Like the title says, was wondering who started off in the business gun ho?
I know I want to get started very soon but work shift work. Work the MAD shift. Midnights, afternoons and days. Figured get rollin with this T&G bis and if a custy wants me in their home during the day and I'm working days and could tell them I'm booked until next week. Thinking working midnights I could do residentials during the days or afternoons when working midnights. What do ya think? I think I can make it work working around that way. Do most commercial custys perfer you in after hours during nights?

Cheers Mark

Hey Mark,
Sounds like you have the right attitude to make a strong business. Work is important but try to make some time for yourself and family. What you are talking sounds like it could burn you out prematurely. Having said that, I think it is a good idea to work another job while getting into this business from scratch.
As for myself, I started Clean Zone back in 95 as a carpet cleaning company. I did "jump right in" up to my neck. Bought all the tools TM,Van, etc..Along with a mountain of debt that made it extremely hard to ride out the slow times for my new business. If I could do it all over I would probably stay on a job and work into full time.
The transition to T&G was not much of a struggle. I had the reputation of a business that has done well for almost 10 years and a built in client base. But after a short time of shifting my focus and seeing the potential of t&g I have charged full steam ahead.

Good luck Mark-

Cary

PS Most commercial work will be done at night.

Cary said it best, and probably for most of us. I tried going into it full bore, but with a wife, 2 kids, car payments, truck payments, machine payments, insurance payments, taxes, etc., etc., etc., I was forced to go back to the industry I had left and try to do it as a second job.

VERY DIFFICULT. As the saying goes, "You can only dance at ONE wedding at a time!" So true. I struggled witht the balancing act for several years until I finally decided to sink or swim on my own.

That is when it really exploded. Being able to set my sights on the goal, not trying to balance out two different jobs made my efforts pay off. My marketing was able to kick in big time, and it really made a huge difference.

I think Josi on this board is going to have a similar experience, given she is forfeiting a JOB of 20 years for a CAREER of being her own boss. She is just starting out, but I think is going to be a smash hit.

As Cary said, there are just SO many hours in a day, and if you try working all of them, you will get burned out quicker than you thought. Tom M. has a 4 day a week job and tried supplementing the other 3 days a week. Didn't work out, and despite being intensely busy, has pulled back to 2 days a week, leaving Sunday's for his family. Never underestimate the requirement to rest.

Good luck with your decision.

Been inquiring at the plant, heard there is going to possibly be a weekend shift coming up. Thinking this would be perfect for me. Work Friday Mid. - Sat. noon. Sat. mid.- Sun. - noon. This would give me the whole week to do the "side job". Also there's a possibility that we're going on strike in March (The dummies) and this would also give me the chance to get my service out there. Used to be self-employed years ago and worked anywheres from 12 - 16 hrs a day so kinda used to it but yes, you guys are right tho a person can burn out kinda fast if they're not careful. Thanks for all your input on here I just love this very informative board. Great people and very helpful. Thanks also John Olsen for returning my call the other day and pointing me in the right direction. Very helpful guy. Cheers Mark

Things have a way of working out sometimes. That plan would work out well. Who knows with the right marketing and getting into this near the spring you may be able to kiss that job goodbye in fast order.
Good luck to you.

Cary