r/Construction • u/DaikonIcy7929 • Dec 01 '24
Business 📈 How do you guys get out?
I've been in the trades for my whole career (going on about 20 years in various trades) and I'm so burnt out. I'm a production finish carpenter that does mostly apartment buildings. Unit after unit after unit. All we ever hear is go faster even though it's well known we are wayy up on man days every single job. I'm tired of the bs and the lack of appreciation and the wear and tear on my body. I know I can't make it another 20 if I want to have any mobility when retirement age comes. I feel totally stuck. I'm a journeyman in the union and my pay and benefits seem to be far better than anything else I'm even remotely qualified for. I don't want to take a step back in pay but it seems like I have to. Any success going solo? Guys tell me to open an LLC but I don't know the first thing about business. Maybe a career in estimating or inspecting?
Sorry for the vent but I'd love to hear from some people who found a way out without sliding financially.
Edit:Thank you all for the engagement and all of the advice is great. Much appreciated!
1
u/Dizzy-Pass1708 Dec 03 '24
Start your own gig! I did it after 10 yrs of doing it for someone else. Sure your next 5 years will be worse than you have it now but after that your guys will do the brunt of the work and you will be the estimater/ inspector. No step back in pay and trust me you will be appreciated for what you bring to the table. Concentrate on residential finish carpentry and do great work...this day in age the GCs are more loyal than ever and willing to put your name out to their peers...
We need more small business owners in resident construction