Help Wanted

[Sonnie Layne]

Help wanted...

Oh jeez, now I've stooped to a new level. If admin would allow, I would place here an ad for some hands (brain desirable) to help an expanding enterprise. I know it's a stretch, but ya never know who's got a cousin in Dallas who might be looking to expand their horizon.

For all the former jokes about wages (I can hear John say who was kidding?), I start the first guy who shows and doesn't steal at $10...cash... If he proves to be teachable and still doesnt' steal he gets 20% more just because. If he/she knows the tools involved in ANY trade of construction and has the faintest concept of what's going on, the rate is $15. If they have tools, can be left alone to do anything from replacing trim to re-setting a toilet, starting rate is $20 and negotiable in upward increments after 30 days. All cash prices, I'll be glad to contribute to SS if respondent so desires to pay IRS.

Qualifiers:

I'm real damned picky about the work time, but you can be late if you have to. I don't allow working beyond 12 hours per day, it's unproductive.
I'm real damned picky about the methods, but if you have ideas, I'm more than interested to hear them if you can explain them in real-time (my-time) in less than 10 minutes.
I'm real, real, real damned particular regarding the respect of my clients. Dress well, but appropriately. Know how to say Yes sir and No Ma'am. Cut-offs are OK, for instance if you're painting (I'll supply the aprons) or laying tile (I'll supply the knee pads, tho' it's unlikely you'll need them as your talents at laying are likely less than mine, just cut the darned tile where I mark it).
No drinking on my time, and don't let it interfere with my time the next day.
I'll buy the drinks after work. (Your time)
I won't bail you out of jail.
I will respect you in every manner you respect me.
If you can help me, I will reward you. If you can't help me, I'll tell you. That's fair.
If you don't waste my money, I won't waste your time. Same thing I told my first therapist some years ago.

Reply in earnest to Sonnie. No last name or "Mr." needed.
Stand ready to respond immediately to a positive response.
Don't try to smoke a smoker, it'll make me cough. And laugh.

As the administrator, John, I know you can delete this message. Sorry if I stepped over the line but as you know I have little traffic on my own site.?!.

Now I guess you're going to tell me there's an administrative fee for job seeking/hiring, eh?
not on your dos equis, but maybe on mine...

Sonnie Layne
http://www.sonnielayne.com

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[Bud Cline]

You know?????

I really miss DALLAS!

[Sonnie Layne]

Well, Bud

As in the past it's great right now, but

I MISS NEW ORLEANS!!!!

[chip]

I just got back from New Orleans, and I'm sorry. But I was stuck downtown off Bourbon street and some what near the convention center.

If I never smell that stench or experience the degradation, it will be way to soon!!!!!

[John Bridge]

Sonnie,

That little post should net you a bunch of wannabes. You probably could have just called a day labor provider.

[Sonnie Layne]

Figured that as well, John, but you get a $7 employee and pay $12 through them. And so many are only wanting a bit of fill-in work. At any rate, it was a shot in the dark.

Stench and degradation??? Depending on where it is, I guess it could be called "character", haha. There's no denying that my home-town ain't what it used to be, but home is where you find it and I still find the friendly markers and reminders of home anytime I go.

Sonnie

[kalford]

Why the hell can't you be in TENNESSEE!? The fact is I'm probably Over-qualified having experience in virtually every aspect of construction from clearing the land to setting tile and toilets! Things are pretty slow here even for the big boys.If I was single I'd be headed your way!

[Bud Cline]

Sonny,

Think about this for a mimute. If your willing to start a guy at $10 and if you feel he is teachable you add $2. At this point you are paying the same to this person (direct cash) as the Labor Contractor would be charging you for the same person.

The real differnces here are: by doing this you are violating every government tax law in the book.

You are not contributing to the employees medicare or social security requirements,

you are not contributing to the employees unemployment compensation requirements,

you are not providing the employee with workers compensation insurance coverage,

you are not protecting yourself or your customer against claims by that employee if he/she were to be injured while working on any given job,

you are not withholding the necessary taxes on earnings required by law,

you are contributing to the unreported underground silent organization of tax dodgers that in turn create the need for higher taxes from those of us that do file, report, and pay.

