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Started By
Message
Starting a Fencing and Decking Company
Posted on 12/16/18 at 12:51 am
Posted on 12/16/18 at 12:51 am
My father is officially retiring on January 1st and we are looking to start a fencing company together. I have been interested in doing something like this for a long time, but travelling extensively for my current job doesn't allow that. I am going to be able to handle most of the business development and marketing while he would handle bidding and the crews.
I am sure we have quite a few baws here that do some similar work and I am looking for some advice. Anything you wish you'd have known when you started or advice you wish you were given? Also, do I need a contractor's license in Louisiana to do residential or commercial?
I am sure we have quite a few baws here that do some similar work and I am looking for some advice. Anything you wish you'd have known when you started or advice you wish you were given? Also, do I need a contractor's license in Louisiana to do residential or commercial?
13
Posted on 12/16/18 at 12:53 am to nugget
If you're using subs for anything make sure those bastards are insured..
Also, a good bookkeeper
/CPA can be worth its weight in gold..
Also, a good bookkeeper
/CPA can be worth its weight in gold..
This post was edited on 12/16/18 at 12:54 am
Posted on 12/16/18 at 12:54 am to nugget
quote:
Also, do I need a contractor's license in Louisiana to do residential or commercial?
Nah, you’re good.
Posted on 12/16/18 at 12:57 am to Phil A Sheo
quote:
If you're using subs for anything make sure those bastards are insured..
We are both pretty heavily invested in Real Estate and we have a couple of guys that are awesome at this kind of thing. We have approached them about working with us in this and they're all in. I would imagine we could hire them as independent contractors.
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:01 am to nugget
Only decking I do is at Sonic, motherfricker
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:06 am to nugget
quote:
I would imagine we could hire them as independent contractors.
Gotcha..
Honest advice.. Really figure out how you want the company structured and roles..
Having ICs is all good you just gotta trust them and understand these guys represent you and your business.. Yet don't have the same ties an employee has.
Flipside, employees bring payroll,payroll tax and increased insurance rates especially on the work comp side.. And thats just a scratch of the surface..
But all the best on your venture..
This post was edited on 12/16/18 at 1:07 am
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:13 am to Phil A Sheo
quote:
Gotcha.. Honest advice.. Really figure out how you want the company structured and roles.. Having ICs is all good you just gotta trust them and understand these guys represent you and your business.. Yet don't have the same ties an employee has. Flipside, employees bring payroll,payroll tax and increased insurance rates especially on the work comp side.. And thats just a scratch of the surface.. But all the best on your venture
Thanks man, I appreciate the sincere advice. I think ICs will allow us to scale faster, at least since we already have some lined up that are trusted. Once we (hopefully) outgrow these couple guys, I'm sure it's going to be a little tougher.
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:17 am to nugget
quote:
I am sure we have quite a few baws here that do some similar work and I am looking for some advice. Anything you wish you'd have known when you started or advice you wish you were given? Also, do I need a contractor's license in Louisiana to do residential or commercial?
Let me tell you what I do so that you can try and take business away from me? Sure. OK, what you need to do is charge more than it costs. Do that and it's pure profit. Don't worry about some stupid license, we are all friends and work most of this off the books (only way to make a profit).
quote:
If you're using subs for anything make sure those bastards are insured..
We are both pretty heavily invested in Real Estate and we have a couple of guys that are awesome at this kind of thing. We have approached them about working with us in this and they're all in. I would imagine we could hire them as independent contractors.
Don't worry about insurance, that is for suckers that don't know what they are doing. Obviously you and your dad know what to do and insurance is just one of those BS costs that you don't need.
Hope this helped.
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:20 am to nugget
The key to your success will be vendors. Especially those that provide automatic gates. Everyone has the same price for a nice, custom fence and gate to the specifications of the buyer, but I’m not paying 3-4K for an opener when I can just buy a mighty mule for $500 and replace it every three years. I know that’s not advice you were looking for, but as a consumer and someone who has recently installed custom fences and gates on two properties, the guys that went crazy high on the cost of an opener and tried to justify the cost by attempting to convince me of the longetivity of the opener, didn’t get my business.
