Shawn Billings, post: 451006, member: 6521 wrote: I may be wrong on this but I believe in the free market that risk and reward are highly correlated.
By no means are you wrong, you are spot on. I've had 7 major homebuilders as clients for 22+ years. And thankfully the "Kid at Christmas" feeling has become more prevalent than the anguish. (I.e. why in hell did I get myself in this mess to begin with. :p)
I suspect that you will become very successful as an entrepreneur. Wish you the best.
FL/GA PLS., post: 451009, member: 379 wrote: By no means are you wrong, you are spot on. I've had 7 major homebuilders as clients for 22+ years. And thankfully the "Kid at Christmas" feeling has become more prevalent than the anguish. (I.e. why in hell did I get myself in this mess to begin with. :p)
I suspect that you will become very successful as an entrepreneur. Wish you the best.
Thank you. That means a lot.
kirbyparrish, post: 450993, member: 13098 wrote: Just want to say thank you for everyone's input, you lot have definitely made me think twice. I would still love to make the jump but for now maybe a few more years on my belt and then I can really start to think about it.
Maybe running through an agency could be a stepping stone before totally going solo?
Don't put it off too long. Go for it while you are young and can still afford the price of the mistakes that we all learn from.
Brad Ott, post: 451021, member: 197 wrote: and can still afford the price of the mistakes that we all learn from.
You "got dat rite", especially when it comes out your pocket. You'll be amazed at how quickly you'll learn "the other side of surveying".
Brad Ott, post: 451021, member: 197 wrote: Don't put it off too long. Go for it while you are young and can still afford the price of the mistakes that we all learn from.
Yes, prepare yourself as best as possible and jump right in. You'll always wonder if you don't and you can always find someone to work for if you decide it's not for you.
Gregg
I've wondered about this also. You guys that have run your own business and also worked for/with someone else, what was the pay difference like? Did you make twice as much money on your own? 50% more? 20% more? Did you actually lose money?
BStrand, post: 453929, member: 13049 wrote: I've wondered about this also. You guys that have run your own business and also worked for/with someone else, what was the pay difference like? Did you make twice as much money on your own? 50% more? 20% more? Did you actually lose money?
Which year?
I started surveying in 1968 with the USFS, over the years, I have worked for BIG companies, small companies, and in between companies (until 1985).
I've been "self employed" since 1985, some years were GREAT, some years SUCKED, most years were "okay" (I guess). All in all, surveying has been pretty good to me.
😎
Loyal, post: 453932, member: 228 wrote: Which year?
I started surveying in 1968 with the USFS, over the years, I have worked for BIG companies, small companies, and in between companies (until 1985).
I've been "self employed" since 1985, some years were GREAT, some years SUCKED, most years were "okay" (I guess). All in all, surveying has been pretty good to me.
😎
A simple average is fine.
BStrand, post: 453934, member: 13049 wrote: A simple average is fine.
I really don't have any idea. BUT you can't put a price on freedom.
Loyal
Loyal, post: 453935, member: 228 wrote: I really don't have any idea. BUT you can't put a price on freedom.
In very round numbers, as a self-employed surveyor my ten-year average net-net income is about the same as my total compensation value as an employee. The range in those 10 years is big: lowest year (2010) is 52% of average, highest year (2016) is 178% of average. But as Loyal said, the freedom thing is pretty hard to put a number on.
If you want to run a business then go for it.
It's not for me personally.
Don't let money be the sole consideration in anything you do. If you can get by on less and will be happier then go for it if you want to do it.
Jim Frame, post: 453937, member: 10 wrote: In very round numbers, as a self-employed surveyor my ten-year average net-net income is about the same as my total compensation value as an employee. The range in those 10 years is big: lowest year (2010) is 52% of average, highest year (2016) is 178% of average. But as Loyal said, the freedom thing is pretty hard to put a number on.
Excellent, that's precisely the big picture assessment I was looking for. The freedom thing is really appealing and probably makes it worth it all by itself but I kind of assumed the pay would be much, much better also.
