That something is the strawman argument you are tossing around.
I’m not angry with you. I am angry at your attitude that you feel entitled to circumvent doing what is right and proper. You didn’t just start this business today. You obviously saved money from somewhere, and bought tools to get going. You FAILED to save money for the other things to make yourself legitimate. You failed business 101 right out of the gate. Some education you have so far…
It’s guys like you that screw the HONEST business person because you under cut pricing. And when something happens and it’s time for you to pay, you’ll be the kind to slink away and disappear, leaving a bad taste in someone’s mouth and giving the trade a bad name. If you were so honest and upstanding, you’d be doing things right. Not explaining how you are so entitled and smart by side stepping your duties as a business owner.
It’s just unfortunate you don’t care and are in it for the fast buck. It’s not just bad for you, it’s bad for us too. Some guys DID start off as hacks. Some, like me, actually DID start the right way. I saved my money and got off on the right foot. I invested ALL my money back into the business the first year. I still invest back into my business.
I agree. Some teachers have had successful business in the past. I 100 percent agree. I don’t personally think I have many questions to ask right now. Can’t tell if you implying a question I should ask them or just saying in general.
I agree on the saving part. I neglected to save enough and didn’t account for expenses I would incur while at college. And the part where you said “some education you have”, it honestly isn’t my choice to go to college. I’m doing it for someone else. I think it could help me in life but I know there are other ways to go about starting my adult life. Plus Ive really only taken BS classes that are required. Theatre, geography, global issues, etc. Never really understood why I needed a theatre class to graduate from college.
Just because I don’t want to start off fully legit doesn’t mean I’m an unhonest person looking to make a quick buck. Yeah I want to make some money soon but not at the expense of others. I’ve got a set or morals and values in life. From a young age I’ve been instilled with values and morals and known what was wrong and what was right. One reason I haven started is because I feel I need to perfect my technique. Sometimes I need to redo windows and sometimes I miss a small detail. I don’t want people to pay me for something that was not done right. If you knew me as a person you would understand this. Truly, I value other people’s time, money and value.
I have also thought about prices of cleaning. I could do it for dirt cheap and still be making more than I was a week ago. I know this. I don’t have any plans to do this though. I’m just a college student that doesn’t have too many responsibilities and expenses compared to others. I know people are out there that do this for a living, to put food on the table and keep the house warm. I don’t plan to undercut them by a large percentage. Yes I may go lower than them but they have other things that the customer will be paying for. Professionalism being one of them, at least at the beginning. Now if you say I’m wrong for that then I can’t argue with you because you don’t value capitalism to the core.
Actually, I did. I started from practically nothing with several set backs - one of which I was just released 2 weeks before starting my business from a broken vertebrae. I set aside enough “the bills will be late” money to get up and running and caught up after several jobs.
Again with not accepting responsibility? Seriously?
You definitely DO have a choice if you go to college or not. No one is forcing you at gunpoint.
Those “BS” classes are there to make you a more “well rounded” person. I don’t know if that is complete truth, but I see the point of someone being more well rounded and having SOME experience with things outside what they normally do.
So you are honest, huh? What happens if you break someone’s window? How are you going to pay for it? You say you don’t have money for insurance, then it’s obvious you don’t have money to pay for your mistakes. RIght? Does an honest person, who has morals, leave someone hanging to pay for their mistakes? I don’t think so, and I’m pretty sure 99.99% of the folks here would agree with me. Insurance isn’t just about protecting YOU, it’s also about protecting those customers you say you care about.
If you aren’t paying for insurance, you can afford to under cut prices. How would you price IF you were doing business legit? Couldn’t do it so cheap, right? Do you suppose that because you can and will undercut based on not paying for the legit expenses, you are hurting someone else? You honestly can’t see how what you are doing is immoral or that it makes you a hack?
If you can’t see why you are wrong, I contend you really aren’t honest or have a sense of morals. It’s isn’t about loving or hating capitalism. I love capitalism.
Work P/T for someone else - say - an established window cleaning company; then diligently sock away 10% of your earnings for a Start-Up-Fund of your own business. Maybe something in the socialism field since capitalism is a bad idea?
I know why I would be able to undercut someone. They have other expenses that go into running a legitimate business. I know this, I thought I said that but maybe not. I didn’t say I was forced to go to college. I said I’m doing it for someone else. I did say it wasn’t my choice but I didn’t mean I was forced. If I broke a window I would likely be able to ask my mom or stepdad for help. Stepdad is very well off. I would probably get a loan from him and pay it off after a little while.
You also assumed that I would leave them hanging with a broken window and I’m dishonest. If it came down to it, I could get the money. Besides even if I couldn’t it doesn’t mean I would leave them hanging. You’re making assumptions that do not fit my character what so ever. I’ve never done anyone wrong in my life, at least that I can remember. If I didn’t have the money I would either get a part time job and replace the window asap or Like I said, get a loan from a family member. I’m not gonna act like I’m dirt poor. I’m not, I come from middle class family that was always able to provide. So don’t go assuming I would run out on somebody if I broke their window
When I very first started I also didn’t have insurance however my clients knew this and we both signed a waiver saying that any existing damage I was not liable for etc but any damage I did cause I would pay for. I understand where you’re coming from, but I’ll say that once you do have it a weight you didn’t know you had is lifted, you don’t have to worry as much for sure.
Maybe you could borrow some money from a family member to pay for a year of insurance, it’s not that expensive for the coverage you get and it can be a good selling point to have on your site or marketing materials.
If you want a different route try out Thumbtack, people have good and bad luck with it but I’ve had good luck so far and every person who hires you through it is covered by $1,000,000 property protection insurance via Thumbtack.
Actually that would mean I liked true capitalism better. Today’s capitalism is plagued with regulations and rules. Some of worthwhile, yes but some are useless and hinder growth and prosperity. If I wanted more regulations and rules I would like socialism more
Yes I agree. But in the beginning I feel it’s not necessary, why not sell a pitcher of lemonade then comply with the regulation when you can afford it from the profit from the pitcher. The other way would be to wait another month to sell lemonade just so you comply with the regulation. Makes it sounds like you take the governments word as divine if you go with the second option
Yeah I could ask for a loan for a years worth of insurance. My grandpa said to ask for a loan if I needed it when he heard of my idea. But I feel like I want to do a few jobs to make sure it’s something I’d want to do for awhile down the road
Nah. I think i follow your logic. “Since this country was founded on rebellion as needed, so is my business.”
Actually most of my lemonade comment was meant for those of us who take our little businesses a leeetle too seriously.
The law part is just that. If it is required, then do it. If not, let’s not shame someone to death because of lemonade. After all, anyone can clean Windows.
