Time for a Partner?

Hello all,

As I sit here today with a sinus infection, taking care of two sick little boys, with a husband at work earning some much needed money - I get a call for a pickup of 5 bags of cans and a big satellite dish. Woohoo! Calls are beginning to trickle in for my business now and it's always a thrill. However, on the days when there is not enough of me to go around or I am sick/taking care of sick kids, I'm thinking it would be nice to have a partner or worker or something. We still live paycheck-to-paycheck and metal load-to-metal load, so it would be really hard financially to have one, though. Any thoughts, ideas? Thanks guys! This site has been invaluable to me and I'm eternally grateful for all your advice, knowledge and friendship!

I usually grab my buddy on long jobs. I usually hand him 50 a day, but it does affect my paycheck after a bit. Just got to watch your friends. I have known him for 10 years or better. He starts getting really greedy. Starts making me buy food, drinks, cigs, etc. It gets real expensive after a bit. So something to consider, but if you need daily labor. Then you will be stuck like me. Last job was at a farm. Between 100 in gas expenses, paying him 170 plus 30 in smokes, food, and torch gas...i only actually made like 400. Was enough to piss the pope off.

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Originally Posted by ozzy214

I usually grab my buddy on long jobs. I usually hand him 50 a day, but it does affect my paycheck after a bit. Just got to watch your friends. I have known him for 10 years or better. He starts getting really greedy. Starts making me buy food, drinks, cigs, etc. It gets real expensive after a bit. So something to consider, but if you need daily labor. Then you will be stuck like me. Last job was at a farm. Between 100 in gas expenses, paying him 170 plus 30 in smokes, food, and torch gas...i only actually made like 400. Was enough to piss the pope off.

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That is why you got to leave business AND personal life SEPARATE!

He is a part time helper, NOT a partner. Therefore if he does a job, and if you give him $150, then it is responsibility to make it last for whatever reason...drinks, cigarettes, etc.

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Originally Posted by LadyScrappers

Hello all,

As I sit here today with a sinus infection, taking care of two sick little boys, with a husband at work earning some much needed money - I get a call for a pickup of 5 bags of cans and a big satellite dish. Woohoo! Calls are beginning to trickle in for my business now and it's always a thrill. However, on the days when there is not enough of me to go around or I am sick/taking care of sick kids, I'm thinking it would be nice to have a partner or worker or something. We still live paycheck-to-paycheck and metal load-to-metal load, so it would be really hard financially to have one, though. Any thoughts, ideas? Thanks guys! This site has been invaluable to me and I'm eternally grateful for all your advice, knowledge and friendship!

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If you just need them periodically try some day labor agencies.

I cant afford day labor at $12 to $16 per hour $7 for the worker and seven for the office.

seems there would be a lot of people out ther right now that would gladly work for $50 a day now and then. I certainly would.

what Im going to try to do is run an ad on CL and compile a list of those who will work part time. It seems ya cant depend on one person any more and I can understand some one not wanting to sit arround waiting for you to call, but a list of 5 -10 people might be the way to go.

Your right George. My problem is I have a heart and care. When he walks in and starts his little routine, I feel bad. Like he will grab a hoagie and start counting change. Or follow behind me at the check out line. Then open his cig pack and kinda hint he has only so many smokes left. Guess my heart gets in the way of smart decisions.

As my dad always said never do biz with family or friends, ya bound to get screwed..,. :>

I also have a tendency to remeber when I made my old boss 5 grand a week. He would give me a 400 paycheck for the week and a few 1.00 mcdoubles. I thought that was bs, so guess thats in the back of my mind as well

me too thats why Im broke at 70 yrs old. business has to be run by the brain not the heart. the heart can come from the extra profits. (wish to *ell I could follow my own advece :) )

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Originally Posted by olddude

me too thats why Im broke at 70 yrs old. business has to be run by the brain not the heart. the heart can come from the extra profits. (wish to *ell I could follow my own advece :) )

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to quote the late, great Amy Winehouse's song " Love is a losing game."

Thanks guys - olddude, that's a great idea! I think I will try that too. Picked up the cans and satellite - turned out to be a truckload full of cans so that was nice, and the satellite is aluminum, so about $30 for 10 minutes of work about 5 minutes from our house. The 19 degree weather felt good on my sinuses, so worked out for today. George, how much do you pay around there for labor from an agency?

LadyScrapper I would be careful using day labor !

If you have them use a broom they may break it from leaning on it all day!

The agent charges like old dude mentioned but the worker gets about $30.00 for the day.
Trust me they are not very motivated, well for work that is!


PS; I forgot to say I hope you and the children get well soon.

