Okay, so I am a trim carpenter who does construction management and I am taking my contractors exam this week. I am going to incorporate after I get my license finalized. I grew up in a family that does construction, both parents self employed in the industry. I have a chemistry degree, worked at CitiBank and fucking hated it and got back into the work I like. I recommend going toward construction management and being a building/general contractor. I like it because every day is different, and most of my time is spent outside/on site.
If you want to get into owning your own company and pursuing construction here is what I would recommend. First, pick a trade here is my HOWTO:
Are you okay with working in attics/crawlspaces? (they are hot, cramped, there are nails you will run into, it generally sucks being in an attic/crawlspace, I avoid them at all costs)
Yes= Electrician, HVAC (mechanical), Plumbing (Highest paid subcontractors except perhaps trim carpentry/cabinetry on EXTREMELY demanding jobs)
No= Carpentry, Cement Work, Demolition, Finishes, Landscaping
Are you good at math?
Yes=Trim Carpentry, Electrical, Cement work (calculating volumes/estimating in general), Plumbing, HVAC
NO=Painting, Landscaping, Demolition
Are you willing to work around shit?
Yes=Plumbing
No=everything else
Are you willing to be responsible for the safety of others working around your work?
Yes=Electrician, to an extent carpenters (shit can collapse if you are stupid)
No=Everything else
Do you have the ability to estimate and come up with a good idea for cost (math, the ability to design and propose what a customer will like, know labor costs, etc.)
Yes=You can get into contract work where you submit bids, this can be all of the above.
No=You have to work time and material. You tell your customer the hourly rates and bill them for material. This is impossible to fuck up and lose money on, but your profitability is limited and if you are really good/fast you are losing money. Also many people will not allow this method as it does not incentivize speedy execution of the work. Trades that can get away with this are Painters, Trim Carpenters (for custom applications estimating time and material waste can be difficult, customers also change their mind a lot), other trades where the scope of work is poorly defined
Second is my personal recommendation:
DO RESIDENTIAL WORK UNLESS YOU ARE A DISAGREEABLE ASSHOLE. Unions protect asshats as long as they do the work, therefore commercial/government work suits them best. Quality of work is also of less concern. I like working high-end residential because I like everyone I work with. Our guys will drop by the jobsite on their day off. Enough said.
Now, this will limit the area you operate in to areas with enough people to support you. You will work in and around densely populated city centers, but you will be able to make money. Second, work/train in the area you want to establish your business in. Reputation is everything, work hard for your employers. They will be the ones who qualify you for your license (at least in my state). IF you go to school for your trade, work while you attend class if at all possible. Even if you can get a weekend gig as a helper, that is years of experience that count towards your licensing requirements. Also, experience is way more useful than academic knowledge when you go out into the field.
How to start:
Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Carpentry, Finishes:
Start as a helper, you will not make good money but if you work for a knowledgeable tradesman you will be earning more in knowledge than money. Expect to do this for a while, you won't be promoted in 6mos, but you might get raises as you demonstrate that you can show up on time without a hangover and work hard for your 8-10 hours. Also, work 6 days a week (or 7 sometimes) do you want to be a tradesman or a construction manager/business owner?
Construction Manager (CM)/General Contractor (GC)/Builder= Work for a shell contractor, do rebar work, be on a concrete team, learn to read plans, learn some carpentry. You can get here many ways, but you must be on a jobsite A LOT. Find a way to work as an assistant to a CM who will be present from the site work to the finishing of the project. If you want to go straight to being a GC (in Florida, GC's build things over 3 stories, I am going for a Building Contractor's license because I do residential which is 3 stories max) you will need to get on a large commercial project, now is a great time to do this. We are in a building boom right now. Pay attention, work later than you have to. Study your ass off. You may want to pursue a CM degree for this.
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