Contract/hire info!?

[Justin89]

Hello I have a l3200 tractor with a 5ft brush hog, I have 20 acres I maintain for myself I use for deer hunting and my weekend get away my main question is I would like to start doing extra work on the side! I already know what and what u can not mow! I've been doing it for a long time now but my main question is do you use a contract that you make someone sign in case your brush hog chunks a old tie rod through someones car that your not responsible or just let your bond and insurance cover everything?
Cause if I was wanting to use my bond or insurance I was mainly wanting it to cover something major like a field fire something of that nature ( not that I plan on that gapping ) but I know the dangers of these operations!

Basically what Im asking out of this what kind of get rich quick people have tried to sue you guys out there while your working and how did you protect your self!?

Thanks for any info!

 

[Looking4new]

Insurance and lots of it.
Get a lawyer to write you up an iron clad contract that eliminates you from any chance of being sued and get the customers to sign off on it.

 

[Justin89]

I understand in every business people will sue you for anything I could just only imagine what they what try with all the things that could go wrong with a tractor lol! Thanks for the advice

 

[Citydude]

Do you have an llc? If not you should as well as commercial insurance. The llc will protect your personal assets from your business liability. Contact an attorney.

 

[Justin89]

No I don't but that's a good idea I guess I need to get with my lawyer and see what can be wrote up, I don't plan on doing this for a career unless the business just booms but I do wanna be protected.
Have yall ever had a customer not wanna sign these contacts or has it ruined a job with them?

 

[Ed of all trades]

Have you thought about protecting yourself from "clean" fields that have junk in them that does damage to your tractor or hog? Ed

 

[Justin89]

I have but you can't prevent everything I've had my place clean but it dosent stop people from throwing crap in the field that you can miss I will always walk the area the best I can but I still want to be protected from the miss unfortunate events

 

[Citydude]

No I don't but that's a good idea I guess I need to get with my lawyer and see what can be wrote up, I don't plan on doing this for a career unless the business just booms but I do wanna be protected. Have yall ever had a customer not wanna sign these contacts or has it ruined a job with them?[/

Thanks, do get with your attorney. He/she can advise you on the liability you need. That was my first step into dealing with the public doing what your inquiring about.

As far as having them sign contracts, I don't use them. The client and I agree on the price. When I'm done, they sign the invoice for the amount agreed upon.

I have commercial insurance, bonded and have an llc that protects me. If I damage something (once, for about $200.00 worth of fence) I report it to the customer and give them my insurance agents card. If a customer calls me complaining I damaged something ( hasn't happened) I would give them my insurance agents card. Having a customer sign a contract on damages, which I think your wondering about, turns them off in my opinion.

 

[Justin89]

Thanks, I understand I don't want them to think I'm being shady with it I've just seen alot happen on my place and others doing brush hog work I just want a happy medium! Llc if the insurance and the llc protects me from it than that's the route I'm gonna look into I appreciate all of your help, I just figured this could help me pay off my tractor and maybe put little extra food in my freezer on my days off work I'm young and looking for some adventure �� of course my 20 acres keeps my hands full too

 

[Citydude]

Thanks, I understand I don't want them to think I'm being shady with it I've just seen alot happen on my place and others doing brush hog work I just want a happy medium! Llc if the insurance and the llc protects me from it than that's the route I'm gonna look into I appreciate all of your help, I just figured this could help me pay off my tractor and maybe put little extra food in my freezer on my days off work I'm young and looking for some adventure �� of course my 20 acres keeps my hands full too

Your welcome. It's going to be pricey upfront protecting yourself but lots cheaper than the alternative!

 

[Looking4new]

Thanks, I understand I don't want them to think I'm being shady with it I've just seen alot happen on my place and others doing brush hog work I just want a happy medium! Llc if the insurance and the llc protects me from it than that's the route I'm gonna look into I appreciate all of your help, I just figured this could help me pay off my tractor and maybe put little extra food in my freezer on my days off work I'm young and looking for some adventure �� of course my 20 acres keeps my hands full too

You had better check into your loan contract and make sure you can use the tractor commercially.

 

[Justin89]

I bet, I've read alot on these topics on people going out and buying a tractor all they wanna know how and hour they can charge I hadn't seen anyone talk about the liability, I've never had anything major happen on my place yet only small things when I'm clearing heavy brush but one day me and a ex was eating at Dennys and some guy was brush hogging the field next to it and threw out a piece of metal and smacked the window we was sitting next I about **** my pants haha I'm still blessed it didn't go through the window and get us but that window was spider cracked all the way around lol

 

[Justin89]

Sorry should've clarified more, the loan is through family so I'm good there sorry for not mentionin that

 

[MESSMAKER]

You need insurance and you need to pick your jobs carefully. Some are not worth the risk. You cannot Be 100% protected no mater what you do. If you go overboard with protection, you will run people off and you will get no jobs. Life has some risk, regardless what you do .

 

[Justin89]

Right understand I won't write a contract for that but I'd like to have one written for maybe some jobs, I really liked the llc part I guess I just have to hold meetings with myself haha bit atleast if they do ever acusse me of something major atleast it's only what my business has bought and not my personal so it won't effect my family, I'm just really doing this for side work and before I start I wanna just be protected before I dive in head first I know what it's like to brush hog tuff spots my place is one of them with hills big creek ect. Just wanted to see what people did with there protection

 

[edgarrian]

Ive had a few businesses and always made my own LLC to protect myself. Insurance is a must. I didn't really write up a contract. Just a quote for the job. I haven't really dealt with someone that was unhappy. As someone already stated you can't protect yourself entirely. Such as running over a fence post and puncturing a tire or throwing a blade b/c of it. You will have to assume that stuff can happen and go about it accordingly. Now if i was a customer and a guy wanted me to sign a contract for damages I wouldn't. Chances are people don't know whats in the field that needs mowed.

LLC is easy to create atleast they are in Indiana. I mainly did it from the house on the computer. I did however have my tax lady take a look at it as i wanted to make sure i filled it out correctly. I never used a lawyer for starting up my excavating business nor for my current business in the oil field

 

[Justin89]

Thanks you. We have a cpa if thats what you were referring too?