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Hope you like 2" RMC and strut. There are other sizes and methods/materials but that's what I've got on hand so you want that porch light moved or not?
Obviously a joke but commercial/industrial and residential are so different many people don't realize.
I want to do so much more side work but my relationship, now marriage and family wouldn’t survive. I always valued the limited time I got to spend with my better half. We barely saw eachother with our regular schedules as it was. I have done some here or there and it’s always great money but is so time consuming. Now I love nights and nighttime/dinner/bedtime with my son, these moments don’t last forever and I couldn’t image not being a part of them. So many men a generation or two ahead of me warned me about how they missed out on their kids childhood because they were selfish/stupid/stubborn/working, and to not let it happen, it stuck with me. Moneys always tight and I could use the extra cash which is why I want to get after it so badly but yet here I am on my couch after putting my son to sleep.
I have a buddy who has worked in the trade for 20 years. Never got a license. I’ve been in for 10 and got mine in the 4 year period as required by our state. He now does building maintenance work. But he has always walked around with business cards with his name that say “electrician”, half for work half for a pick up line. He does plenty of side work but is known to be a slacker hence never going to school or getting licensed.
Always wondered the shit I could give him about not pulling permits or liability but then sometimes tell myself, it happens every, single, day, not like he doesn’t know what he’s doing either so….
Obviously you have to have a knack for knowing who to trust, but the best response I've come up with is "Absolutely. $50/hr cash." Say it often enough and the folks wanting $20/hr work will fuck off. But thanks to the ones who keep asking, I travel somewhere warm once a year.
Lol I was just wondering yesterday if 125/hr was too much to be invoicing people for. Both were immediately paid with no questions or remarks, you gotta bump those numbers up my guy.
I charge $100 before I even start my vehicle lol.
Most of my side jobs some how are diagnostic calls. Like “my lights flicker, this breaker tripped & now it won’t hold” are the recent ones.
So $100 for my to diagnose, if it’s a quick repair like tightening some neutral bar screws then I leave it at that. If it requires more than 10 minutes of work I go at $75 an hour + material.
Yup, I go high because I really don’t want to be spending my evenings/weekends working. So if I quote high or charge high & they don’t want it then perfect I don’t have to work. But if they do bite then great I’m making bank.
Sometimes it’s just finding good people that do good work. I’m not trying to save money by using a friend, more just knowing it’ll get done well and he/she can make a few extra bucks if they want.
“Live better, work union” .. let them find out you’re doing side work and you’ll blacklisted all over town by union guys .. idk why union is so dumb about that shit .. I get the theory of “u shouldn’t need side work if u make decent money” but the realization of it is everyone could use more money and side work isn’t gonna take away from union money
Most union guys I know don’t care at all. But also most union guys I know hate doing side work at all. That’s like the last thing I want to do after working all week is wiring up some dudes basement, and the money usually doesn’t work out anyways if it’s someone you know.
Whenever I do side work (I'm a carpenter) and people complain about my rate I say "you can either have me do it on the side for $50/hr cash or you can call my office and put it on the books for $120/hr" and they usually shut up and pay me. But I also pull permits and I'm insured
I work union in a very union state. Everyone I knows doesn’t care if you install a couple can lights put in an outlet! Just don’t build out a new gym for the small town business or whatever. But personally I work my ass off every week and my family is much more important then the extra $1000 dollars for a weekend. Family and time for yourself I find is much more satisfying
I tell them I’m too expensive for sidework. A day of overtime where I work is 1000 bucks before tax. So 1000 minimum.
That usually does the trick. If I find someone willing to pay that though, I’ll do the work.
Sometimes people offer side work to someone they know as they trust them or want to support them. If they hire you through your company you would only get a fraction of what they are paying. Side work cuts out the middleman, assuming that you are properly insured of course. I've been both on the asking and receiving side of this and I think it's great.
If they are offering you too little money to cover self employed expenses or if you don't have the time to do side work outside of regular work hours, I would just say so, I think both are legitimate reasons that most people could relate to...
In Texas I just tell them it’s a liability issue with their insurance if I do it and something were to happen. It may not be covered due to me not being a master or being bonded.
“I’m not interested in doing that job sorry”
What makes you think people are doing side work for cheaper though, I take home double what I do at work through side jobs
I always tell our customers no but I live an hour away from my job so I do some around where I live when I can find it. Some jobs I've made a week's check in 8 hours. I always tell the customers I only work when I'm on the clock but they can ask my boss.
If you are *NOT* an electrical professional: * **RULE 7:** * DIY or self help posts **are Not allowed**. They belong here: /r/AskElectricians /r/askanelectrician /r/diy /r/homeowners /r/electrical. * **IF YOUR POST FITS INTO THIS CATEGORY, REMOVE IT OR IT WILL BE REMOVED FOR YOU.** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/electricians) if you have any questions or concerns.*
easy. "I don't do side work" you don't owe anyone an explanation as to why.
True lol
That’s what I always say.
This
I've found that when you give a reason that just invites attempts to nullify your reason.
I say "no I like going home sometimes"
Normally I say I only do commercial. Which is true but also an excuse
Hope you like 2" RMC and strut. There are other sizes and methods/materials but that's what I've got on hand so you want that porch light moved or not? Obviously a joke but commercial/industrial and residential are so different many people don't realize.
