Guys that run your business from home?

[seabee24]

Dont take offense to this, and I love my company an treat it like a child, but when it comes down to it.

I have alarms. I have cameras, and I have insurance

You can fix and replace work items. You can't do that with your family . Their safety, well being, mental state, is way more important than anything my business owns or has.

And besides all my real expensive things are at home, not in my shop
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[gallihergreen]

Seabee24,

I completely agree with you, although my motive for buying a house with a shop on the property has more to do with cutting down commute time, being closer to our service area, and avoid the expense of owning or leasing a seperate commercial property. Like you, I love my trucks and equipment, but they are cold pieces of metal than can easily be replaced or fixed unlike family. Your post about disgruntled employees really made me reevaluate whether or not I want to mix my business and personal lives.
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[CLS_Birmingham]

Get post Seabreeze. Were in the process of buying land that my business partner will live on and will also function as the business location. Were both bachelors so we won't have issues with the kids, but its a good thing to keep in mind about disgruntled employees. Our plan is once were established enough, that the company will buy the property from my business partner and he will move else where. But in the mean time, its something I need to be aware of and I'm glad you posted the concerns.

[Rick Grantham]

Great post Seabreeze. There is a lot to consider. Particularly if you have a family. I found this link that is a decent article of things to consider when figuring out oif you need separate space for work.

http://brandmakernews.com/business-b...pros-cons.html

Rick

[McFarland_Lawn_Care]

It also has a LOT to do with the area you live in! I have had to let employees go but I have never been concerned for my house or family or anything.....95% of the time the garage is wide open and tools/equipment in plain view. It depends on who you hire, how you deal with employees and the area you live in. This is a rural area and I personally know so many people in the area including neighbors who all keep an eye open. No one is immune but the day I don't want employees to know where I live, is the day I get done. I totally realize some areas of the country this is TOTALLY necessary - I'm just saying my own circumstances.

Jason

[alldayrj]

Originally Posted by Rick Grantham

Great post Seabreeze. There is a lot to consider. Particularly if you have a family. I found this link that is a decent article of things to consider when figuring out oif you need separate space for work.

http://brandmakernews.com/business-b...pros-cons.html

Rick

Good article. I don't like having new guys at my house or seeing everything in my garage. Also i find clients ask if we can meet and 90% of the time their home is the best choice, but a brick and mortar store front creates a great sense of professionalism while combining storage in the back and maybe even some product displays which would cut down on meeting customers at mason yards or picking up samples and bringing them to their houses. Maybe the answer will be made clear in the next few years. Until then, good fences and keep the trucks out of sight of the town inspectors
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[seabee24]

Originally Posted by McFarland_Lawn_Care

It also has a LOT to do with the area you live in! I have had to let employees go but I have never been concerned for my house or family or anything.....95% of the time the garage is wide open and tools/equipment in plain view. It depends on who you hire, how you deal with employees and the area you live in. This is a rural area and I personally know so many people in the area including neighbors who all keep an eye open. No one is immune but the day I don't want employees to know where I live, is the day I get done. I totally realize some areas of the country this is TOTALLY necessary - I'm just saying my own circumstances.

Jason

Not to disagree but, have you ever had to fire someone that stole anything from you? How about stole an account, or work, or a suspected $1000 in fuel? In hind site, I should have just paid the guys his last check of 500 bucks, but we caught him red handed with over $200 in fuel, and I suspected this had happened multiple times. But how would you handle it? Defend yourself and business proper and rights? Or just let it go? Not saying either way is better than the other, but at some point you will run in to a bad situation with an employee.

How about a subcontractor, I had one that tried billing me for 36 hours of plowing, his plow was broken and not useable for 14 of those hours. He wanted me to pay his down time. I didn't pay him for those 14 hours. After going though this, lets just say my sub agreements are clearly spelled out for what we pay. But that's after the fact.

Then after you have to make a tuff choice in what to do...go and ask your wife if she is ok with it. I don't care how I feel. I'm military trained. I can deal with any situation. But my wife can not.

I think if you work with your guys, they have more respect for you and it's not as big an issue when your small. But I had 6-7 at one point. I stayed home, did sales work, fixed problems. To the guys, they started work at 6 am, they worked in the heat, they worked hard 10 hour days, and they got paid jack compared to the boss who sits at home in the a/c watching tv - or this is what I was told

And it's not just about dangerous situations. Just have your guys stop by ring the bell and wake your family up on a day off. I don't want to be bothered, she for sure doesn't want to be bothered.

[McFarland_Lawn_Care]

I can definitely see where you're coming from. But I screen all subs and employees very carefully.....VERY carefully. It CAN be hard to take days off with the shop right there.....lol

Pros and cons to each.

[Gmgbo]

I agree with seabee, Bought my house 2 years ago with 10 acres, thought it was a good idea to have everything here.

2 months ago I rented a garage and moved EVERYTHING there.
Employees showing up without notice.
Employees not respecting your personal space.
Employees using the lawn to do burn outs.
Unhappy employees looking for trouble.
Employees riding my quads and sleds.(destroying)
List goes on and on.

We all have some good employees, but the rest fall into the "flunkie" category.

I have a shop 2 miles away, large gated parking area, 25'w x 50'l. Motion light and security cameras I can watch from home.

Best $600 a month I ever spent

[jrs.landscaping]

What kind of employees are you guys hiring? If ANYONE was doing burnouts on my property whether a shop OR my house they'd be canned. As for ruining your personal toys, why were they on them to begin with?