Being a contractor reddit contractor with pros & cons on both sides. It is next to impossible to build your own home and finance. Personally, being a contractor has more "benefits" then being an employee. Hey y’all! As I slowly descend into adulthood with college graduation coming up, I’ve been thinking about the pros and cons between being on a salary vs being paid hourly along with being an employee vs a contractor. Homeowners are welcome to participate along the same lines. I recently worked for a real estate developer and all the projects we worked on during that time suffered from staffing shortages from contractors. com Life as a general contractor involves managing and overseeing construction projects from start to finish. to it. I’ve been working at a company as a “contractor” where I am full time, get all benefits, get W2, and my contract gets automatically renewed every year. I HIGHLY recommend you take this opportunity to speak with an attorney to understand exactly what is going on, and what is, and isn’t legal regarding being an independent contractor. It really depends on your companies targeted work As an example we mainly only deal with state / public projects; think public schools, colleges, dorms, public prisons, etc. g. The thought of managing sub contractors, dealing with permits and surveys, and budgeting the project feels overwhelming in addition to my husband and I working full time. HomeImprovement) submitted 2 hours ago by Potential-Knee-8119 I know there are a lot of very new software engineers in this forum. DerpyOwlofParadise Consulting 71 votes, 220 comments. I know of a few people who seem to work at an organisation for 12-18 months, then move onto a new contract shortly after. MembersOnline • Glittering-Shirt4818 ADMIN MOD Home depot hires contractors that work for pennies on the dollar. I'm exaggerating a little bit but the point is that there is a crazy double standard in the way companies treat employees compared to independent contractors, even when both do basically the same work. : r/HomeDepot r/HomeDepot Current search is within r/HomeDepot Remove r/HomeDepot filter and expand search to all of Reddit Scheduling has been a little rough, but it’s such a different feeling being a contractor. Less BS, more money and more control over your destiny. The whole process went extremely smoothly and we were very happy with the final result. I've been a FTE a few times, and I actually much prefer being a contractor. **Rules:** 1) No Spam 2) No personal Information 3) Do not ask for price estimates 4) No DIY / “how do I fix this drywall” 5) Marketers, insurance agents, lead generators, etc are not welcome to 91 votes, 49 comments. Forget GM or whatever job field you work in for a minute. Often contractors are brought in because the project is already a mess and there is someone to conveniently blame when shit hits the fan as it almost always does. For growth areas they use it to address attrition that they can’t easily hire for (amzn is actually hard to hire for and the contractor bar isnt as high). Long story short he explained what an Owner-builder is I hear a lot of negative and positive things about being a contractor. and we also go and frame the house up. The money is better than working for someone else, but there is stress from budgeting, scheduling and running a project with your assets in play. Those that are, what makes you stay? A subreddit for those who want to end work, are curious about ending work, want to get the most out of a work-free life, want more information on anti-work ideas and want personal help with their own jobs/work-related struggles. I want to do this to spark discussion or debate A place for construction professionals to discuss the industry. Contractors often get burned, and if you're in an environment where there are some 1099'ers and some from contract houses, the FTE's usually don't make a distinction between the two. Discussion group for all things related to being a general contractor Is being a independent contractor doing more harm than good? Employment Hello. I was a super hard worker for my company, good personality and a young go getter. When we were looking at contractors, we talked to 3 different kitchen/bath contractors and went with the one we felt most comfortable with, despite being about $10k more expensive. Hey everyone, I was curious if anyone could give me some insight into what it's like being a contractor vs a full-time w2 employee. Reply reply More replies [deleted] • Discussion group for all things related to being a general contractor Discussion group for all things related to being a general contractor A contractor will always send their most "polished" guys to meet you and assess the joba lot of times the owner will even come out for the initial visit. That being said there a lot of satisfaction that comes with being a carpenter. If you are operating a sole proprietorship under your own name, you don't need to register one. Being a GC isn’t for everyone. Having multiple clients helps this part. You also get the QBI which helps. The reason for asking is that a couple of defense companies have taken interest in hiring me after graduation, and I don't know much about the industry. While the