Well, I've had it with the company I'm working for, so I've decided to start a general contracting business. I've always had a passion for it, even built my own home within 10 months primarly by myself. I've studied up on industry standards, codes, business practices, lisences, and bonding/insurance. I've been reading up on the paperwork side of contracting (record keeping, taxes, invoices, etc) and it seems pretty straight forward to me. I know my limits of what I can and can't do, and am familiar with hiring subcontractors. There's alot to it, but I was wondering if any contractors have any unwritten info they could pass along.

I have already designed a few homes that were built, a couple of remodels, one of which that recently sold for a substantial profit, and hundreds of small 'contracting' related jobs for family and friends, even for a few strangers, while maintaining my current 8-5 job. I feel that if I were to can my current job, I could do this full time, get paid more, and actually look forward to going to work in the morning. If any contractors out there has some advice, I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks!

 

I work for a large commercial General Contractor. My only advice to you is to hire on with residential GC to get your foot in the door and gain experience. You'll need to have a solid understanding of all the aspects of a construction project before heading out on your own. There is much more to being a general contractor than just the construction aspect.

 

jd,

As a subcontractor working for my father for the past 8 years, I would gain experience before entering the field. Some hands-on would be best, because as aTm said, there is a lot to know. I still have trouble understanding HVAC, as well as plumbing. General building is not too difficult to learn, but electrical, and exterior work (roofing, siding and exterior painting) can be tough sometimes.

My dad is 50 years old and he has been working 8-12 hour days daily for 30 years. He worked for a glass company from about 1973 to 1990, when he started his own contracting company. Over those years he developed a pinched nerve in his neck, and pain all over his body. He can't handle contracting work anymore.

He and I are starting a Home Inspection company within a few months. It is less strain on his body, which is what he was looking for, without working for someone else again. We just passed the home inspection educational course last summer and got approved and registered last month. We have been kinda backed up with interior work this year but we are finally getting the home inspection thing rolling now. Good luck though.

Just my .02.

 

Thanks, aTm and 97xltv8, that's kinda the general consensus I'm getting around here as well. I've landed a job remodeling a home for my dad's friend, so that'll last for a couple of months. I'm still going to get the general contractors lisence, but I'm gonna start looking for work with another general. Seems to be the way to go before starting a business myself.