1 in 60000+

[TAB]

Tab just a question, with all the natural disasters last year, fire and mudslides and such, seems like a lot homes need replacement or major repair, are the illegal hiring contractors just underbidding the crap out of you??

Don't call it quitting, your relocating your assets until they are needed again.

Best of luck.

I actually don't build houses.  I could, but I would be basicly subbing 90% of it out, which means I would not make any money.  To be a home builder, I really need atleast 10 employees.

What I specialize in is home that are about 100 years old.  I bring them up to modern living standards, but keep them looking as "OEM" as you can.     My over specialization, is part of the reson why I am in trouble. 

[Rastus]

...., between people bouncing checks and disappearing subs/ generals... I'm sick of busting my ass and having to pay to do it.  I have a bond and insurance payment due on the 1st and I don't have the money to pay them.  .....  Some of that is my fault for trying to keep people employed, some is me getting burned on deals and some is do to the bad econ.......

Tab, I hate this for you but you seem to have your business solutions about sewed up...other than the sucky economy you can't fix.  If you could count on stability you could plan...and I guess that's the business risk.  One of the principles of the nation was to ensure wealth did not become concentrated in the hands of a few but was spread about to those who would work...The American Way.  In England, wealth was concentrated and hard work got you survival at best unless you were privileged...so fair taxation was employed to start our nation and responsibility to pay debts (debtors prison).  Unfortunately we are turning from fairness and are working hard for the privileged (ruling class politicians and their lackeys); which would be irresponsible people and the greedy politicians which use government funds to buy the irresponsible one's votes which says we are getting back to becoming peasants.

OK...that having been said do you think the economy is going to improve and when?  Another foundation of our nation is stability..knowing what to expect and not being subject to the whims of a dictator...i.e., the legislative process, the rule of law and, by the way, it was intended to be deliberate and slow for stability purposes and that is not what we are seeing going on today.  That is going by the wayside so knowing what to expect is tough...especially when our nation uses debt to finance vote buying and discourages producing things at home.

OK...let's say you are convinced things are going to get better and stay that way.  Here you go:

.... What I specialize in is home that are about 100 years old.  I bring them up to modern living standards, but keep them looking as "OEM" as you can.     My over specialization, is part of the reson why I am in trouble.  

So now, you've done all of the work to analyze where you could have improved.  1) diversify your service/product line. 2) economic background checks, i.e. run their credit 3) helping people when you didn't have the means to help them 4) personnel retention and 5) planning and homework improvement so as to not get "burned".  

Now you really only have three big decisions to make.  You are a smart guy and you seem to like to own and run a business so this is how I see it from the outside:
1.  Do you think the economy will improve and when.  A business and timing decision controlled by the government.
2.  Do you think the outlook will be stable, i.e., a level playing field you can count on for working hard and taking a risk and that the rules won't change on you to your detriment?  Another issue controlled by the government.
3.  Those business tweaks I mentioned above which is really only a paraphrase of things you have identified.  Something you can control...in a large part to be successful.

Two things the government controls you have to have faith in and one thing you control.  This is why business has a partnership with government which does not mean today what it used to mean.  Today that partnership with government is a handout bailout/payoff and not at all what it used to mean.  Strange how the libs criticized business in the past but are the first ones to step in with money and confusion and that would include the RINO's who are really libs as well.

So, you have faith in yourself you know what to do.   Do you have faith in your government?

No faith in the government supplying you a stable playing field and an improving economy means you go the employee route.

If you believe in both the stable playing field and an improving economy then it's up to you to decide if you really want to be an employee and if not then plan on how to reenter your business with your new business outlook.

You really are a smart guy for this stuff and my observation is that you won't be happy being an employee.  But, I really do think the decision is 2 parts government and 1 part you which you already know how to fix.  How do you know what the government is going to do...that's the business risk.

I hope this helps...even if you do have some sucky politics.  

[TAB]

the local econ is only going to get worse.  Right after the election, we will have more lay offs at the state, which will hurt the area very badly.  When they started doing furlow days for state employees, every thing went off like a swtich.  60% of the population had thier wages cut by 15%.   That basicly killed everyones  "play money"  Yeah there is still some "has to be done" stuff, but for the most part, unless its something really drastic, like a tree falling on a house, or a fire( in other words insurance money) you really don't make any money on those jobs.  The only people I know that are making any money right now in construction are huge companys  doing things like road way construction.  the only reason they are making money is do to the federal goverment is printing it.


Let me put it too you this way,  my gross sales for this year are 9.3% of what they were last year.

[Rob10ring]

Good luck, Tab!

[Rastus]

the local econ is only going to get worse.  Right after the election, we will have more lay offs at the state, which will hurt the area very badly.  When they started doing furlow days for state employees, every thing went off like a swtich.  60% of the population had thier wages cut by 15%.   That basicly killed everyones  "play money"  ...........

That sounds just like the Soviet Union overspending spiral. Bloated government, lack of production and the little guy suffers.  Sorry to hear that.  You may want to look for a change of venue.

[Sponsor]

[Tyler Durden]

TAB, I don't know what to telly ya dude.  You and I are kinda in the same boat.

I am lucky in that I am a veteran from Illinois.  So that allows me to use the Illinois Veteran's Grant program to go back to any Illinois state school.  I might just do that....either for nursing...(let's see if I can spell it??  ) anethesiology...or pharmacy school.

I would also like to jump on the "It's all the illegal aliens fault!" bandwagon, too.  But that problem ain't ever going away, and in fact, I think it will probably only get worse.   

[crusader rabbit]

A large part of this problem is simply that this is California.  I left about 25-years ago because I didn't like the state income tax.  My dad left about the same time after spending 30 years in the state educational system as a philosophy professor.  California harrassed him for taxes for years after he left the state.  Their claim was that his IRA was controlled by a California-based firm, therefore, it was California income and he owed California taxes.  He finally beat that claim with a good AZ attorney, changing his financial advisor, and showing proof of paying state income taxes in AZ. 

We all had some hope when the Governator came into office, but he has been just as wild a spender as the libs who preceeded him. 

I heard the mayor of LA yesterday claiming that the city would have a $1.8 billion (yes, with a "b") shortfall in revenue in 2010.  I think the state is joing down the porcelain facility with increasing speed and the best solution might just be to get the heck out and then give it back to Mexico.


All I can say is good luck, Tab.  When you're ready to move to Florida (or Texas) let me know and I'll buy you a beer and arrange to give you a hand.  Haz's kid is still young enough to help with the boxes and stuff.  Haz and and I can still supervise.

[shooter32]

Good luck Tab!

Time for a move out of California.

[Big Frank]

Sorry to hear it TAB. Good luck in your future job.

[callithump]

The economy will continue to tank until we get rid of Barry and even then it's questionable due to his spending and the debt.
There are no right answers except self preservation. The Bush tax cuts go away tomorrow and we will all pay more for new taxes. I told my Senator that if things got worse I was going to move in with her... that didn't go over real well. A number of people I know are getting dual citizenships and/or thinking about going home to their native Countries. Let Congress suck on that for a while.