[PrimalSeal]

Once I got all my tools together, my hook or by crook, I just basically told myself that it was time to start making all the money for myself. Taking the plunge wasn't that hard to do compared to the lack of job security at the time. Then 12 years later, after Katrina wiped me out, here I am in the USAF. I still have 99% of my tools, and I still do jobs on the side to supplement my income. Man, it's a great feeling to know that I can do just about anything I can afford right now, and then go out and bust a little tail for that something special.



Oh, and if you need any tips, send me a PM and maybe we can hit up a phone call some time.

 

[PrimalSeal]

It all depends on what you're doing as far as how much money you can make. Prior to the 'Cane that wiped me out, I had just re-opened my business in Feb '05, and by 29 Aug when the 'Cane hit, I'd already made over $100K gross. I made out like a bandit with the tax breaks because of the natural disaster, but I was still rather pissed that I had to start all over again....

Let me know if you need some tips and I'll point you in the right direction. As long as you have a good work ethic, and can hire someone dependable and honest, you're already on the right track.

 

[PrimalSeal]

Over half of that went for labor and insurance expenses, and then you have materiel and tools. I only claimed about $28K of that as "income" and showed an extreme loss, naturally, and with the loss of my business on top of it, I made out like a bandit on taxes. Of course, I'd already moved away from the area before I even filed taxes, as my wife had just joined the Air Force at that time. So, the tax break, and the fact that I never lost a single tool, it really helped me be able to re-found the business once I got here. However, I was more intent on joining the USAF myself to even give it a second thought. I think I made the right decision.

 

[PrimalSeal]

I just got tired of running the business all by myself. I didn't make enough money to be able to pay my wife to keep the books, so I did it alone. That, and insurance was expensive, because Mississippi is a hard state to work in. Of course, to keep us afloat, I learned a few tricks that helped me bring more of the bottom line home with me on Fridays, so I could do special things for the wife when she needed it.

On towards the time the 'Cane hit, I was bringing more home in a week than she was in a month working full time, and I was only working 20-30 hours a week.

It's a learning curve, and definately a process. If I can help out in any way, I'm more than glad to do so.