Juggling a day job and a recycling business.

I've been recycling/scrapping for about 3 weeks and my earnings are already approaching what I make at my day job. Most of my business is re-selling other people's "garbage" and scrap metal is that the last resort for items that have no other value. Anyone else here finding themselves considering going full time? I never envisioned myself doing this for a living but money talks and it's becoming more and more of a possibility. Any advice from folks who have made the transition to full time would be appreciated!

Right now i'm just using a 2001 Dodge Dakota Sport V6, RWD and using my parents garage for storage.

I'm in the same situation. Waiting to get off of work to go pick up the rest of my load.

Ditto here, it's a pita but Im not quite ready to go full time scrapping, YET! Someday it will happen tho.

If you have any benefits at your full-time then you have to take that into account also. Good Luck,,,

I got fully paid family health insurance, so that's why Im only part time scrapping.

^ That's why I work and scrap on the side.

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Originally Posted by beedubz

I've been recycling/scrapping for about 3 weeks and my earnings are already approaching what I make at my day job. Most of my business is re-selling other people's "garbage" and scrap metal is that the last resort for items that have no other value. Anyone else here finding themselves considering going full time? I never envisioned myself doing this for a living but money talks and it's becoming more and more of a possibility. Any advice from folks who have made the transition to full time would be appreciated!

Right now i'm just using a 2001 Dodge Dakota Sport V6, RWD and using my parents garage for storage.

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I think what alot of part timers who earn relatively close to or greater than day job income forget is the COSTS involved with being your own boss. Insurances, Taxes, Increased Regulations, fluctuating markets, etc. Now throw in some real overhead. I am not trying to tell you NOT to do it, there are alot more considerations than what meets the eye.

its tuff at times since I work at night scrap and sleep when ever during the day but whats nice is right now all of my job money pays my bills and lets me expand faster and when times are really slow for reasons beyond my control at least my job will still be paying those bills and I work maybe 25-30hrswk and so it has a bit of nice leeway

Right now doing both is great. Recycling is the ultimate in flexible hours which is great because my hours are erratic at my day job. For the forseeable future i'll be doing both.

Ive been doing both for well over 4 years now. I use to work a weather dependent/seasonal job and scrap full time during winter, the off season, and whenever was out of work. It never failed that when I had scrap to haul boss man would call and need me to work. My 6 day a week more than covers household expense and scrapping gives a hobby, which is what I consider, that makes money

I am getting real close to it.

This is the best hobby I've ever gotten into. Would not quit my weekly paycheque though.
Bought and sold a car this week, then bought 2 more with the profits.

I've been considering the same thing. I have a 2001 Ford Explorer but I've been doing a lot of eScrap lately. Unfortunately I have some health issues and losing my insurance wouldn't be worth whatever money I'm making scrapping but I'd really like to be able to do it. My main problem is that I normally work nights so when I curb shop it's at night usually at around 11PM-1AM and it always looks like I'm doing something suspicious, just started buying eScrap though so hopefully don't have to make that many late runs anymore.

Mechanic688 .. Just wanted to say your posts are in the eScrap forum are 100% appreciated. You've helped me out big time, still check your picture of gold finger connectors from the ewasted thread just for reference.

Give yourself longer than 3 weeks as a sample size. Ive had some months where ive made almost nothing and other months left me wondering why I was working full time. Add 33% of your hourly full time job rate; typically you will need to make that amount to cover your lost- insurance, employer matched taxes, benefits, overtime etc... As ewasted said its very expensive- overhead, insurance, licenses etc... on top of paying yourself the 33% above what you were making from your ft job. Its not far fetched to say: you will have to make about twice as much working for yourself as you currently make from your other job.

I have the luxury of both owing my own company and being an employee of another company. It generally takes a few years and some good luck before you have enough cashflow to even pay yourself. You need a bigger cushion than you would think.

Work hard save everything you can and keep your job till you have a years salary saved before you even think about going on your own. Then if you can emotionally handle knowing you have no one but yourself to rely on and realize you're going to have to to wear 10 different hats being on your own.

I'm lucky in that my 'real' job complements scrapping to a large extent. My job has me driving around neighborhoods where people (pretty much by definition) have more dollars than sense, in a company-paid-for pickup. I mean, I drive right by the homes of Mark Cuban, T Boone Pickens, Ross Perot, Don Henley, Dirk Nowitzki, Jerry Jones... & many others almost as wealthy but less famous.

Curbco can be downright incredible in those neighborhoods if you're an early bird.

Add in very flexible hours & pretty darn good pay for the job description, and I ain't quittin' anytime soon!!

I used to juggle a day job and recycling. Now I just recycle.