Job on the side startup. Advice needed...

[lil'mo]

http://www2.tceq.texas.gov/lic_dpa/index.cfm

Thanks brotha

I'll get back with those pictures a little later

[mouse]

Personally I'd rather hire someone who enjoys doing it and helps his friends do it because it's a hobby and he legitimately enjoys it rather than hiring pepe and his crew who do it to make a living and pump it out as quickly as they can so they can move on to the next job.

Then do one a month.

Go for the Red MCombs / Cosmic cowboys of Texas once you impressed them word is out and your suddenly overwhelmed in future projects. I would give HEB a visit they have cash and property all over.

http://www.hebdevelopment.com/index.jsp


Region Property Name City Property Address Zip Land Size Development Lease Manager Phone
Gulf Coast/ Corpus Christi CC Timbergate Corpus Christi South Staples & Timbergate, Corpus Christi, TX 78413 20 Acres Completed Debbie Knox (210) 938-8290 Ext.7
San Antonio Kingsville Kingsville King Ave (across from store), Kingsville, TX 78363 0 Acres Completed Debbie Knox (210) 938-8290 Ext.7
Border/Valley San Juan San Juan Hwy 83, San Juan, TX 78589 1.75 Acres Completed Jessica Dureell (210) 938-8290 Ext.8
Central Austin 13 Austin Manor Rd. & Turner Lane-US 183, Austin, TX 78723 5.42 Acres Completed Brett Baker (210) 938-8145
San Antonio Temple #3 Temple Canyon Creek Dr. & So. 31st, Temple, TX 76502 32 Acres Completed Brett Baker (210) 938-8145
Central Georgetown (Inner Loop at Hwy 29) Georgetown Hwy 29 @ Inner Loop, Georgetown, TX 78626 2.572 Acres Completed Brett Baker (210) 938-8290 Ext.5
Houston Pasadena Pasadena Belgium Drive, Pasadena, TX 77505 4 Acres Completed Debbie Knox (713) 329-3939
Houston Beaumont 05 Beaumont Dowlen @ Delaware, Beaumont, TX 77706 8 Acres Completed Debbie Knox (210) 938-8290 Ext.7
Houston Ingleside Ingleside Highland St. & Ave B, Ingleside, TX 78362 6.5 Acres Completed Debbie Knox (210) 938-8290 Ext.7
Gulf Coast/ Corpus Christi Cullen Mall Corpus Christi Alameda & Airline, Corpus Christi, TX 78416 1 Acres Completed Debbie Knox (210) 938-8290 Ext.7

[lil'mo]

Not looking to travel all over for this, just affluent neighborhoods here in town on my down days.

[lil'mo]

Make just enough to pay my property tax and groceries bills every month would be nice

[DJR210]

The fact that a white man would go into a business dominated by Mexicans shows lack of experience and brings red flags to the authenticity of this topic.

You used to watch a lot of Oprah back in the day?

[CosmicCowboy]

Whats your hourly rate? I've got about 100' of a low rise (maybe 18") mortared rock wall finished on one side (yard drops to a lower level) left to do at my place...I did half of it a few years ago and then got distracted with other projects. Or, I'm cool with a bid too. I could do about 20' a day by myself ing off and drinking beer.

[CosmicCowboy]

As to your original question, get a DBA and get a state sales tax number. Most wholesale places will give you wholesale rates. You might want to get a cash back credit card in the business name. That simplifies it...most take credit cards now as payment and you don't have to mess with opening individual credit accounts with every business.

[mouse]

Then do one a month.

Go for the Red MCombs / Cosmic cowboys of Texas

[lil'mo]

Whats your hourly rate? I've got about 100' of a low rise (maybe 18") mortared rock wall finished on one side (yard drops to a lower level) left to do at my place...I did half of it a few years ago and then got distracted with other projects. Or, I'm cool with a bid too. I could do about 20' a day by myself ing off and drinking beer.

