Business facts

3880 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Mountain Electrician, Jan 20, 2008

waco

Discussion Starter · Jan 19, 2008 (Edited)

The "Price Lists" thread prompts this one because there is clearly a group here who (seem) to own their own businesses and another group which seems to not. My curiosity involves some basic realities of the business.

I wonder, how many owners inherited a basically established business?

How many license holders were "grandfathered in" when their states began regulating the trade?

Does your state regulate residential as well as commercial?

How much of your business do you get from relationships with established builders?

Such excellent responses! Thanks. Maybe there should be another board where the business side of the business can be discussed.

Do you feel your state is small business "friendly?"

Just wondering.

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480sparky

· #2 · Jan 19, 2008

waco said:
I wonder, how many owners inherited a basically established business?

I built mine from scratch from the ground up.

waco said:
How many license holders were "grandfathered in" when their states began regulating the trade?

I have taken 8 proctored tests to date for my 'right' to run a business.

waco said:
Does your state regulate residential as well as commercial?

As of Jan. 1, 2008, Iowa is in the process of going to state-wide licensing. Right now, it's a total mess.

waco said:
How much of your business do you get from relationships with established builders?

Number of jobs-wise, probably 25%. Dollar-wise, maybe 50%. I'm just shooting from the hip here.

waco said:
Do you feel your state is small business "friendly?"

No. I am viewed by the state as a provider of jobs, promotor of a good economy, nor contributor to the safety of the trade.... I am a tax-, levy-, dues-, toll-, fee-, tariff-, surcharge-, excise tax-, impost- custom-paying source of revenue. This is the view from the smallest hamlets and villages to the Feds in DC.

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brian john

· #3 · Jan 19, 2008 (Edited)

I wonder, how many owners inherited a basically established business?

Fired on Friday (company I worked for shut my division down when I asked what would become of us they said WE DO NOT GIVE A F**K,) started in business on Monday 23 years ago.

How many license holders were "grandfathered in" when their states began regulating the trade?

I have taken numerous test over the years, received my first masters when I was 21, back then it was county by county.

Does your state regulate residential as well as commercial?

YES, if there is money in it they want it or a portion of it.

How much of your business do you get from relationships with established builders?

I do not work for builders in the traditional sense, they hire me when there are unfinished jobs, problems with installed jobs, or any other testing needed.

Do you feel your state is small business "friendly?"

Really do not know or care just so they leave me alone other than taking my money which they seem excellent it.

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wirebender

· #4 · Jan 20, 2008

waco said:
How many license holders were "grandfathered in" when their states began regulating the trade?

I have held a Master's since 1983 in my home town and other municipalities in Texas. Several of them required testing, varying in difficulty. When Texas starting licensing in 2004 I grandfathered in. Due to poor lifestyle choices it was revoked and I had to take the ICC Texas Master Electrician Exam last year to get my license back. No problem.

waco said:
Does your state regulate residential as well as commercial?

So far all they do is collect money and respond to complaints, AFAIK. I have seen no evidence of state inspectors and there are no state permits just local.

waco said:
How much of your business do you get from relationships with established builders?

75%

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brian john

· #5 · Jan 20, 2008

When the states Maryland and Virginia went to state test I took the test so no one could say I was "Grandfathered in"* The test were much easier that 1/2 the count test I took. The old City of Alexandria Masters was an 8 hour test, when I finishes that test I felt like I had been beat down by a gang of 6'4" goons after a 16 hour day running 4" rigid in the mud.

*Actually at the time Maryland would not grandfather Virginia residents and while I did not need the other counties I decided to take anyway.

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chenley

· #6 · Jan 20, 2008

waco said:
I wonder, how many owners inherited a basically established business?

My father and I started our business in 2001, which I will inherit when he feels like retiring. Probably will never retire, he enjoys work too much and I think it's starting to rub off on me.

waco said:
How many license holders were "grandfathered in" when their states began regulating the trade?

Father was grandfathered in for his Contractors and Masters when Kentucky started regulating. He spent 20 years running nuclear reactors on aircraft carriers in the Navy. I have passed my journeyman's earlier this year through ICC and eagerly awaiting to take my masters licensing exam. Then finally graduating with my bachelors in Telecommunications Systems Engineering. :thumbup:

waco said:
Does your state regulate residential as well as commercial?

It is required to have an inspection prior to service hookup. The only time they will hook the service back up is if it was taken down for emergency (fallen pole in trailer park), just have 48 hours to get an inspection.

waco said:
How much of your business do you get from relationships with established builders?

Not much, work mostly commercial renovations and industrial work. We may be working into the residential market in the coming years. We just got done wiring up a 6,500 sq. ft. house for a family friend. Whose old house had burned down due to what they think was a squirrel chewing on some romex in the attic.

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kbsparky

· #7 · Jan 20, 2008

I wonder, how many owners inherited a basically established business?

Built mine from the ground up, 30 years now.

How many license holders were "grandfathered in" when their states began regulating the trade?

Like others in here, took 8 different exams in 3 states. Passed every one of them on the first try.

Do your states regulate residential as well as commercial?

You betcha. At least as far as they levy taxes, surcharges and fees to "regulate" us. They don't seem to get much revenue from the unlicensed outfits, however ...

How much of your business do you get from relationships with established builders?

80%, if you count mobile and modular home dealers as builders .

Do you feel your state[s are] small business "friendly?"

Not really. Just try to get a deadbeat to pay up, and you have all kinds of legal hassles to overcome. The states are money-hungry, for the most part. We don't get a lot of enforcement against the non-licensed types, but they sure do collect a lot of revenue from the rest of us!

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Mountain Electrician

· #8 · Jan 20, 2008 (Edited)

I wonder, how many owners inherited a basically established business?

Not me. I am building my business from the ground up.

How many license holders were "grandfathered in" when their states began regulating the trade?

I have tested for and received master's or contractor's licenses in 5 states.

Does your state regulate residential as well as commercial?

Not much. Some municipalities will, but by and large the regulation for residential electrical work is handled by the POCO.

How much of your business do you get from relationships with established builders?

35%. Another 15% or so is service work and small commercial projects. 50% is industrial, mostly with one large customer.

Do you feel your state is small business "friendly?"

Not really. They will claim to be, but I see few programs or incentives aimed towards small business.

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