I would concur about the freedom and the fact that I might make slightly above wages in the long run. I have also gone months without a pay check when times are bad. When looking at the compensation you have to realize that running a business takes a work as well. I would say I definitely put in more hours than I would if I worked for another firm. Proposals, billings, accounting, taxes and all of the other overhead stuff takes a significant amount of time. While I charge out way more than my hourly pay would be at a firm but that goes to things like equipment, supplies, insurance and taxes. For me it is the freedom of working on projects I want to when I want to. Some days I wish I worked for a firm again but after 20 years on my own I would be a terrible employee.
John Putnam, post: 454182, member: 1188 wrote: after 20 years on my own I would be a terrible employee
I feel the same way -- once you've run the show for awhile, the idea of having someone else tell you what/when/how to use your time is pretty repellent.
Jim Frame, post: 454184, member: 10 wrote: I feel the same way -- once you've run the show for awhile, the idea of having someone else tell you what/when/how to use your time is pretty repellent.
A few years ago I began toying with the idea of retiring. At lunch with one of my clients the idea of making me an employee (in some sort of not-yet-defined capacity) was tossed around. At first blush I had to admit it intrigued me.
But after a few days of mulling thing over in my head I came to the realistic conclusion I would make a horrible employee after all these years. As Jim points out, the thought of having to "report" under someone in an official "TO" (table of organization) might not fit my lifestyle too well.
Best let sleeping dogs remain unfettered.
Amen, Brother Paden, amen.
The yoke no longer fits.
Holy Cow, post: 454227, member: 50 wrote: Amen, Brother Paden, amen.
The yoke no longer fits.
Just a quick hi-jack HC:
I talked with a line maintenance super for the REC and described your "light show" the other morning. His thoughts were either extreme old age of the conductors, or (more likely) a recent lightning strike. If so, you might look into your breaker box a little deeper and see if anything else got damaged with a "storm related voltage surge".
Jim Frame, post: 454184, member: 10 wrote: I feel the same way -- once you've run the show for awhile, the idea of having someone else tell you what/when/how to use your time is pretty repellent.
I started off working for someone, moved to several new firms as old ones closed for economic reasons. After about 15 years I started a new firm with 2 engineers. After another 15 years we sold to a large firm who ran it into the ground and closed our office. I started a new company after being promised a vast amount of work by a nephew. A year later he was bankrupt and it was 2008 with almost no work. I sold to another large firm. After 3 years I jumped ship and came to the firm I am with now,where I will probably retire. I am respected enough to run the survey department with almost no interference from the owner. I make him a handsome profit and he pays me quite well and provides many benefits and top-notch equipment, and I get health insurance, vacations and sick leave (very rare while self-employed). In that 45-year span I have been unemployed exactly 1 week, and that was because I wanted it. I have enjoyed both being an employer and an employee, but will freely admit that for me being an employee is a walk in the park compared to owning my own firms. The bad times when I could not pay myself for months really sucked. I never enjoyed the "freedom" some mention, as I had to work many, many long days, in an attempt to make a profit. I would probably do it over again, but not with the knowledge i have now.
Make sure you are well-capitalized and have a sound business plan or you may have a very long road ahead.
[USER=20]@paden cash[/USER]
Lightning a few weeks ago might have been the culprit. We lost our modem/router one evening when lightning flashed nearby three or four weeks ago. Everything else seems to be fine, even yet. The house was wired during construction about 25 to 30 years ago so it is not ancient wire. This is probably the third time we have had to replace the modem/router, so that was no surprise. Having a metal roof about 30 x 135 might be part of the problem.
Thanks for asking about that.
Holy Cow, post: 454254, member: 50 wrote: We lost our modem/router one evening when lightning flashed nearby three or four weeks ago. Everything else seems to be fine
Surge protectors, Cow. Just recently lost two laptops in a power spike because a) I didn't monitor the age and health of the strip, and b) I had them both plugged into that same strip (yeah I did that).
Best Surge Protectors (?)
https://www.cnet.com/news/what-makes-a-good-surge-protector-part-1/&apos ;">Surge Protector School 🙂