Didn't intend to ignore your post CC. That's the thing, I don't even know how to get started figuring out what to charge for jobs... I'd like to help you with your wall but I'm up in Lubbock, I assume your place is down in Bexar county?

[lil'mo]

Here is some of my more recent stuff that I actually have pictures of...

texas patio, in baaaaad:




Patio and edging with pergola:










raised garden on the left:

[The Reckoning]

good stuff mo. i was thinking of sculpting my bush into the shape of texas so all the international women will know where i'm from.

[lil'mo]

that'd be ing sweet. you'd have to get a professional manscaper to do it though. be pretty tough to do it on yourself. Surely they have some pube barbers there in Europe?

[The Reckoning]

yeah but they're all scared of my cir cised penis

[lil'mo]

lol 3/4" my ballsack. I mean I CAN do but I'd probably upcharge the smaller the client wants the spacing. I like having about an inch on my personal patios, sometimes I have to go bigger because I'm not buying a load of extra rock just to make sure I have the pieces that will fit together perfectly. I'm not trying to have a half ton of rock left over from a personal job. If I started doing it regularly for side income I could justify buying a lot more than I need knowing that it'll eventually get used. I also like to lay dry because I like to let the Bermuda grass we have up here in Lubbock grow in to the cracks. I can do the mortar lay, no problem.

I'd like to have a DBA and a website eventually just to look a little more legit and the richers like seeing that and wont hire someone that doesn't have a neat little website they can look at. I've already got a bit of a word of mouth thing going on, as I have helped some coworkers with patios and other backyard projects and now their friends/family are asking about my help with their backyard projects. I've helped buddies in the past just for beer and bbq, but this is kinda what got me thinking about doing it for extra income during my free time.

and every job I do is top quality, that's why I only want 1-2 jobs a month so I can put the necessary time and effort and care into each one.

The ponds are a great idea. I also can do small fences for dog runs and washer/horse shoe pits. You know, all easy that richers just don't want to go in the back and do on their own.

[lil'mo]

that's really nice but waaaay beyond what i'm looking to get in to. This is what you do for a living?

[lil'mo]

so what's your trick for getting such small joints? you take a piece and chip it and break it till it fits perfectly where you want it to go?

[lil'mo]

that's a good point... i'm just getting started thinking about it so this is all good information.

[jag]

A little hobby of mine is installing backyard patio and rock landscapes. Stone edging, dry and wet stack, and dry-laid or mortared flagstone patios.

that's a lot of work for a hobby

[lil'mo]

Sounds like it to a lazy person, huh?

[DJR210]

Here is some of my more recent stuff that I actually have pictures of...

texas patio, in baaaaad:




Patio and edging with pergola:










raised garden on the left:

How much did you charge them for that Texas?

[lil'mo]

That's my backyard at my old place. I've never charged for money...yet

[SnakeBoy]

People love this , well for about a year.

Well when you build them a ty pond that has no chance of being anything other than an algae filled cesspool it's no surprise they get tired of them.

[SnakeBoy]

I don't build ponds. The only reason they become tay, is usually because the customer doesn't take care of them.

Nah, it take a lot more filtration than the little home Depot kit to have a pond that someone can actually enjoy instead of constantly cleaning it.

You should learn how to build ponds, not too many builders in Texas who actually know what they are doing. Here's an example of a guy who does know what he's doing...
http://highdesertkoi.com/index.htm

Pretty good money to be made.

[Expert]

I am fortunate enough to have a job that offers me a lot of free time and have been thinking about starting a little side business to supplement my income. A little hobby of mine is installing backyard patio and rock landscapes. Stone edging, dry and wet stack, and dry-laid or mortared flagstone patios. I've even dabbled with pergolas and raised gardens, etc.

What are the steps to take so that you can get wholesale prices on materials and how would you go about offering/advertising these services? Do you have to get certifications/licenses? It'd be cool if I could get 2-3 jobs a week.

Thanks in advance for the great advice and off in advance for all the jeally bag hatas.

A job that offers a lot of free time is called being unemployed.

[Expert]

That yardscaping looks ghetto as .