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:21 am to Geaux-2-L-O-Miss
quote:
Let me tell you what I do so that you can try and take business away from me? Sure. OK, what you need to do is charge more than it costs. Do that and it's pure profit. Don't worry about some stupid license, we are all friends and work most of this off the books (only way to make a profit).
Your humor and wit are really poor.
This post was edited on 12/16/18 at 1:23 am
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:22 am to Geaux-2-L-O-Miss
Come on dick, you can’t build all of the fences. You’d never get time off.
Help this baw out. Tell him about the first time you built a fence for someone and how that made you feel.
Help this baw out. Tell him about the first time you built a fence for someone and how that made you feel.
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:26 am to nugget
quote:
Thanks man, I appreciate the sincere advice. I think ICs will allow us to scale faster, at least since we already have some lined up that are trusted. Once we (hopefully) outgrow these couple guys, I'm sure it's going to be a little tougher.
Anytime.. I know what its like to start a business from scratch. Being on my 4th venture has given me a lot of perspective.. I've made mistakes, but also learned a lot of valuable lessons in the last 20 year's.
It may seem crazy, but plan at least 5 years out on the growth you like to see..
Also, goal setting is a huge part for me. I'm about to start on 2019 goals over the next week.. Make them, stick to them and you'll fine.
Also, BNI is also a good way to grow a new business..
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:31 am to Geaux-2-L-O-Miss
quote:
Don't worry about insurance, that is for suckers that don't know what they are doing. Obviously you and your dad know what to do and insurance is just one of those BS costs that you don't need.
Spoken like someone who has zero fricking clue..
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:34 am to nugget
I will just say this, utility locates and don’t just assume the owner is correct on the boundary line. Read HOA docs before installing in a subdivision.
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:37 am to nugget
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:37 am to nugget
Fencing is a grand sport. Decking, not so much.
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:43 am to Phil A Sheo
quote:
Also, BNI is also a good way to grow a new business..
You know, I have done this in another venture, and I really didn't like it. Seemed very cultish. Had a good premise, but maybe it was just the one I went to.
I'm looking forward to this though. It is going to be nice to finally be at a place in my life where I don't need the cash flow from the business. Makes scaling so much easier.
This post was edited on 12/16/18 at 1:54 am
Posted on 12/16/18 at 1:54 am to nugget
quote:
You know, I have done this in another venture, and I really didn't like it. Seemed very cultish. Had a good premise, but maybe it was just the one I went to.
Yeah I get that.. You do have to buy into it to make it work. But! It does work and for me its a major source of new business.
And yes visiting several chapters is necessary in finding one that fits your personality.
quote:
I'm looking forward to this though. It is going to be nice to finally be at a place in my life where I don't need the money from the business. Makes scaling so much easier.
Yeah that does certainly relieve one of the major stressers that is being a business owner. Having the ability to be comfortable and not have complete reliance on the business being immediately profitable in order to survive is huge.
This post was edited on 12/16/18 at 1:55 am
Posted on 12/16/18 at 2:21 am to nugget
quote:
Your humor and wit are really poor.
Not as poor as asking the OT for business advice at this late hour.
Since you called me out, my honest opinion...
You need a contractor's license and you need insurance. If you can't obtain these or don't want to then you don't need to get into the business. Doesn't matter if you use independent contractors to complete the work your name/company is on the line for the work completed by your IC's. Will you require them (IC's) to have insurance? If so they will cost you a little bit more. Considering they are IC's they probably don't have the cash flow to insure themselves or they would be general's and not IC's. As someone else posted, have/get a survey. If the owner doesn't have a survey and/or their corners marked (which could be wrong) incorporate the survey cost into your price. Survey can get a bit high in out of town areas versus in town. If the owner shows you their property line have them sign something stating that they showed you their PL and you are fencing according to that. Fences can be some of the biggest disputes about property lines and law suits are common.
Good luck to you and your dad but understand what you are getting into and opening yourself up to.
Posted on 12/16/18 at 2:26 am to Geaux-2-L-O-Miss
quote:
Not as poor as asking the OT for business advice at this late hour.
Not sure how this is related or relevant. I've built a pretty good size portfolio of multifamily properties that originated by asking stupid questions on the internet. I know I can call the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and get these questions, and will, but wanted to ask here.
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