PAexcavator
Member
Just be generous and give them an extra trench for free..........across their driveway.
Part time tractor business
- Thread starter Spiffy
- Start date
- Views: 3610
L
LarryRB
Guest
Tn courts may not like non payers, this isn't true in many other states,. In Mass for instance, I had a guy who owed lots to my gas station. Going to court and all, was a total waste of time and an embarrassment to the system,as the judge didn't think it was that big a deal.. It took a lot of time and more monies just to get to court. After that stint, I no longer allowed any charges,. It cost me quite a few customers in the process...
meledward23
Gold Member
Still waiting to see how TN courts are on this issue.
But it can be an expensive process. I have taken someone to court in TN for failure to pay on a contract. They signed the contract, they dont even argue the fees or service. They just dont want to pay, (keeps saying his xwife should pay). We shall see.
Over the years I have had my lawyer send a notice of failure to pay, with all the legalize, been paid three out of four time for that (costs about $125.00 each time).
This buffon is up to $3000.00 in legal costs no counting his lawyer. Yes it is ingrained in the contract. That's more than he originally owed me. It's less than what he owes me now, as it is a recurring service and fee, and he has yet to remove his property from mine. (I do have a lien).
Very messy, very aggravating. But typically a letter from the lawyer gets things resolved if you have kept your ducks in a row. Very important. Always have things in writting. (Everything that you agree upon).
There are many people out there who are always ripping people off by charging to much. I think this creates the counter culture of people who always try and rip off by paying just a little less.
It bothers me since I pay what I am asked, and I expect the same..
In the end the only piece of advice I would like to lend is this. If you have a nice easy happy peaceful life working for someone else and coming home every day and just taking care of the house, prepare for that to change if you go this route.
Headaches:
Collecting from people
Equipment breaking at the wrong time
Estimates
Timetables (when equipment breaks)
Additional Maintenance
Taxes (no longer simple /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif okay never understood them before)
I am sure there is more.
Good Luck,
Have Fun,
But it can be an expensive process. I have taken someone to court in TN for failure to pay on a contract. They signed the contract, they dont even argue the fees or service. They just dont want to pay, (keeps saying his xwife should pay). We shall see.
Over the years I have had my lawyer send a notice of failure to pay, with all the legalize, been paid three out of four time for that (costs about $125.00 each time).
This buffon is up to $3000.00 in legal costs no counting his lawyer. Yes it is ingrained in the contract. That's more than he originally owed me. It's less than what he owes me now, as it is a recurring service and fee, and he has yet to remove his property from mine. (I do have a lien).
Very messy, very aggravating. But typically a letter from the lawyer gets things resolved if you have kept your ducks in a row. Very important. Always have things in writting. (Everything that you agree upon).
There are many people out there who are always ripping people off by charging to much. I think this creates the counter culture of people who always try and rip off by paying just a little less.
It bothers me since I pay what I am asked, and I expect the same..
In the end the only piece of advice I would like to lend is this. If you have a nice easy happy peaceful life working for someone else and coming home every day and just taking care of the house, prepare for that to change if you go this route.
Headaches:
Collecting from people
Equipment breaking at the wrong time
Estimates
Timetables (when equipment breaks)
Additional Maintenance
Taxes (no longer simple /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif okay never understood them before)
I am sure there is more.
Good Luck,
Have Fun,
L
LarryRB
Guest
"In the end the only piece of advice I would like to lend is this. If you have a nice easy happy peaceful life working for someone else and coming home every day and just taking care of the house, prepare for that to change if you go this route."
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most of my working life I have been self employed. I worked the winters for a local highway dpt and a few other jobs that lasted a month or less, for someone else,. Never was one able to work a 9 -5 for others, or if I did, for any length of time. I guess this is what makes the world go round and round.
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most of my working life I have been self employed. I worked the winters for a local highway dpt and a few other jobs that lasted a month or less, for someone else,. Never was one able to work a 9 -5 for others, or if I did, for any length of time. I guess this is what makes the world go round and round.
