Masonry Service
What will I be doing ?
Concrete and brick are all around us. The people who install them are called masons or mason contractors. There are more than 11,000 full-time masonry contractors in the U.S. Masonry services design, install and maintain, concrete, brick, rock and other masonry products. These products come in many forms : buildings, fences, walls, sidewalks and other structures. If you have proven your masonry skills working for someone else, maybe it’s time to consider working for yourself.
Who will my customers be ?
As an employed mason, you probably didn’t have to worry about who your customers were. Your customer was your foreman. You did what the foreman said and everybody was happy. But as you market your masonry skills, you must first determine who to sell to.
Customers for your masonry service depend on what services you offer. In most cases, your customers will be genenral contractors, remodeling contractors, homeowners, apartment owners, retail businesses, office building owners and manufacturing plants. Fortunately, once identified, they can be contracted through listings in local telephone books or through regional associations.
How much should I charge ?
The rate for a masonry service varies greatly by skills, but typically ranges from $40 to $80 an hour. Subcontracted work is typically priced by the hour. However, many jobs are bid by the size and complexity of the job. A masonry wall might be priced by the block or the surface. A concrete walk or driveway would be priced by the square foot and the thickness in inches. Some trades will have locally standardized pricing with little variation while other areas are more competitive.
How much will I make ?
You’ll find that 20 to 30 percent of your time will be spent looking for jobs. This will be reduced once you establish yourself and start getting repeat and referral business. However, it may be higher as you begin your business.
Overhead expenses will range from 20 to 40 percent of income. A masonry job may give you $600 after paying for materials. But of that, $120 to $240 will go for equipment, tools, office expenses and taxes. A full-time masonry service can earn $25,000 to $60,000 a year or more.
How can I get started ?
Masonry is a trade. How much training and experience you will need depend on what type of work you do. A terrazzo mason may require 20 years of trade experience before starting a contracting business. A sidewalk installer may need only two years of experience.
Start gathering your tools. You will probably have many of them, but not the more expensive ones like mixers and tampers. You will also need the tools you will use in your office : telephone, fax, maybe a computer.
If you’re currently employed as a mason, watch for an opportunity to discuss your goals with your employer. Do so carefully, because some employers may consider you a potential competitor and fire you on the spot. Others will welcome a known subcontractor and help you get your start.
The SIC code for masonry services is 1741-01.
From the book of Dan Ramsey, Title : 101 Best Home Businesses, CAREER PRESS, 3 Tice Road, P.O. Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, 1-800-CAREER-1, 201-848-0310 (NJ and outside U.S.), FAX : 201-848-1727
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