Caribou Gear

I’m out of a job

This is my recommendation.
Find a guy who ihas the same skill sets as yourself, good character, same point in life, sole proprietor, WITH insurance.
Network builders that are involved in growing subdivisions or do steady customs. Sub framing, siding. Interior trim, decks...anything to get your foot in the door. Try to create a few solid connections. This is your safety net, but also set up a basic web page for your company which includes pictures of past projects so you can generate your own projects as a GC. You have to go overboard with making customers satisfied.
There is a huge demand for small remodel projects....bathrooms, kitchens etc.
You also need to network other subs who can help with your projects.
I think working solo is doable but it is easier to have someone to team up with.
All and all I suggest you take it up a notch. Depending on one builder to work hourly for, as an independent , is too risky.
 
@Hem and @Gerald Martin i completely agree. That’s what happened and found out the hard way. Both of you seem to have essentially the same thought process behind everyone in my crew finding work not relying on one of us to do it all. It’s evident my reputation precedes me, as I’ve had a half dozen friends reach out to me to offer work when they heard I was now free from the vice of working exclusively for one GC.

not to mention all the PMs and comments here!! You guys are awesome. I appreciate you all very much.
 
This is my recommendation.
Find a guy who ihas the same skill sets as yourself, good character, same point in life, sole proprietor, WITH insurance.
Network builders that are involved in growing subdivisions or do steady customs. Sub framing, siding. Interior trim, decks...anything to get your foot in the door. Try to create a few solid connections. This is your safety net, but also set up a basic web page for your company which includes pictures of past projects so you can generate your own projects as a GC. You have to go overboard with making customers satisfied.
There is a huge demand for small remodel projects....bathrooms, kitchens etc.
You also need to network other subs who can help with your projects.
I think working solo is doable but it is easier to have someone to team up with.
All and all I suggest you take it up a notch. Depending on one builder to work hourly for, as an independent , is too risky.
@Hem is not wrong. BUT, speaking from experience having done this very thing, I would say be prepared to work your mother lovin arse off if you decide to do the self employed route. It’s extremely rewarding and extremely time consuming at the same time.

If I lost my job unexpectedly as you have, I’d get a job in the same field just to ensure I had an income and then I’d do some serious thinking about the direction I wanted to go.

Being an employee is limiting in some respects but it’s nice to not have the added burden of self employment. “Punching out “ on Friday afternoon and not having to worry about it until Monday is a great thing.

Being self employed is a 24/7 thing. I didn’t balance it very well. I loved being the master of my schedule and making good money but I hated working on bids until 9 PM, lining up subs, dealing with unreasonable clients, calls on weekends and evenings, paperwork and taxes, etc.

You’re in a pretty good position even though you don’t feel that way right now. If you can, take a little break and chill while you think about it. Guys like you are in demand.
 
Never been fired but I ran jobs for a family company for 6 years.
From the ground up. Just finished one and called to ask when I should show for site work for the one planned down the street. "I won't be needing you for this one" was his response.
Wow
I took 2 part time jobs for Parks Depts and was hired full time the 3rd year, then a Park Ranger for 22 years.

I gave the family 2 tickets for speeding on the lake & failure to have proper PDF's 10 years later. LOL
...............KARMA!!!!!
 
I have worked for well over 30 contractors in my time as a construction specialist. Sometimes, there was no more work. A contract just ended. A company went out of business. I worked small, commercial, and industrial projects. All add to ones knowledge library, which you are aware of. If my pay was good, not great, I stayed with good people, learned and had good times.
I made tremendous money, working for A$$Holes, which where short lived times, I would not take the beat downs. When you, know your value, and stay true to that, the right opportunities, will appear.
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