OP
Spiffy
Veteran Member
Thanks guys for the twists on a few more aspects, I don't yet have a plan for.
Nonpaying? Yeow; as much as I like the extra trench idea, I'm thinking it's better to be the plantiff than the defendant. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Well, been quite a few years since I've had a job with "nice set hours", and those were in less than "cushy" environments. Now I'm used to the A/C cubicle; but seldom less than the "standard office hours". So that's were I think a new twist would be a fun; if nothing else at least maybe I'll keep ol' Murphy's Law just one bit more confused than I am myself! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Nonpaying? Yeow; as much as I like the extra trench idea, I'm thinking it's better to be the plantiff than the defendant. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Well, been quite a few years since I've had a job with "nice set hours", and those were in less than "cushy" environments. Now I'm used to the A/C cubicle; but seldom less than the "standard office hours". So that's were I think a new twist would be a fun; if nothing else at least maybe I'll keep ol' Murphy's Law just one bit more confused than I am myself! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
dooleysm
Platinum Member
My in-laws own a construction supply company and I hear horror stories all the time of non-payers. Guys will run up $30k in debt and then declare bankruptcy. Perhaps the new laws will help this, probably not. There's a guy that did this to them several years ago and they have a lien on his property. Now the state is building a highway through there and he wants to sell, but can't, because of the lien. So, he's taken a lawsuit out against the in-laws.
My wife is an accountant for them so I hear lots of the stories. It makes me sick and I just imagine myself doing all kinds of nasty things to non-payers, but they don't do anything. They've tried all kinds of things in the past, but nothing has worked for them. They always end up spending more to get their payment than the payment itself. So now they just accept it as a cost of business. Turns my stomach just thinking about it.
My wife is an accountant for them so I hear lots of the stories. It makes me sick and I just imagine myself doing all kinds of nasty things to non-payers, but they don't do anything. They've tried all kinds of things in the past, but nothing has worked for them. They always end up spending more to get their payment than the payment itself. So now they just accept it as a cost of business. Turns my stomach just thinking about it.
Additional headaches:
Bad weather.
Bad dirt.
Unexpected things found in the ground.
Also, there is a whole catagory of non-payment problem that is not so easy as just collecting the money. Thats when there is a misunderstanding of what was included and what was not. I have been on both ends of this in my work as a contracting engineer and as GC when building my house.
Its important to clearly state what work will be performed, and also point out some things that are not included right up front in the bidding process. Not all customers will be aware of what is "cusomarily" included in the work performed by a given trade or described by trade lingo.
For example does a quote for "excavate for basement per plan" include loading and removal of the dirt from the site? If there is a misunderstanding on an issue like this, it can lead to some serious disputes when it comes time to collect.
That prings up the point that a backyard tractoring business would be well complemented by also being able to offer hauling and disposing of excess dirt, brush, debris, demolition, and rubbish. A dump trailer might be nice piece of equipment to add to deliver and remove materials from the site and can double for hauling smaller equipment as well.
- Rick
Bad weather.
Bad dirt.
Unexpected things found in the ground.
Also, there is a whole catagory of non-payment problem that is not so easy as just collecting the money. Thats when there is a misunderstanding of what was included and what was not. I have been on both ends of this in my work as a contracting engineer and as GC when building my house.
Its important to clearly state what work will be performed, and also point out some things that are not included right up front in the bidding process. Not all customers will be aware of what is "cusomarily" included in the work performed by a given trade or described by trade lingo.
For example does a quote for "excavate for basement per plan" include loading and removal of the dirt from the site? If there is a misunderstanding on an issue like this, it can lead to some serious disputes when it comes time to collect.
That prings up the point that a backyard tractoring business would be well complemented by also being able to offer hauling and disposing of excess dirt, brush, debris, demolition, and rubbish. A dump trailer might be nice piece of equipment to add to deliver and remove materials from the site and can double for hauling smaller equipment as well.