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Originally Posted by ozzy214

Your right George. My problem is I have a heart and care. When he walks in and starts his little routine, I feel bad. Like he will grab a hoagie and start counting change. Or follow behind me at the check out line. Then open his cig pack and kinda hint he has only so many smokes left. Guess my heart gets in the way of smart decisions.

As my dad always said never do biz with family or friends, ya bound to get screwed..,. :>

I also have a tendency to remeber when I made my old boss 5 grand a week. He would give me a 400 paycheck for the week and a few 1.00 mcdoubles. I thought that was bs, so guess thats in the back of my mind as well

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I am not telling you not to have a heart..that is just being human. What I am saying and mean is simple. Separate personal from business. Plain and simple.

You are already doing him a favor of giving him a job and actually paying him. He is a grown man and it is his responsibility to take care of his stuff, not yours.

Yes, I seem cold hearted, but I do speak from experience.

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Originally Posted by LadyScrappers

Thanks guys - olddude, that's a great idea! I think I will try that too. Picked up the cans and satellite - turned out to be a truckload full of cans so that was nice, and the satellite is aluminum, so about $30 for 10 minutes of work about 5 minutes from our house. The 19 degree weather felt good on my sinuses, so worked out for today. George, how much do you pay around there for labor from an agency?

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It depends on what they be doing really. For my area, some jobs pay them minimum wage which is $7.25 and depending on their tax situation, an 8 hour day can clear them almost $60.

The highest jobs pay them $15 bucks an hour, and if you are hired as a skilled laborer, you get a decent wage.

For me, I mainly use them when I have clean outs (foreclosures) to do. I don't get them through the actual agency myself. I just go up there, talk to a few guys and ask them if they like to work...I offer them between $8 to $9 bucks an hour, sometimes more depending on what I am being paid.

If I went through the agency, I would be paying closing to $20 bucks per hour.

If you do decide to hire day laborers, just let management know that you are NOT looking for slackers, but workers, and that if they slack and won't work, you will cut them loose.

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Originally Posted by injunjoe

LadyScrapper I would be careful using day labor !

If you have them use a broom they may break it from leaning on it all day!

The agent charges like old dude mentioned but the worker gets about $30.00 for the day.
Trust me they are not very motivated, well for work that is!


PS; I forgot to say I hope you and the children get well soon.

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$30 would be for 4 hours of work at $7.25/hour depending on their tax situation. If they work 8 or more hours per day, it is more

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Originally Posted by LadyScrappers

Hello all,

As I sit here today with a sinus infection, taking care of two sick little boys, with a husband at work earning some much needed money - I get a call for a pickup of 5 bags of cans and a big satellite dish. Woohoo! Calls are beginning to trickle in for my business now and it's always a thrill. However, on the days when there is not enough of me to go around or I am sick/taking care of sick kids, I'm thinking it would be nice to have a partner or worker or something. We still live paycheck-to-paycheck and metal load-to-metal load, so it would be really hard financially to have one, though. Any thoughts, ideas? Thanks guys! This site has been invaluable to me and I'm eternally grateful for all your advice, knowledge and friendship!

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You might consider using one of those personal assistant or concierge services that people have where they do a single task for a set amount of money (such as a pick up) if it would work out to be worth it for you financially. Many of those type of people are self-employed as businesses and have an interest in behaving professionally. If you work with one regularly, you might be able to get a better rate or even run a monthly tab. It would cut out a lot of the hassle of having a partner or an employee. Make sure they carry insurance, in case something they are hauling for you falls off the back of the truck and takes out someone's windshield!

you expose yourself to a lot of risk when hiring your buddy or anyone else with out the proper workman's comp and liability insurance. it is a felony in some states if you do not provide workman comp. insurance. if they ride in a company vehicle or what would be classified as a work vehicle you are supposed to maintain the proper insurance for that as well.

if they are injured while working for you, you are liable.

if you do not with hold all of the proper taxes and fica & pay it to the proper administrations. you will be held liable for that as well.

know what the laws are and what is required of you.

there is more to being in business than a cell phone and craigs list.

A: I am dead set against a partner. I have yet to see a partnership work for long. They always say the guy does less work.

B: Day labor, I'm a big ugly guy and I don't want strangers looking at my tiny amount of Cu, Al and ewaste or the money in my wallet.

Do you have any lady friends who could occasionally use a couple of bucks? Have them on call when you need them. With women it is less likely to getting ripped off of your inventory. Just my thoughts, Mike.

LadyScrappers I guess when you posted this you wanted a bit of encouragement and a hand when things get a bit much. I would encourage you to do everything you can to not take on an extra pair of hands until you really, really have to. I've been there, and my experience is that if you can work really hard and earn good money and you get to keep it all yourself (minus taxes!) then do it. It's only when you are turning away more work than what the extra pair of hands would cost can you afford to seriously consider taking someone on.

