Starting a business

[AxleHub]

Gary,

Sorry to here about your brother on law. I had a good friend who developed something exactly as you described. He was in his later 70s and gradually in what he had . . his lung capacity would decline as the fibrosis filled his lungs. He died about a dozen years ago. He was an avid woodworker and at one time before I knew him . . a smoker.

In his case . . a bout of bronchitis or exposure to chipping branches got him sick and that was when it was noticed. I would asdume the pneumonia of your brother-in-law is what caused it to be discovered even though he likely had it for a fair period of time.

I'm hoping your brother-in-law is in better health than my friend was to start with. My friend lived about 2 years after diagnosis as he was already weakened by the time it was discovered . . but he did not have any pain.

I'd guess your brother-in-law is far more active if he was/is a farmer . . but even with portable oxygen . . he'll be slowed down a bunch and he'll want to avoud fertilizer dust or heavy dry dust situations.

Oxygen becomes a considerable adjustment to many . . One, because people react differently to the user, and two because you become very dependent on it and travel or shopping etc.. becomes an ever present supply and backup situation. Thankfully the new portable backpack units improve outside activity quite a bit.

As far as starting a new business . . you now have a new job already . . emotional and sometimes physical support for your sister and brother-in-law. Best wishes that he lives a longer and productive life.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Gary,

Sorry to here about your brother on law. I had a good friend who developed something exactly as you described. He was in his later 70s and gradually in what he had . . his lung capacity would decline as the fibrosis filled his lungs. He died about a dozen years ago. He was an avid woodworker and at one time before I knew him . . a smoker.

In his case . . a bout of bronchitis or exposure to chipping branches got him sick and that was when it was noticed. I would asdume the pneumonia of your brother-in-law is what caused it to be discovered even though he likely had it for a fair period of time.

I'm hoping your brother-in-law is in better health than my friend was to start with. My friend lived about 2 years after diagnosis as he was already weakened by the time it was discovered . . but he did not have any pain.

I'd guess your brother-in-law is far more active if he was/is a farmer . . but even with portable oxygen . . he'll be slowed down a bunch and he'll want to avoud fertilizer dust or heavy dry dust situations.

Oxygen becomes a considerable adjustment to many . . One, because people react differently to the user, and two because you become very dependent on it and travel or shopping etc.. becomes an ever present supply and backup situation. Thankfully the new portable backpack units improve outside activity quite a bit.

As far as starting a new business . . you now have a new job already . . emotional and sometimes physical support for your sister and brother-in-law. Best wishes that he lives a longer and productive life.

Thanks. As far as I know, Rodger has never smoked at least for the last 34 years I have known him he hasn't.
He will need lots of support though. I started out to get some hay for his animals this morning. First thing I ran into was a tree had fallen across the entry to his tractor shed. After climbing thru the downed branches to get to the gate and then to his tractor shed, I found the tractor with the FEL bucket on instead of the hay spear. I had to switch them out, then open 5 gates to get to his hay barn, get one bale of hay, transport to another section of pasture, open another gate, dump the hay, go back and get a hay ring, place it over the hay bale then back thru the gate, get off close that gate, then back to the barn for another bale, back out, close a double gate to the hay barn, then back thru the 5 gates closing each one behind me.
Dropped the last bale in his pig pen for them to lay on /eat or whatever then park the tractor in the shed, go thru the last gate and lock it then weave thru the branches back to my RTV to go tell my BIL about the tree. Gathered up my chainsaw, some chains and his wife and began to cut up the tree and haul it to a burn pile.
I started this all at 830 am for what I thought would be a 15 minute job, I finished up at 1130 that morning. Funny how most activities on the farm last longer than expected.

 

[AxleHub]

Gary,

"Last longer and weigh heavier" lol.