perspective is generally that of the (future) homeowner, topics from builders and contractors are welcome. If anyone could give their honest opinion about working in this sector of industry it would really This also means any engineer left either can't leave and knows it (ie, circumstances for them suck and they know they're being dramatically underpaid and overworked), or is the last engineer you'd ever want to work with (sometimes, it's both) contractors are treated like garbage, given the worst tasks. I'm debating using a home builder or CG through the home building process or going the owner builder route to save money. Any advice for a fellow former 03 marine who’s considering joining a pmc . ITCareerQuestions) submitted 10 minutes ago by goldeneye0 Now, I am curious if anyone in IT has not been a contractor at least once? That said, being a contractor can really be the pits at times, especially with no benefits or really reduced benefits as a contractor. the contractor is getting probably $500ish? Remember, you can always go back to being a contractor if you hate being an employee, but you can’t always become a gs employee when you feel the timing is right. If contractors make more money doing thing same job as the military why do people stay in the military ? Just curious Thanks… Has anyone else found that being your own general contractor you had to meet a different side of yourself that maybe you didn't like? I was the general contractor on our house build and we had a couple of contractors break contracts, lie, or screw us over in different ways. I was confused since we both studied computer engineering in college. This community is for construction professionals to discuss their business practices and line of work. NSFW content will result in a ban. Someone asked a similar question last week - Working at a "subcontractor" (specialized trade) does not always mean being a 'sub contractor'. This sub is for discussion and questions concerning all aspects of the home building process - whether in a development by a large builder, custom homes, or DIY projects. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. With that being said, as a 1099 you have the ability to writeoff your ordinary and necessary business expenses which more often than not, result in lower taxes. Having a partner/spouse with a good income alleviates a lot of the problems because being the sole provider and taking risks don’t Fellow contractor's were always worried that they were going to get fired for making a mistake (and this rubbed off in someways and created an environment of worry/being tense all the time). I'm currently a full-time employee working with security, reporting, and prism (Certified in the first 2). Most three letter agencies and contractors want a minimum of 10-12 years experience and a bachelor's degree from a reputable school for a basic analyst position. They may provide this at your location too. You must invoice for your time. I visited a friend of mine in Dallas, TX in 2016, during the trip, he took me to one of his residential construction, I was amassed with the progress I said "Your general contractor must be really good" and I asked him who was the builder, he said "Me", You??? I replied. Seeing that I’m wondering if it’s reasonable to start a construction company without any construction experience? The contractor employee misclassification is a scourge on our profession. Are there other factors/costs you would suggest taking into account from an employee perspective? I've ready about social security payments (I assume that what was being referred to by these others), and that as a contractor, you might be responsible for the full amount? Are contractors responsible for paying unemployment insurance? Being an independent contractor is a good deal. As a GC, your primary knowledge base needs to be the building codes, both resi Being a larger company as a rule we never have contractors work on anything critical or complex. An agency might charge $125+ per hour for contract employees, but companies are typically offering $85 or so for individual contractors which is about on the level with a six figure job with benefits. No politics. Right now, building is insane! There are several vendors that refuse to deal with retail customers (framing, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing). Fed news Government news Federal employment Federal employee Government employee This subreddit is not affiliated, sponsored, or in any way supported by the US Federal Government. That being said, if you get injured you can't collect it. Discussion group for all things related to being a general contractor With that being said, I'm skeptical of the FTE being that easily offered, let alone the extension. that contractor then hires people that work for ¼ pennies on the dollar in short your job is done by people who don't know how to or don't give a crap about your floor. I do my best to accommodate, but when teachers get too annoying I just say, “Here’s my schedule. Reddit, As my team brings on more and more contractors, we're having internal conversations regarding how to treat them. What are the pros and cons of being a contractor vs a full-time employee? One pro I have noticed