Re: Life Sucks, Then You Move On

["Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

builders are a dead end for small company, you can't do enough volume and
they're usually low-bid and pay slow - unless you get hooked up with a few
custom builders...however right now there is NO builder market.



--
**Crash Gordon**







"G. Morgan" <usenet_abuse@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:hmfmh5hqla69i9uf5rb2l71e1nohn34idc@xxxxxxxxxx
> On Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:47:44 -0500, JoeRaisin <joeraisin2001@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
>>Lost my job yesterday.  My regional ops mgr and supervisor are lobbying
>>to get that decision reversed but I'm not holding my breath.
>
> December DOES suck, Joe.  Sorry to hear that.
>
>>I'm receiving a military pension which helps in one regard but that
>>almost entirely offsets unemployment...
>>
>>Filed a DBA (Doing Business As) today for low voltage wiring and I'm
>>picking up liability insurance Monday.  I have a few questions.
>>
>>I am NICET Level II Certified and hold a Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty
>>Technician License.
>>
>>1. What's covered under a non-compete clause?  I won't be installing
>>alarms but am planning on trying to subcontract low voltage wiring for
>>sprinkler companies.  Mainly (I hope) it will be phones, TV, network
>>cabling - things like that (I don't know enough right now about sound
>>system cabling but I'm a quick study if it comes to it).
>>
>>With my license I can do NFPA Fire Alarm Inspections and am told (by
>>someone who may or may not know what they are talking about) that as
>>long as I don't solicit current customers of my former employer it isn't
>>a problem.
>
>
> Don't worry about the NCA you signed with your former employer.  They are
> simply not enforceable.  (Not in Texas anyway).
>
>
>>2. I know it varies from region to region but how would you guys go
>>about estimating a wiring job?  By the foot?  By the estimated hours?
>>By the number of drops?  All of the above?  Money up front or bill later
>>or a combination?
>
> I do it by estimated hours ($75/hr), then add parts (30% markup).
>
>>
>>As for contacting builders - I was thinking about doing a sort of
>>'resume' thing that details my background, training and what services I
>>offer and visiting builders in person.  Any suggestions?
>
> Builders?  Are you serious?  The economy is not ripe for going after
> builders.
> Go for a niche market, something only you can do well.  (anyone can pull
> wire).
>
>>3. Business cards - I googled free business cards and came up with tons
>>of sites - have any of you used such a thing and do you have any
>>recommendations?  Simple/fancy - what info should be on them?
>
> Not free... But http://www.printsmadeeasy.com/ has great prices, deliver
> quickly, and can set you up with cards, stationary, envelopes, and just
> about
> everything else print-wise.
>
>
>>4. Supplies - I know I can get wire at Home Depot or the local
>>Electrical Supply house - what other options might there be?  I've
>>worked with enough cheap wire before to know I want to use a decent
>>product so are there any brands I should avoid?
>
> Get wire at the security supply shop, wholesale.  You did get a resell
> permit
> right after you got the DBA, right?
>
>>I know these may be basic and perhaps dumb questions but I've never had
>>to deal with such things before and I have to admit I'm still a little
>>befuddled and off balance - pretty sick to my stomach as well.
>
> Shit, when it rains it pours.
>
>>Is there anything else I should be considering?  I am totally a fish out
>>of water here but, being in Michigan, there's a lot of folks lining up
>>for 7 buck an hour night stock jobs so, while I do plan on looking for
>>something, and who knows - this might work out.  Regardless, I've got to
>>do something or we don't eat.
>
> Why don't you start out by helping your neighbors?  Offer to setup their
> home
> network.  Sell them a few cameras (they love it when you tell them they
> can
> watch the cams while they are at work).  Get whatever licensing you need
> to
> sell them burg, fire, and video.  Consider home theater too, there are
> going
> to be lots of new big-screens come DEC 26 that will need mounting and
> hooked
> up to the audio gear.
>
>