 

[GoldenCityMuse]

Last longer, weigh more, cost extra, redone again ......
Not just farm chores either.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Yes, just like the post I did in Todays seat time. A few little tasks for the lady next door turned into all day chore. Her husband has chronic lung problems also so no hard labor for him. Lucky for him, his wife does all the outside chores.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Man, I hate to be negative, But... You are not an electrician. This is a job for an electrician. People get killed every day changing out a light fixture, or don't do it right and someone else gets hurt, or the place burns down. I am a nationwide General Contractor, so I know a little about this. We are hired quite often to do what you are talking about, and I will only hire local, licensed, proven professionals. Yes, my guys could handle 90 % of it, but I can't afford the liability of something happening. Trust me, if it can go wrong, it will. Also, the cost of business liability and workman's comp isn't cheap, or even easy to get without a very good credit rating. And, lastly, who is paying you, how long are you waiting for your money, and what about call backs? A loose wire nut, a light goes out, and you're three states away. This is America, do what you want, but be smart about it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Man, I hate to be negative, But... You are not an electrician. This is a job for an electrician. People get killed every day changing out a light fixture, or don't do it right and someone else gets hurt, or the place burns down. I am a nationwide General Contractor, so I know a little about this. We are hired quite often to do what you are talking about, and I will only hire local, licensed, proven professionals. Yes, my guys could handle 90 % of it, but I can't afford the liability of something happening. Trust me, if it can go wrong, it will. Also, the cost of business liability and workman's comp isn't cheap, or even easy to get without a very good credit rating. And, lastly, who is paying you, how long are you waiting for your money, and what about call backs? A loose wire nut, a light goes out, and you're three states away. This is America, do what you want, but be smart about it.

I have already decided not to do this work, but it isn't because of lack of skill. Not much skill needed nor a licensed electrician to remove two wires and then hook them back up with a wire nut or in some cases just plug the wires into a quick connect.
You are right about the liability insurance, workmans comp. being expensive and to add to that travel expense, hotels, meals for all the out of town work (which is all of it). I think the company will need to look for competent contractor in each location to do the work. This wont be easy to do though especially in smaller towns. Independent contractors are not that plentiful nor widespread.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have already decided not to do this work, but it isn't because of lack of skill. Not much skill needed nor a licensed electrician to remove two wires and then hook them back up with a wire nut or in some cases just plug the wires into a quick connect.
You are right about the liability insurance, workmans comp. being expensive and to add to that travel expense, hotels, meals for all the out of town work (which is all of it). I think the company will need to look for competent contractor in each location to do the work. This wont be easy to do though especially in smaller towns. Independent contractors are not that plentiful nor widespread.

Finding independent contractors to do this work should not be difficult. There has to be enough money in it for the contractor to be interested. I find that working for other contractors is not usually in my best interest as they are skimming the gravy off the project. What has worked the best for me is being the general, mechanical and electrical contractor and deal with the customers directly. About 25 years ago I made sure I had all the licenses needed so I did not have to look over my shoulder.

 

[LD1]

I agree that if something like this is considered, you need to consult with local contractors, then you just play the role as GC. Hiring local contractors instead of your own employees should negate the need for BWC coverage on them, and not having to worry about paying their per-deim. But you would have to get them to give you a quote, add your markup, then you have your price.

Trying to do this yourself, its impossible to lock into a set price per fixture or whatever unless you know the specific facilities. Changing lights in an office with an 8' ceiling is a whole different ball game than doing it in a factory with 30' high ceilings. And Im not just talking about the height and the need for a lift. Accessing them, complying with their safety policys, working around their machinery, etc

I'll give you an example, as we just replaced all our T8 bulbs in our 150,000sq ft facility. Which was 3 pallets worth.
1. required a minimum of 2 types of lifts. Boom lift with 60' reach (not for height but for horizontal to get overtop of conveyors and machines.) And a small single man vertical lift to get in/around equipment.
2. Its our company policy that both employees and contractors must follow, that no one operates a man-lift without a ground man. So you would be paying a guy to stand on the ground and watch you all day.
3. We hire NO contractor that is not licensed in his field, weather required or not. So you would need an electrical license.
5. Rope off an area around and under where you are working. Very time consuming. Take more time setting up the barricades than changing the lights.
4.Must spend (waste) a half a day going through a site specific training course.

Its the unforseen things like this that the locals, who have probably done contract work in the proposed facilities before, are already aware of.

Again, doing an office off a step ladder....probably no big deal. But every facility is different.

Sorry to hear about the BIL. Hope he gets better, and glad you decided to pass on this venture.

 

[kevin37b]

Gary , we know you are a working man . It is time to take care of the things that matter most . You don't need this and you don't want it . I think you are bored or feeling like you are not being productive . Take care of the ranch , family , dogs, cats , tractors , grandkids , etc. I am sure you will be busy .