Juggling work, life and family is difficult. You know that and you don't need me to remind you. Instead, consider the big positives of being self employed, which are the flexibility and freedom that you have and the fact that you answer to no one other than Lady Luck, the Good Lord and Mother Nature.

Your sinus infection will heal, the boys will get better too and then you will be up for it again. Speedy recovery.

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Originally Posted by miked

Do you have any lady friends who could occasionally use a couple of bucks? Have them on call when you need them. Just my thoughts, Mike.

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This summer when we were busy hand over fist, I hired a college girl that I knew from the local Dunkin Donuts. Wow was she a worker! But she isn't able to work during the school year, and has looked around for me for other women, but unfortunately, most women she and I both know turn up their noses at this kind of work. I think I'm going to step up the looking, though, try again, and maybe try to get a list of people I can call, like olddude mentioned.

I've used the help of both family and friends and so far haven't had a problem. My oldest son works with me most of the time. ( Btw, he got his G.E.D.!!!) There are days when I can't pay him much and he understands, but on the good days I make up for it. Works for us.
As for friends I've got 2 that'll gladly come help out for nothing, but I do pay em $40-$50. And lunch. By the same token if the call me for help I'll be there for them in a second. Works for us.

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Originally Posted by wayne

LadyScrappers I guess when you posted this you wanted a bit of encouragement and a hand when things get a bit much. I would encourage you to do everything you can to not take on an extra pair of hands until you really, really have to. I've been there, and my experience is that if you can work really hard and earn good money and you get to keep it all yourself (minus taxes!) then do it. It's only when you are turning away more work than what the extra pair of hands would cost can you afford to seriously consider taking someone on.

Juggling work, life and family is difficult. You know that and you don't need me to remind you. Instead, consider the big positives of being self employed, which are the flexibility and freedom that you have and the fact that you answer to no one other than Lady Luck, the Good Lord and Mother Nature.

Your sinus infection will heal, the boys will get better too and then you will be up for it again. Speedy recovery.

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Yes, you are right - about pretty much all of it. The whole point of going into business for myself was for that 'freedom and flexibility' (and a love of all things scrap).Today's load wouldn't have justified paying a helper, and I felt better knowing that I got the job done anyway. This thread has given me pause for thought, however, about having someone/some people lined up for those days when the scrap is rolling in (more than now) and I have to be in 3 other places at once, there's family sickness, or some other circumstance like that.

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Originally Posted by ozzy214

I usually grab my buddy on long jobs. I usually hand him 50 a day, but it does affect my paycheck after a bit. Just got to watch your friends. I have known him for 10 years or better. He starts getting really greedy. Starts making me buy food, drinks, cigs, etc. It gets real expensive after a bit. So something to consider, but if you need daily labor. Then you will be stuck like me. Last job was at a farm. Between 100 in gas expenses, paying him 170 plus 30 in smokes, food, and torch gas...i only actually made like 400. Was enough to piss the pope off.

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Set a price for the day and that is it. Cut him off. It's like any other job. If you give in a little then they keep taking.

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Originally Posted by LadyScrappers

Hello all,

As I sit here today with a sinus infection, taking care of two sick little boys, with a husband at work earning some much needed money - I get a call for a pickup of 5 bags of cans and a big satellite dish. Woohoo! Calls are beginning to trickle in for my business now and it's always a thrill. However, on the days when there is not enough of me to go around or I am sick/taking care of sick kids, I'm thinking it would be nice to have a partner or worker or something. We still live paycheck-to-paycheck and metal load-to-metal load, so it would be really hard financially to have one, though. Any thoughts, ideas? Thanks guys! This site has been invaluable to me and I'm eternally grateful for all your advice, knowledge and friendship!

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Keep your chin up LadyS. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Do you have any family members that can help you? Even if they just drive around and pick up stuff for you. Get to feeling better ;)

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Between 100 in gas expenses, paying him 170 plus 30 in smokes, food, and torch gas..

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If your paying him that much he should be able to buy his own smokes and maybe lunch.
And L.S. you might try what I mentioned to Olddude, put up a small ad for some help wanted at the scrapyard cash window, and your requirements, and just have them call you or come around. #1 -they would have to want to work to even pick up the phone, #2 -9 times out of 10 the person seeing your ad already has experience at some kind of scrapping, just teach them what you "need" for them to know; not everything you know.

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Originally Posted by Mechanic688

just teach them what you "need" for them to know; not everything you know.

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Wise, wise words.