ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area general contractor

Been there, done that, '66.

We don't even do new residential for the most part. Can't do the quality wiring I want us to do, and the GC's here force the bid price so low, you have to cut corners to make a buck. I don't like corner cutting; gives me nightmares.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sparky66wv:
Unfortunately, mine is a completely cash business (no credit anywhere... not even a checking account) although I'm completely honest taxwise (haven't owed anything yet...) so I'm stuck letting the GC's handle the goods... Since there's no mark-up on bid jobs (and I simply deduct their purchases) whatever's left over is mine anyway...

It's been a tough lesson for me, but I'm slowly getting there...


How in the heck do you do a completely cash business? No supplier contracts? No nothing? So, you pack that much cash around with you? What's your address again?

What do you mean, "no mark-up on bid jobs"? You don't mark-up anything? Even your time?

It ain't easy!

Not a lot of $$$ to carry around... Rely on customer's to pay up front on materials or buy them themselves...

If I factored everything into my bids, they'd be so high as to be laughable...

What I meant was, once the Dollar amount is agreed on, whatever ain't spent is profit... No markup... in fact, the more materials you buy, the less you make!

General Contractors can be a pain, but remember he got the job and he is responsible for it so he can make the rules. I don't like working for Generals either, I would rather get my own work. I just have to advertise and get referrals.