Cash jobs

It was suggested that this should be a new post...I pasted my initial question from the "side work" thread. Here it is below.

I have a real interesting question to add to this post.......I have recently seen a trend of legit companies conducting buisiness on a cash basis..."a cash job"...is what they call it. It seems the most legit companies are lowering thier standards to compete with others. Anybody in thier right mind will never admit to taking such an action, but it is taking place.

I wonder how a wrong can be so right through these times.

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Well I'm a newbie on here but I have been in the roofing business (commercial) since I was 14 I am 29 now and own my own business. It is hard to be a reputiable business when you have the "truck bed ladder guys" who just do a really sorry job, and its always "cash jobs". To do a "cash job" is to lower your standard as a roofer and this lowers the standard across the board, I take pride in what I do on a job and if all others would do this the roofer would be respected more. Its time for the legit business owners who are professionals to stand up to the "cash job roofers" and to market proffesionalism. I get sick and tired of seeing wannbe roofers taking my jobs because they cannot come up with the funds or expertise to be a real roofer and therefore charge a cheap price, and in turn do a cheap job, then we all get the blame for it. Be a proffesional not a "cash jobber".>>>

Taxes are rarely an issue here Mike. At least from what I see. Since we have dismantled the economy in the last 20 yrs. and told workers to "Go forth and be owners" the response has been an overhwelming "YES!" . And along w/ that an almost total disregard for laws..... inclduing the laws of average. Or the laws of prcing. etc.

After so many years of this, the homeowner of course began to see himself as the True Capitalist in this new, Strange Nature of Business. And Voila! The KASH is King Contracting Industry is born.

The same guy who refuses to work for a good fair dollar at a "job" will quickly hire himself out for Kash to the Capitalist Homeowner for much much less.

Anyway yeah, the prices I am seeing out there are price for materials and double it from what I think are legit busiensses. Side Job Bob is NOT going much cheaper than that as far as I can tell. The business entities that price like that, have of course depended on volume to make it. We will see how that plays out.>>>

Taxes are rarely an issue here Mike. At least from what I see. Since we have dismantled the economy in the last 20 yrs. and told workers to "Go forth and be owners" the response has been an overhwelming "YES!" . And along w/ that an almost total disregard for laws..... including the laws of average. Or the laws of pricing. etc.

After so many years of this, the homeowner of course began to see himself as the True Capitalist in this new, Strange Nature of Business. And Voila! The KASH is King Contracting Industry is born.

The same guy who refuses to work for a good fair dollar at a "job" will quickly hire himself out for Kash to the Capitalist Homeowner for much much less.

ANyway yeah, the prices I am seeing out there are price for materials and double it from what I think are legit busiensses. Side Job Bob is NOT going much cheaper than that as far as I can tell>>>

A couple of years ago I ran an ad for help in the local paper. A journeyman roofer responded and listed 4 different companies as his past experience. I told him I would hire him, but since he didn't have any tile experience I could only offer him $14 per hour. He declined and went to his truck. Then he returned and asked me if the $14 would be in cash. I asked him if the other companies he listed paid him in cash and he said "all but Warners." That was a real eye-opener for me, as a couple of those had been around quite awhile. But now in the recession, the only one of those still around is Warners.

It's only anecdotal, but that experience would indicate that there is acually less cash work going on now.>>>

it aint right..but it is survival,so many yahoos out there :dry:>>>