Which is Best: Contractor Vs Installer

Hello, My name is Bill. I have been in the vinyl siding business for about thirty years. When I first started, I was making a whopping $3.50 per hour. I worked for a small contractor that was doing rehab work for HUD.

At that time, we did complete remodeling. The crew I was on didn't do much siding, we did mostly interior work. On days that we didn't have much to do inside, or I wasn't needed for that work on that particular day, I helped with the siding work. It didn't take long for me to figure out that I enjoyed that work, and I asked for it more and more.

While on break, I used pieces of scrap aluminum to try to make trim patterns.

As time went on, I got really good with the aluminum brake (a tool used for bending and cutting aluminum). I figured it out pretty quick, as with most everything, I had it in my head that it just takes a little common sense. practice makes perfect, and within a few weeks, everyone knew that I had a real talent. I started trying new things, and came up with ways that most people in the business didn't think were even possible. I saved my boss so much money that he gave me raise after raise. by the end of the year, I was making $8.50 per hour.

Time changes us all, and after a while I knew that I needed to go out on my own.

I borrowed a truck, and a ladder, rented some other tools that I didn't have and went out to make my fortune.

I started sub-contracting for first one good company then another. I knew that this wasn't getting me anywhere. One thing I noticed when I was trying to do side work. I didn't make any more money than when I was doing work for the other companies. That's when I decided to start my own company. Still when I started doing it for myself full time, I didn't charge enough. Over the years, I learned to charge more money, and had a successful run at it. The point I'm getting at is that the work I have done, even though I have gotten better over the years, pretty much remained the same as far as quality.

This is the reason I am writing this because if you are contemplating using an independent installer, as opposed to a big well known company, why pay for all of that overhead( Cadillacs, Television adds, high pressure salesmen, etc...)?