Quit work and going on my own !

admin

Well my boss aparently had a problem with me having a portable welder and advertizing to do small jobs on the side...   Told me he didn't even want to really see any of us even weld trailers for our buddies at our houses...   I kind of had a problem with his approach,  I got pulled into the office,  kind of felt like I worked for the mob the way they blind sided me. Two of the other owners knew I had a portable welder and was doing side work, and had no issues....  Now my big issue is its none of anyones effin business what I do after hours but mine...   This all happened friday...  Thought about it the weekend and decided to go to the job I was on (with the company I worked for) at 6:30 am monday morning and take my tools, and go to the shop and grab my tools there and tell one of the owners I was done.    I think he was expecting it,  he tried making excuses for the other owner (known as an a$$hole) but finally gave up and then told me he would keep me in mind as far as sending work my way....WTF is up with people thinking they own you ?  Yo dude you only pay me 40 hours a week....   The shop cant keep welders as it is because of that jerk owner he has pi$$ed of every welder in the city....  Nothing but crap equipment there and welding machines that dont weld worth a ****....Oh well im on my own now,  any advice for marketing and getting my name out there ?Thanks for any advice and listening to my rant.....Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:All I can say is that's the way life is most times and GOOD LUCK!Now go get all the fun jobs........zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Hello Newfie_1986, often times things happen for a reason, this could very well be one of those times. First off, make sure that you have a bunch of business cards that you can start handing out. If you know of any Cafes, Restaurants, other other hang-outs in your area check to see if they have a bulletin board that you can affix some of your cards to. Secondly, be sure that you have bonding/insurance to cover your hiney in the case of anything going south on you. You apparently already have some sort of customer base, be sure that you let those folks know that you are opening shop on your own and could use some word-spreading. If you don't have an accountant, check with one and try to determine to what degree it might behove you to enlist their services. You will want to become aware of and utilize any tax benefits or other write-offs that a small business owner might be entitled to. Start researching the type of work that you plan on doing. I mention it this way because codes sometimes govern specific types of work and you don't want to be blind-sided by something that you hadn't counted on in conjunction with a job that you have accepted and are expected to deliver on. Back to research, some types of work entail having a lot of expensive documentation and other types of overhead. Choose your work wisely and avoid those things that won't show a profit for an extended period of time or without a lot of headaches. Try to know your customer, a lot of the time customers will have payment clauses in their contracts that put off your payment for 30, 60. or even 90 days, you'll want to know and not be suprised if this is the case. Mainly this would be the case for companies/corporations that you might do work for and not individuals. There's a lot more, but I'm sure that others will chime in with a host of other things. Good luck and regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Lot of companies have 'no competition/moonlighting' clauses or policies. It's their business so they can run it the way they want, implement the policies they want. Your life so you can live it the way you want. The two ain't always compatible."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Sorry buddy. It sounds like you are a aggressive worker and doing what it takes to make money. I would think that would be the way you are at work too. The boss is a dickhd but that's the way it is. Most companies have at least one. Hope it works out for you. Good luck.
Reply:Smart companies put it in writing when you sign on.  No moonlighting clause is common.  Of course what your employer doesn't know he can't act on.  The trick is not to socialize with workmates in a way that they know about your side work.  Very difficult to hide since shop guys are like fish wives when it comes to gossip.
Reply:I do side jobs right in the shop and my bosses could care less!...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Business cards to EVERYBODY ! Municipal garages-Fed, State, County, local or what-have-ya in Canada. Cop shops where the mechanics are. Utility company garages- Electric, Gas, Phone, Cable. Your LWS too. You hit these garages where the motorheads are at. AND hit ALL the storeage unit places also. They keep cars and motorcycles there right? You do portable welding, they like it ! Good luck to ya.Last edited by sky hy ironman; 05-09-2013 at 09:12 PM.