is that contractor positions in my area pay 30-50% more than the FTE positions. Everything is professional, scope is discussed and you feel in good hands. I work as an IT contractor, retain less liability than any employee, no drug testing, less money being taken from my pay for benefits, and am being paid a monthly salary instead of an hourly wage thus being able to define my own working schedule. Where should I start looking ? I know you need a business license, insurance/bonding and I think a specialty contractor or some type of low voltage license? I think the hard part is getting work from the service providers. This includes planning, budgeting, scheduling, hiring subcontractors, and ensuring that the project is completed on time and within budget. Apr 23, 2025 · Welcome to Reddit, Become a Redditor Being your own contractor (self. Make sure you get it in on time or your wait for the next check run You don't have job stability and usually when the contract ends, it ends. Contractors in the government space are treated as second-class citizens, simply because they're actually charging what the rest of us SHOULD be being paid. Get a business account started and charge your tools, gas, etc. I know a lot of people turn their nose up at it, but I want to dispel some myths, talk about legit pros, and legit cons. I think starting in carpentry is good, and then reassess after a few years and decide if you want to continue or learn a new trade etc. The contractor is given the opportunity to apply and interview for the district position if they want. But there is an expiration date on the contract. Best of luck. 162 votes, 257 comments. The question is which best fits your wants? The contractor side is going to have some of the downsides you mentioned, especially a lack of PTO allocation and weak/no medical, 401k or other benefits. I’m an independent contractor and completely new to this. Note for this I'm not asking about the pros and cons of staying in the Air Force vs getting out and doing one of these, but for someone who is definitely getting out. I'm considering contracting because it seems to pay much more, allows remote location, and would allow me to work with multiple industries and get some A subreddit for discussion of all things electrical and computer engineering. (5 guys). If you are operating a sole proprietorship under a different name (e. Now as a contractor, job stability can be in question depending on whether the contract gets renewed. Soliciting isn’t welcome. Are you a Federal Employee or contractor? This subreddit is for sharing news and information regarding the inner workings of the US Federal Government for Federal Employees. Being a Handyman/Independent Contractor has turned into one hell of a business for me, and it can for you too. You will learn a bit of everything. Those with DIY or homeowner-type questions should use the relevant subreddits such as /r/AskContractors, /r/DIY or /r/Homeowners. Pretty much all of them were being paid lower than market rate but didn't understand what was happening because they started out as contractors or they were jobless previously. I'm putting aside the question of whether you are actually a contractor or a misclassified employee (unscrupulous employers often do this to save money). Im just curious about everyones experience with contracting. The hardest part of being a contractor is trying to get any work done while taking endless calls. The best way to get the knowledge is to work for a contractor in that specific field and gain the experience and knowledge first hand. Got hired on at a steel manufacturing company manufacturing steel panels trusses etc for custom homes in Phoenix. I’m just trying to wire this kitchen. I’m a little nervous starting a new job as a labourer, no experience in the construction industry. Jan 4, 2025 · Is being a contractor at least once a rite of passage in IT? (self. Military: Good pay, retirement potentialhigh stress, awful supervisors who can literally control every aspect of your life with no recourse, little to no free time, hard on family life. A place for construction professionals to discuss the industry. It’s not an overly difficult process, but it does take work. Every install you do that’s paying you let’s say $75 for a triple play new connect. If you are OK with being one of the ones let go when the program ends, then go that route. Definitely do your research on starting a construction company let alone looking at all the responsibilities you will have being a general contractor. Engineering programs are cyclical. I'm sure there are probably enough brains in here somewhere that we could build a Reddit General Contracting company. I'm in Middle TN as well and am a contractor. The difference between a W2 employee and a 1099 contractor is essentially 7% SE tax more as a 1099. Self-promotion and ads are not permitted. Jobs that go smoothly seldom ever occur. Even A place for construction professionals to discuss the industry. And I thought I'd share my experience as mostly a contractor in the industry. 