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kse1221 · Guest

WHY DID YOU START YOUR OWN BUSINESS???

guest

freedom and opportunity!

Xstream · Guest

Got laid off work in Oct 09. Wash pressure washing part-time to make extra income. When I got laid off I just dove in and said what the H*** do I have to loose. A year later and we are going strong.

Advice is if your still working keep that job until you have a years salary in the bank. Then take the plunge and move forward. If you just quit you put yourself in a position to price a job less then it should be based on I have to pay this or pay that. Have a soild plan and excute it a step at a time and it will all fall into place.

jwilliam · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute Of America

Freedom, opportunity, and in control of your own destiny.
It takes a lot of hard work and realistic expectations.
The value of resources like this board cannot be measured in dollar value.
It changes lives and gives back 10 fold.

guest

I like your avitar, right now Im thinking you should get rid of dogs, I just discovered dog chit on the bottom of my shoe and Im mad as hell!

kse1221 · Guest

Roof Cleaning NJ wrote:

I like your avitar, right now Im thinking you should get rid of dogs, I just discovered dog chit on the bottom of my shoe and Im mad as hell!

????? confuse

Bruce Weber · Oct 14, 2010

Who else will control your future better than you?

That's why I started! smile

kse1221 · Guest

Bruce Weber wrote:

Who else will control your future better than you?
That's why I started!

great statement!!!!

i like the way you guys think

Robert Hinderliter · Vendor--Delux Cleaning Supply Fort Worth, TX

It is better to start your own business and fail then to have never tried! I have witness many people who have started business. The most satisfied and happiest people are ones who started their own businesses, some successful and others not. The people who never took that step spent their time crying in depression because of what they could have done if only they had taken that step. The people who failed were satisfied with life because they gave it their best shot, and were content with working for some one else.

Confident Roof Cleaning Houston TX · Guest

The 3 F's

Family
Freedom
Fortune

In that order.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · Oct 14, 2010

I was tired of pulling urinals off the wall and snaking drains filled with cakes of urine acid. Then come in the next day, punch in, get on one knee and kiss my boss's ring. Then listen how lucky we are to be working. Then get that call at 5 o'clock on Friday to just go look at a service call on the way home. Broken sewer turns into a Saturday dig. Stand in a trench all day in sewage up to my knees. Then get a 6 day paycheck worth about $800 bucks. Come in Monday and head out to Mr. Patels and fight with 6 other plumbers over an 80 dollar toilet clog.

Travis · Guest

Why work for someone and make them money when I can do the work myself and make a lot more

Patrick Carder · Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America

Robert Hinderliter wrote:

It is better to start your own business and fail then to have never tried! I have witness many people who have started business. The most satisfied and happiest people are ones who started their own businesses, some successful and others not. The people who never took that step spent their time crying in depression because of what they could have done if only they had taken that step. The people who failed were satisfied with life because they gave it their best shot, and were content with working for some one else.

Perfect, thank you

LPWash · Guest

My boys were growing up too fast. I would drive by schools and see parents walking their kids to school. I wanted to do that every once in a while. I was a construction foreman, making somebody else big money. I was the one with all the headaches of working long hours, reading plans and making phone calls in the evenings and keeping anywhere from 3 to 8 guys busy 10 hours a day. I couldn't see myself doing the same thing much longer. My body couldn't do it. I actually made REALLY good money, almost too much with the benefits to want to leave. But it wasn't worth it when you can't attend baseball games or soccer games or school events because of working late or working out of town. One day we had a guy pressure washing on a job of ours and it peeked my interest. I asked him a lot of questions and soon bought my first machine. I kept working construction, but it wasn't long that I was making more on the two short weekend days, then I was swinging a hammer five long weekdays. And now, years later, I own a nice pressure wash business, three plow trucks for snow removal, a dump truck with Hinniker salt spreader, skidsteer, enclosed trailer loaded with tools, a small lawn care business with 52" zero turn mower. Oh yeah, and it's all paid for, except the newest truck. Can you tell the excitement? Try getting excited working for somebody else like that.

Guest

WOW! that sounds familiar. I was selling roofs for a company and saw how much cash he was making, I didn't do bad as a sells man but I worked 15 hrs plus a day 7 days a wk all summer then most of the winter with all the storms we have. I had tons of calls for roof cleaning bids, I always gave a real high price and tried to sell them a roof. Then one day the boss hired a sales manager. bleh

I did't like the direction the company was going. Then it hit me hey all those roofs that wanted to be cleaned. thats it that is what I am going to do. Hit the internet and found the RCIA and I am off and running. I do agree with the earlier post of save up some cash first and be prpared, cuase I just quit and went head in. WOW! did I go broke fast but I managed and things are going ok and can't wait till next spring. I already got one big one signed up and more bids to do. Good luck to all.