Reply:Bummer, congrats and good luck. Hope it works out well for you I have worked for a couple of jerks in the past.Ranger 250 thick stuffHobart Handler 140 not thick stuffthe pane and oxy setup
Reply:Best of luck to you. I gave up my high paying corporate job to do my own thing 7 days a week with no vacation or benefits. Couldn't be happier. Right now I have worked for the last several months 7 days a week, and 12-16 hours a day trying to get all the work done. I am still happier than I was working for someone else though.
Reply:Best of luck.I bet it will work out much better than you can even imagine.One thing I am absolutely certain of- You can't keep a good newfie by' down!
Reply:Perhaps, one day you will understand your ex-boss's positions.  ...Talk about conflict of interest. Doesn't seem like he said don't do side work. They must do trailer work.  Anyway, good luck.  I have been on my own 13 yrs.  It has been our sole income for 10 +yrs.  Can't say I don't miss the steady income sometimes.
Reply:No 2 week notice?If they would have tried ti keep you, at least you would know they were not trying to get you to quit. You burned a bridge in a way too. Good Luck.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Keep in mind that Nefie is from The Rock.  Its a tough place to be in terms of weather and lack of employment historically.  Every Newfie I worked with had a smile on his face and was always upbeat in attitude.  On the same note if anyone is looking for work and has skills there is lots of work in Northern Alberta and British Columbia.  There is work for Canadians from other parts that are quiet,  Now we are raiding the American workforce.  If you don't mind cold it is a good place to bring up a family.     http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin..._lsa=cc48-3a8e
Reply:Thanks for the support from those who support me.    Theres another thread on here somewhere about this shop and me,   I dont figure they will be open in the future......   Havent replaced equipment in 30 years, 12 year old trucks and nothing works right.   Try welding with a spool gun that feeds erratically, or a stick machine that doesnt hold its amperage settings,   or bend with a brake that bends tigher on one end......TapwelderI will never understand his position,  we shall call him boss #3 (the one who had the issue)  the only one that had an issue, the other 2 didnt mind at all.......    They wave to me all the time and plan to pass whatever work along to me they can.....    Boss #3 told me he didnt even want to see any welders even weld trailers for their friends  WTF does that tell you about him and side work ?   Obviously doesnt want to see it.....ShovelonNo 2 weeks notice never head of them give any of the other welders in the city 2 weeks notice before laying them off, just out the doors you go  (boss # 3 is also the lay off guy)....    This place has a notoriously bad rep in the city because of boss #3.   Which is why they can't find welders.    I told boss # 1 that I had quit and he did try and get me to stay,   made a bunch of lame excuses for boss #3, but I told him I had enough of it all, working with junk, not being supplied the equipment or people I needed to do the work, and that was it,  he went on to tell me he will keep me in mind as far as sending work my way......LotechmanAs far as the employment goes,  its not so bad here now,  actually I could have a job right now if I wanted it,  but I want to give myself a go first and see if I can make a business work....   My old A hole boss still thinks its 5 or 6 years ago and that everyone needs to kiss his arse for a job,  not any more we cant get enough welders here....    Between Hebron being built in Bull Arm, the Hydromet smelter in Long Harbour and the Churchill Falls project theres a lot on the go....   No leaving for me.Its a funny thing you know,  my brother is a big contractor here in the city with a bunch of guys working for him,  and you know what when his guys do side work he LOANS them the scaffolding or whatever to do it.   His reasoning is they are only trying to better themselves and who is he to stop them,  its better to help and have a friend in the business than make an enemy...Last edited by Newfie_1986; 05-10-2013 at 11:02 AM.Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:Originally Posted by Newfie_1986Thanks for the support from those who support me.    Theres another thread on here somewhere about this shop and me,   I dont figure they will be open in the future......   Havent replaced equipment in 30 years, 12 year old trucks and nothing works right.   Try welding with a spool gun that feeds erratically, or a stick machine that doesnt hold its amperage settings,   or bend with a brake that bends tigher on one end......ShovelonNo 2 weeks notice never head of them give any of the other welders in the city 2 weeks notice before laying them off, just out the doors you go  (boss # 3 is also the lay off guy)....    This place has a notoriously bad rep in the city because of boss #3.   Which is why they can't find welders.    I told boss # 1 that I had quit and he did try and get me to stay,   made a bunch of lame excuses for boss #3, but I told him I had enough of it all, working with junk, not being supplied the equipment or people I needed to do the work, and that was it,  he went on to tell me he will keep me in mind as far as sending work my way......