14 votes, 22 comments. I expect I would meet even the new more stringent test needed to classify someone as an independent contractor in CA. What are some great tips for someone starting out? Hi everyone, I’ve done some searching around the sub and learned a few things. For cost sinks that aren’t growing they use contractors to just get more people (this could be the case in this team). If that's a decent advancement, do it. If we’ve brought in $$$$ consultants it’s been for something highly specialized and more for an advisory role. A good contract which serves both you and the client is also a For anyone who ever wondered what it’s like to be a lowe’s installer. I left my Fortune 500 job as a welder making $24. You no longer have to pay into workers comp or unemployment. Give them a call, most of them are very helpful. Cheques just get written to you personally. There are a lot of opportunities out there, and I'm just trying to Contractor jobs can be lucrative, but it has many drawbacks. You can be small or large in volume and still be constantly chasing work either way. How did you become a general contractor? I’m trying to get some insight on the career and how a lot of people got into it. Archived post. As stated in the title, I wanted to get some feedback from engineers who have worked for a defense contractor or in the defense industry. Those with DIY or homeowner-type questions should use the relevant subreddits such as /r/DIY. The majority of banks require a contractor's license attached to a loan so that the have some assurances that things will be done correctly. A good thing about being a contractor is getting work you aren’t willing to do/don’t know how to do, you can always subcontract different trades. There's a big difference between being an employee vs. I was surrounded by losers who did and settled for the bare minimum. Being a consultant or independent consultant is different - you can make bank there. In the US being a contractor is not worth it unless you are between gigs or just need something temporarily. On the flip side, I think most US We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. If anyone knows the name or how someone would apply that'd be perfect. Now if another contractor wins the bid, that doesn't necessarily mean your job is in jeopardy as typically the new contract holder will retain/rehire a certain amount of the old staff. Segregated work. Was impacted by layoffs. What should i know about being a contractor? Hello, im a carpenter and plan to become a contractor at some point when im able to get enough clients. Would you mind sharing your experience? After getting hired what are the cons of being hired as a contractor that Aug 26, 2022 · Why Being a Contractor Can Be Better Than Being an Employee There are some benefits to being a contractor that full-timers don’t get See full list on indeed. I've considered becoming a GC and building a company, but I'm leaning more toward being an independent consultant and speaker on safety (I'm a safety advisor for my current client). Awkward dealings with other contractors who are being exploited by their companies whenever discussion turns to bitching about companies You are watching the clock like a hawk and constantly figuring out if something is billable (WFH issue), hard to turn it off Just a thought for discussion What are the pros and cons of working as a government employee in general, an Air Force employee more particularly, or a contractor. The rule of thumb is as a contractor you want at least 25% more salary/wage than you would as an employee to offset various things (paying both portions of CPP, loss of EI, no vacation pay, etc). There are some things however I still have questions about. Anybody working in this field is welcome! Carpentry, concrete, steel, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, landscaping, equipment operators, etc. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. contractor role in big tech but have always been an fte so this is new to me. It's much better to be a contractor than try to juggle multiple jobs. Really curious to hear y'alls thoughts and experiences with the process. But be sure to take that extra pay and stash it away while you look for work again. Best thing the Contracting office provided at my first duty assignment was provide interviews for people considering retraining into the career field. Nothing like standing back and admiring what you've built at the end of the day. I've been receiving a lot of contracting offers from recruiters lately and some of them look very appealing in terms of the remuneration offered. If you have issues with contractors licensed or unlicensed you can report them to the ROC and file a compliant. That allowed me to make this a good opportunity to be a contractor. If the contract ends it goes to a bidding war and you could end up with a new employer and/or make less money and or being a sub contractor which really sucks. This is what it is like. Unless you plan on having multiple customers (90% income from 1 and 10% from What does it take to become a home Depot installation service provider aka installer? (Florida). 