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If one is changing from working for an employer to running one's own business, the biggest hurtle is changing one's perceptions about lifestyle changes, which is followed by learning the nitty-gritty about running this kind of business and whether or not to be union.

THE PROS of one's own construction business boils down to who's in charge of your life.
*You decide the what, where and how.

*You get paid your worth, hopefully.
*You get to turn down jobs or projects that endanger your health or relationships.
*You're not stuck with the dirtiest or undesirable jobs just because you're new or someone doesn't like you.
*No socio-political backstabbing or control over your work or life that often occurs when there are coworkers. There's no vying for control or favoritism.
*You're in charge of how much or how little you make.
*You set the hours.
*It's an adventure.
*You sometimes get more time with your family.
*You pass on the entrepreneur attitude and confidence to your children. Working for someone else is like slavery in many cases and often produces a slave mentality which can result in a sense of helplessness. Being able to create your own income when you can't get work lends more confidence and hope.

THE CONS include changing attitudes and learning about running a business. Learning what licenses and permits are needed and what to do if a client insists that you buy workers comp when you don't have any employees are just some new things to learn about.
*having the discipline to save a percentage of each payment for taxes.
*learning to have the confidence of asking for work from potential clients.
*learning where to look for work. (installation for major chain stores like home depot or lowe's, carpet laying for floor stores, mobile home manufacturers,etc.)
*irregular payments and work require more financial planning than the paycheck to paycheck scenario.
*you get to do all the bookkeeping.
*you don't get paid if you get sick, old, injured or if the environment interrupts work availability.
*You have to decide up front whether you want to be union or not. When one joins a union in this kind of business, they are started out at apprentice level regardless of experience. There are pros and cons to union work too. The key thing to decide about unions is to what degree of compromise in control over your business you can tolerate for what you get in return.

More information on this topic can be found if one does a search on Helium for the keyword HANDYMAN

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