Guest

LPWash wrote:

My boys were growing up too fast. I would drive by schools and see parents walking their kids to school. I wanted to do that every once in a while. I was a construction foreman, making somebody else big money. I was the one with all the headaches of working long hours, reading plans and making phone calls in the evenings and keeping anywhere from 3 to 8 guys busy 10 hours a day. I couldn't see myself doing the same thing much longer. My body couldn't do it. I actually made REALLY good money, almost too much with the benefits to want to leave. But it wasn't worth it when you can't attend baseball games or soccer games or school events because of working late or working out of town. One day we had a guy pressure washing on a job of ours and it peeked my interest. I asked him a lot of questions and soon bought my first machine. I kept working construction, but it wasn't long that I was making more on the two short weekend days, then I was swinging a hammer five long weekdays. And now, years later, I own a nice pressure wash business, three plow trucks for snow removal, a dump truck with Hinniker salt spreader, skidsteer, enclosed trailer loaded with tools, a small lawn care business with 52" zero turn mower. Oh yeah, and it's all paid for, except the newest truck. Can you tell the excitement? Try getting excited working for somebody else like that.

Rich / LPWash - your post is very inspirational. Rather than type why I went in to business for myself, I think I'd rather read your post a few more times. Thank you.

Guest

I may contradict myself, but I think it's needed for the younger, less experienced (business wise) folks:

I have made substantial money in the corporate world, yet my personal (read REAL) life suffered as a result. Don't sell yourself short - you can make a LOT of money working for "someone else" (corporation), but it will come with potentially long days and LOTS of hours. Those routine paychecks can be very nice, especially if you're the sole wage earner in a family of 4 as I have been for nearly 25 years. Call me for details if you'd like, as I have no secrets.

Do what is best for you and yours. Running your own business is not a piece of cake.

I'd like to go in to detail as to why I'm now in business for myself, yet leaving a trail on the 'net is not good business for me longer term. Let's just say it's someone else's turn to send thousands of American's jobs to India. I won't do that any longer.

God bless America. Lover her or LEAVE! Please.

mfulton · Guest

I've only had 2 jobs that actually supported me in life. Just when things start going well the rug gets pulled. Laying all your eggs in one basket is extremely dangerous. So I have developed the attitude "If its to be its up to me". I never get fired anymore just turned down sometimes, but usually something cool falls in place right behind it. keeps my faith in check!

-Mike

Washed-up · guest

kse1221 wrote:

This is just a general question.. i am just wondering why you guys started your own businesses.. and how did you take the leap of faith from being an employee to being a business owner? any stories would be appreciated.

My wife was a General manager of a 5 year old hotel, doing rather well until her Boss walked in one day and said "I have to sell the hotel". This man is a friend of the family and was truly upset..he was very worried about his employees.
My wife told him she would stay with him until he sold...
As most of you know, my wife is now a nursing student due to graduate in Feb 2011. (If you did not know this, you must avoid all my post) My wife wanted to become a nurse for many years now, and this was the opportunity for her to do so. This would in turn give the things that we never had to our kids.
I then started a pw company and was calling around for insurance, I called Joesph Walters....this man is the reason. I then called Mr. Tucker and I was on my way.

I still hold a full time 8-5 job that covers insurance and household bills, but I sneak away every chance I get to call customers and run errands for my company. Now I have 1 full time sales girl, and I had a gentleman speak to me today that is interested in being my 2nd sales person. I hope that works out well....

So I guess long story short, I do it for my wife of 15 years, and 4 wonderful kids! I would do it all over again and again..

Now I gotta brag real quick on my wife...she was held over in class this evening and she was nominated for the National Technical Honor Society!
http://www.nths.org

She qualified due to have met attendance of 95% and a GPA of 94.0 or higher

I am so blessed to have my family.

Guest

Tell her congrats and you can brag all you want. that is awesome.

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne Miller
FLORIDAWASH

Lake Marion Citrus & Sumter Counties in Florida

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne MillerFLORIDAWASH

Lake Marion Citrus & Sumter Counties in Florida

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Dwayne Miller
FLORIDAWASH