Where on the other hand the Labor Contractor that you don't want to pay $12 to, IS, in fact in compliance with all of these laws.

If you think you are able to pass these guys off as legitimate contractors simply by issuing a Misc. Form-1099 (if you do) then you are only fooling yourself.

Practicing this method of paying employees is cheating yourself and every law abiding contractor in the business.

"just my thoughts"

[Sonnie Layne]

Thanks for your thoughts, Bud. Thought I'd made it clear that I would contribute via withholding in my original post. I believe one difference is that I'd mentioned a $7 employee, not $10.

Now, my one employee is just that, and I withhold and contribute my share. The other tradesman who works solely for me, owns his own tools, shows up at the site I direct him to and carries on the necessary tasks to my liking. The only thing I require of him is his SS so I can issue a proper 1099 at the end of each year.

I'm not required to carry workers compensation by the laws of this state. I do carry insurance on every job, and in addition my contract with clients releases them of any claims. These terms were/have been looked over by both my attorney and insurance agent to make sure all loose ends were covered.

I'm also licensed, which is a rare thing in Dallas right now. I carry bonds as required by contract with client. Basically, my client can request more, less or none as far as these things go, it only reflects in the contract price.

Further, I contribute to the local economy by hiring licensed, insured bona fide electricians, plumbers and mechanical contractors each of whom receive a 1099 from me at the end of the year if they've billed me enough invoices to qualify.

Also to date this year, I've tallied over $2500 in inspection fees for the permits I've pulled on my jobs. Often pulling a permit is optional, most guys in my business can't pull one because they're not licensed. Don't think tile guys and painters have to worry over such trivial expenses and legalities. Certainly not in Dallas.

Two expenses I've managed to avoid so far are a $25 SqFt office space, tho' I do rent two warehouses. And a 25K/year secretary, though I do have a laptop, two cell phones and a pager. Can't seem to talk my sweety out of any of her time to help with the books, tho' I do have probably $1000 worth of REGISTERED software. I work out of my truck which is not new, but clean, as I prefer to spend that money for health insurance and education for my daughter.

I'm glad to know you're such an honourable person in the trade and to have been sharing ideas with you all along on this forum. I would hope that you would think the same of me, but I'm unsure that I have the qualifications.

Just a small time guy getting caught up in an expanding business, trying to retain what little hair I have left!!

Thanks again for sharing.

Regards,
Sonnie C Layne Services
Contractor license 21434, City of Dallas, TX


John, sorry I opened this can of worms, maybe they'll make good fish bait, eh?

[Bud Cline]

Sonny,

No harm intended. I do "toe-the-mark" when it comes to compliance with Federal, State and Local Tax Laws. I have operated the other way in the past.

We both compete daily with those that don't want to comply and because of their low/no overhead posture they are impossible to compete with. If refusal to comply with the laws of the land also guaranteed that these tradesmen were performing substandard then the competition issue would be a moot point. However, some of these guys are very good at what they do in their industry. And very good at side-stepping the laws. Frankly I have grown to resent this practice and take every opportunity to preach a little.

Sonnie, Your following two quotes are what drew my attention and raised my ire.

"I start the first guy who shows and doesn't steal at $10...cash"

"All cash prices, I'll be glad to contribute to SS if respondent so desires to pay IRS."

You said: "if respondent so desires to pay IRS". The problem here in my perception of this statement is that this is not an option.

I was a Texas Contractor for thirteen years from 1980 thru 1993. I owned ECCO Construction in Denton Texas. I too am in fact familiar with Texas Law as it would relate to the contracting trades. All I can say at this point is:

"Don't try to smoke a smoker, it'll make me cough. And laugh."

[John Bridge]

Enough of this. I'm legal, too, but I have no great love for the law or government. Let's move on.

[Bud Cline]

D I T T O THAT!

[Sonnie Layne]

TEN FOUR
AMEN
PASS TH'GRAVY

sonnie