, get BETTER. The last thing you want to do while starting out is get overwhelmed and deliver a disappointing product to your customer(s). Word of mouth is an incredibly powerful tool. It can make or break you.
I walked away For a year and a half for half the money no insurance which was fine. It was nice easy no stress but I felt worthless not working my body doing a retirement job. Wife has benefits. Got laid off Friday after thanksgiving unwilling to drive an hr 45, didn't sign up for unemployment or make any calls yet, but another contractor got word I was off and called yesterday. I'll be back very soon. But I'll have to turn down and give out recommendations for a shitload of work.
Self employment is the most liberating and debilitating thing a human being can do as a single activity. 
Why haven’t you signed up for unemployment yet? I don’t know how it works... Will they give you back-pay? Why would you essentially throw money away? Get signed up man!!!
They don't back pay. Its pain in the ass trying to get it. I had a claim years ago for two weeks since then I forgot my password and answer to a password question on the net. The places aren't seeing people in person due to covid. It takes hours to reach someone if You try to call. I'll be back to work soon enough.
I told my wife to sign me up since I don't use an email account and use hers. She didn't try until this week. then had the password issue which I did get after a few days. The website froze halfway through and said due to the high number of users try to file again later when our system isnt over loaded....