Reply:Depending on how busy a company is, side jobs can really bleed away a company's cash flow. Little fix it jobs for the neighbor is one thing (hard to even call that a side job, more like being a good person), but if the side jobs are the type of work you've been hired to do, I'd be pissed if I was the boss. A good portion of the company rate pays taxes, insurance, and facility expenses. Some companies even have a no-compete clause in the event that you quit. A hoof trimming team we use for our cows had a dispute and one of the trimmers quit to go it on his own. He had a two year non compete clause in his contract that went into effect if he quit (not laid off), but did not honor it. His former boss (who still trims out cows) had his lawyer sue for access to all of his 1099s to see if he was working in the non compete area. The former boss got 60% of the income from the non compete area plus lawyer fees. Before going out on your own in the same area, make sure you don't have a contract like that.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:No no compete clause here guys....Manning,  you could be pissed all you want a persons time is there time if I want to run a side business thats it, if it doesnt affect my day job its none of my employers business....   Im sure hes more than pissed now that he has no one to do his jobs other than the small handful he has.   I was working with their biggest customer and now they have two apprentices sent there instead,  they should make a fine mess of the sanitary tubing I was welding....    I was already on the fence about leaving and this put me over the edge...  No trucks to get to the job site, crappy equipment, lazy co workers,  asking for help would get you no where.   I had enoughShovelonThey would have gotten a 2 week notice from me if they had to be a little decent in the way they behaved.    But instead they chose to text me while on a job and tell me to come back to the shop they needed me,   I asked what they needed and they just told me they needed me....   Once I got back I got ambushed.   Instead of calling me into the office friday afternoon, they could have just caught me that morning and said " Hey later this evening before you leave can we get together and have a chat about your portable welder and what your plans are?"  He knew I had a portable because the day before he seen me while I was out and would have seen it in my truck...I even had to use my own personal truck on numerous occasions to help these guys out when they were stuck, but as soon as I try to help myself I get **** thrown at me....  Oh well Eff em....Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:You could probably take over the big job you were working on after they fail. From the sound of it, they have little business sense and are not trying to succeed. Best of luck. Take some business classes.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:As a small business owner I wish you success in your new endeavor!!!  But as a small business owner and one who has directly or indirectly trained almost all of my competition I see the no side work issue as being a reasonable one. We actually fired a piece of filth that was doing side work out of our shop. He had started his running own business out of our shop all while we were paying him. He was our completion and now his greasy family have been my competition now for about 20 years.      Had a couple of other guys pull similar tricks. I have no problem with someone working another job or even doing something similar but if I catch an employee of mine doing side jobs on the equipment we repair( we do specialized stuff ) Im going to literally throw him out on his ***. Again, I wish you every success in with your new business. But when your doing ok after busting your ***, having no life and your finally able hire someone to work for you, how are you going to feel about them doing side work?.  I think your opinion will change.Last edited by kald; 05-10-2013 at 05:46 PM.