- Rick
Cityboyfarmer
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2005
- Messages
- 371
- Location
- Macon, Ga.
- Tractor
- Kubota B8200D; JD 5205 MFWD w/522 Loader
Hey Spiffy!
You've heard the downside, so I reckon you could use a little positive take. I worked the evening shift at my company for several years while operating a landscape maintenance service in the late 80's - early 90's. I mowed lawns, applied fertilizer and pesticides, aerated & over-seeded, tilled etc. I did extremely well, averaging 30K per year working 4-6 hours per day, 4 days per week most weeks, except during the fall when it was fescue over-seeding time in North Georgia, where I lived at the time. I operated about 8 months out of the year and took the winters off for the most part. I advertised a little here and there, even did a small bulk mailing once, but I got the most business from a little ad in the classified section of the Atlanta Journal. If my memory serves me, it was about $30.00 a month to run the ad. By my third year, I no longer needed the ad. In all those years, I only had one guy not pay me, and it was less than $50.00 that he owed me I just wrote it off that year’s tax and forgot about it. I found that most folks are honest and just want a good value for their money. I did carry liability insurance that cost me about $300 per year back then.
If you really have the desire to do this, then go for it! Understand the potential risks and rewards and make it happen. It is imminently doable and you can do it.
You've heard the downside, so I reckon you could use a little positive take. I worked the evening shift at my company for several years while operating a landscape maintenance service in the late 80's - early 90's. I mowed lawns, applied fertilizer and pesticides, aerated & over-seeded, tilled etc. I did extremely well, averaging 30K per year working 4-6 hours per day, 4 days per week most weeks, except during the fall when it was fescue over-seeding time in North Georgia, where I lived at the time. I operated about 8 months out of the year and took the winters off for the most part. I advertised a little here and there, even did a small bulk mailing once, but I got the most business from a little ad in the classified section of the Atlanta Journal. If my memory serves me, it was about $30.00 a month to run the ad. By my third year, I no longer needed the ad. In all those years, I only had one guy not pay me, and it was less than $50.00 that he owed me I just wrote it off that year’s tax and forgot about it. I found that most folks are honest and just want a good value for their money. I did carry liability insurance that cost me about $300 per year back then.
If you really have the desire to do this, then go for it! Understand the potential risks and rewards and make it happen. It is imminently doable and you can do it.
OP
Spiffy
Veteran Member
Thanks everyone for the good, bad, and ugly!
CBF, it is certainly good to hear some success stories too!
The insurance has gone up and I think the competition is a little tighter these days, but I keep thinking enough market exists that I can pull it off at least part time enough to keep the insurance and machine expenses, if it doesn't grow into a full time postition.
If all goes well, I'm planning to take a little trip next weekend and barring something that emails & pix didn't turn up, I'll be burning extra fuel on the way back.
For a little humor: the location happens to be one that my MIL has babbled about seeing every since my wife and I vacationed there once; so I'm semi-obligated to find a weekend such that I can kidnap her along. Go figure! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
CBF, it is certainly good to hear some success stories too!
The insurance has gone up and I think the competition is a little tighter these days, but I keep thinking enough market exists that I can pull it off at least part time enough to keep the insurance and machine expenses, if it doesn't grow into a full time postition.
If all goes well, I'm planning to take a little trip next weekend and barring something that emails & pix didn't turn up, I'll be burning extra fuel on the way back.
For a little humor: the location happens to be one that my MIL has babbled about seeing every since my wife and I vacationed there once; so I'm semi-obligated to find a weekend such that I can kidnap her along. Go figure! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
OP
Spiffy
Veteran Member
<font color="blue"> Just be generous and give them an extra trench for free..........across their driveway. </font>
I love it! Of course, with my luck, I'd rather be the plantiff than the defendant.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I love it! Of course, with my luck, I'd rather be the plantiff than the defendant.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