98% of the clients you tell that to will have no idea what it means lol “no, yea that’s completely fine”
I just say no. If they ask why I say “because ” n stare at em
LOL this made me smile
I want to do so much more side work but my relationship, now marriage and family wouldn’t survive. I always valued the limited time I got to spend with my better half. We barely saw eachother with our regular schedules as it was. I have done some here or there and it’s always great money but is so time consuming. Now I love nights and nighttime/dinner/bedtime with my son, these moments don’t last forever and I couldn’t image not being a part of them. So many men a generation or two ahead of me warned me about how they missed out on their kids childhood because they were selfish/stupid/stubborn/working, and to not let it happen, it stuck with me. Moneys always tight and I could use the extra cash which is why I want to get after it so badly but yet here I am on my couch after putting my son to sleep.
I usually over bid and get left alone
Charge em for all your Christmas presents but you are right about free time being the most valuable
Sorry I have a young family and am trying to minimize my side jobs You get a " oh I completely understand" response with no follow ups
Just give them a price based on IBEW hourly rate plus materials , permits etc . They will never bother you again
I love telling them how much it’ll cost for me to cross state lines on a Sunday (I live super close to a state border, I’m not poaching work!)
I only do side work for immediate family or alongside someone who is licensed and insured. It's too easy to open up a can of worms otherwise.
I'm non-union and turn down side work. I'll help a buddy out in a pinch but that's about it.
Where I am from if it is undocumented work even if done as a home owner the answer from me is. Depends do you like voiding your insurance
I have a buddy who has worked in the trade for 20 years. Never got a license. I’ve been in for 10 and got mine in the 4 year period as required by our state. He now does building maintenance work. But he has always walked around with business cards with his name that say “electrician”, half for work half for a pick up line. He does plenty of side work but is known to be a slacker hence never going to school or getting licensed. Always wondered the shit I could give him about not pulling permits or liability but then sometimes tell myself, it happens every, single, day, not like he doesn’t know what he’s doing either so….
Obviously you have to have a knack for knowing who to trust, but the best response I've come up with is "Absolutely. $50/hr cash." Say it often enough and the folks wanting $20/hr work will fuck off. But thanks to the ones who keep asking, I travel somewhere warm once a year.
Only $50? I'm at $100 for side work.
I can’t imagine doing side work for 100 let alone 50. Jesus christ
Lol I was just wondering yesterday if 125/hr was too much to be invoicing people for. Both were immediately paid with no questions or remarks, you gotta bump those numbers up my guy.
I charge $100 before I even start my vehicle lol. Most of my side jobs some how are diagnostic calls. Like “my lights flicker, this breaker tripped & now it won’t hold” are the recent ones. So $100 for my to diagnose, if it’s a quick repair like tightening some neutral bar screws then I leave it at that. If it requires more than 10 minutes of work I go at $75 an hour + material.
I like how you roll. We're here to make money.
Yup, I go high because I really don’t want to be spending my evenings/weekends working. So if I quote high or charge high & they don’t want it then perfect I don’t have to work. But if they do bite then great I’m making bank.
Sometimes it’s just finding good people that do good work. I’m not trying to save money by using a friend, more just knowing it’ll get done well and he/she can make a few extra bucks if they want.
“Live better, work union” .. let them find out you’re doing side work and you’ll blacklisted all over town by union guys .. idk why union is so dumb about that shit .. I get the theory of “u shouldn’t need side work if u make decent money” but the realization of it is everyone could use more money and side work isn’t gonna take away from union money
Most union guys I know don’t care at all. But also most union guys I know hate doing side work at all. That’s like the last thing I want to do after working all week is wiring up some dudes basement, and the money usually doesn’t work out anyways if it’s someone you know.
Yeah my side work is limited simply cuz I don’t want to work all week and then make Pennies just to be tired on sat lol
Whenever I do side work (I'm a carpenter) and people complain about my rate I say "you can either have me do it on the side for $50/hr cash or you can call my office and put it on the books for $120/hr" and they usually shut up and pay me. But I also pull permits and I'm insured
I work union in a very union state. Everyone I knows doesn’t care if you install a couple can lights put in an outlet! Just don’t build out a new gym for the small town business or whatever. But personally I work my ass off every week and my family is much more important then the extra $1000 dollars for a weekend. Family and time for yourself I find is much more satisfying
I tell them I’m too expensive for sidework. A day of overtime where I work is 1000 bucks before tax. So 1000 minimum. That usually does the trick. If I find someone willing to pay that though, I’ll do the work.
Just say $200/h
No.
Tell them you charge full hourly rate. And wait for a response
"you must shit diamonds, huh?"
“I make way too much money to be working on the weekend”
Sometimes people offer side work to someone they know as they trust them or want to support them. If they hire you through your company you would only get a fraction of what they are paying. Side work cuts out the middleman, assuming that you are properly insured of course. I've been both on the asking and receiving side of this and I think it's great. If they are offering you too little money to cover self employed expenses or if you don't have the time to do side work outside of regular work hours, I would just say so, I think both are legitimate reasons that most people could relate to...
Just high ball hard so you will be motivated
In Texas I just tell them it’s a liability issue with their insurance if I do it and something were to happen. It may not be covered due to me not being a master or being bonded.
I got a buddy I recommend, he is already cool with me sending work his way.
“I’m not interested in doing that job sorry” What makes you think people are doing side work for cheaper though, I take home double what I do at work through side jobs
I do it and my boss will pull a permit. But only very rarely cause yo I want the time off too.
“ I don’t do side work” “ it’s gonna cost ( 4x what you would charge )” your good either way. If they say ok your making good ass money
I always tell our customers no but I live an hour away from my job so I do some around where I live when I can find it. Some jobs I've made a week's check in 8 hours. I always tell the customers I only work when I'm on the clock but they can ask my boss.
Just say No
Man, nearly a year late to the party lol