Reply:lol im doing this on my own gear.. my own time...... not on company time...   You guys dont own employees lol.   Dont think my opinion will change at all,  my brothers hasnt.  People come and go, and as far as training me,  well I was a journeyman when I got there, didnt get any training from them,Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:It can be a fine line if you work for a company that does customer work, and you are doing the same work that they do, you are directly competing with them, effectively taking away costomers that might otherwise come to them, and they might look at it like you are taking money out of their pocket.  It owuld be even worse if you are doing projects for people that used to deal with your employer.  Now if they are a fleey company and only works on their own stuff, or you are doing jobs that are small ough that they would turn it away, that seems like another There are two sides to every coin.  You need to try to see it from the other side.     Now don't get me wrong, I understand where you are.  I am near to walking away from where I am at, and doing similar to what you are thinking.  I am not strictly a welder, I work on heavy trucks and equipment and I have a fully tooled service truck, and a new shop behind the house.  The only reason I have not jumped myself, is I have a wife and 3 kids, and I am the only income, and insurance.     Good luck and have fun.Bruce DeLaetHeavy Equipment Mechanic and Welder1948 SA-200 short hood1949 LincWelder 1801963 SA-200 red faceMiller S-32-P
Reply:Well again you should have given 2 weeks notice. Many times they will just waive the 2 week notice, or fire you on the spot to gain the upper hand. If they fired you, you get unemployment compensation. If you have a valid reason for quitting, again you may qualify for unemployment compensation. Me? I have them ride out the 2 weeks and buy them a going away lunch. The assholes don't last and are not welcome back.Times are a-changin I guess. I am hearing more and more about abrupt walkouts.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:good luck to you from plant city,fla.
Reply:Good on ya Newf!It can be a conflict of interest. Your work does not want you while on the job creating new customers for yourself. I agree that that is not proper and I do not need someone else to confirm or deny it.I do what I do at work at home but unlike what most people  would do I am not stealing their customers that are literally standing on their floor.
Reply:7A749Thats the same way it is at this shop, they're always looking for guys,  should have been my sign to stay away,  oh well live and learnmikecwik  I had no plans to steal their customers,  had plans to pass along work such as line boring, plate rollings and shearing jobs..   But now that I have quit completely everything is fair game,  if I get contacted by one of thier customers I will do work for them...Last edited by Newfie_1986; 05-10-2013 at 11:14 PM.Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:I hope you do well.
Reply:As an employer I use to look the blind eye to the side jobs. Like you I figured it was on their time off the clock and provided it didn't cut into my client base I was fine. Until one day a side jobs went sideways. Bad. Monday morning I get an call from some company I've never heard of demanding I make it right. I didn't know who they were, no clue, but I learned which employee it was! So I call this guy in to find out what was happened. He's clueless why I'm pissed. But clearly in way over his head. I tell him to fix it. Heck, I even tell him how to fix it. A week later I get a letter from the companies attorney. Now I'm awake! Evidently he lead these guys to believe they hired my company.  Long and the short... I ended up bailing out this guy out and fixing the job. Few hours work was cheaper than paying the attorney. Funny thing is this company became a good customer for several years... provided I did the work. Bottom line... when you figure you know more than your employer it's time to move on.That said... been doing my own thing for a lot of years. Congratulations on taking the leap. Yes you'll work more hours and such... but at the end of the day... all the machines belong to you.
Reply:None of the employeers here have asked why we (employees) do side work. 90% of the time its for more money, 10% to help somebody out. Wages havent kept pace with costs. We (eeys) understand that, we understand some of you (ers) are barely keeping the doors open. We are happy to have the job but dont forbid us to use our skills to make extra money. Most of us dont want to take your business away, but if I can make a few extra dollars doing something on the side that dosent create a conflict of interest then I will. One employeer I had, informed us that this year hadnt been good for the company and there would be no raises. 10 minutes after the meeting he is have a phone converstaion with a buddy. The owner was telling his buddy about all the renovations that had been to the owners 3 houses this year. I didnt begrudge the owner one minute for the houses or the renovations, he had worked hard to get where he was and deserved all the beneifts of his hard work. I did have a problem with him not sharing the wealth. After all he was charging $120/hr for my work. My salary wasnt even a 1/4 of that including benefits.