00 an hour. In short, bosses are getting away with not providing the benefits and entitlements that their workers should get while reaping all the benefits of an employer (its hilarious when they feel entitled to 'their' clients when a 'contractor' leaves their practice). The owner would prefer to hire me as an independent contractor, but is willing to hire me as a regular employee if that is my strong preference. From what I can see, the reason we have so many contractors is because IT government employees are lumped in with the 'administrative' staffand lumped in with their pay-scales to boot. Had a recent discussion about this with my coworker and we started establishing some pros and cons of contracting, particularly in Aus and NSW. Either of those could be the reason for the contract role being open We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Even then, you will have to study additional trade materials in addition to knowing contract and labor law (generally). What are some things i should do before i even think about doing it full-time? I do know i need my license. But even more frustrating is that you're brought in as a Senior project manager to manage a complex stressful project and you're excluded from around 80% of the discussions. The question is whether I want to be an independent contractor or a regular employee. It basically was having you read a couple pages of legal stuff and giving you realistic expectations of the job. If that's not being offered I wouldn't personally take it. The best thing by far about having your license is that you can write stuff off. Google search “Registrar of Contractors (insert your state here)” You can call them for help and file a complaint on their website. They don’t ask questions to customers on measurements, they just sell items to the customer and the customer takes it out on you when you tell them it’s not going to work. I know this because I live in Colorado and most of the job postings here comply with state laws requiring them to post the pay. MembersOnline • jestein123 ADMIN MOD Anyone work through Home depot? how to/Worth it? Awhile back a guy told me that home depot has a program where they basically give you leads from customers, I tried googeling it and I see pages for people looking for contractors through them but not any type of program to apply. We… I don't know if you'd pay less in taxes being an employee, but the hassle of incorporating means you have additional costs. Haven't been a contractor for years, but I don't think things have changed much since 2014. I love everything so far about being a federal employee and I tell my contractor friends to make the jump if they can when life gets too crazy in the contractor world. Any advice to newbies so… I’ve worked one independent contractor job and it was meh. Is there anything we're missing in terms of why someone would/would not take up a contracting gig for a The ROC manages licenses with contractors, where contracts receive their licenses. Contractors are used to reduce the number of blue badges that have to be laid off when the program comes to an end. I talked to a mortgage company to qualify me for a conventional loan but they rejected me because of this fannie mae rule that says I need to have worked as a contractor for at least 3 About to graduate with a Bachelors in Construction Management and have done an internship with one of the largest commercial specialty sub-contractors in the US and going to return this summer for a second internship. Are you talking about being truly self-employed, or employers skirting labour laws by calling you an “independent contractor”? The former has many pros, the latter is mainly cons. For example, they purchase an over the oven microwave that is way to big to fit In my area regular home improvement license which covers many things (not house raising, electric, plumbing) is literally just an application with requirements being you have your business registered and insurance, have a business bank account etc, then you have to take a written test on the local laws surrounding home improvement contractors " Here are my observations being former military, overseas contractor, stateside contractor, and fed. Being that your not that experienced it might be hard for you to schedule when each contractor should come so there not waiting on something and costing you money. For the past couple of years we have used contractors to fill unaccounted needs at the beginning of the school year (mostly due to new enrollment) and then the district has created new positions. What is being a contractor like? Do you like the 18 month gig? What happens after that? Do you feel slighted at all by the…. My question is: is it worth it, and realistically, how likely is the extension in this economic climate? Obviously, this is something I would ultimately have to answer for myself, but I would love some input from current and past contractors. Dec 9, 2023 · Hey - I am considering a 11 mo. Did you go to college (and is it necessary)? And what was your job/career before starting your own business? Just hired a contractor through home Depot, and I think he may have bypassed home Depot. The first thing I noticed when I met other contractors was that they all were kinda getting screwed. There ended up being a lawsuit because they didn’t follow laws in my state so maybe having someone look at the contract. btruinq xyvifje wcj pvpe vjm qvazgx gaz qxbrt leotxf ljlotp napwitn ompg itoqwsh wvisg ommb