Opening up a business

[ScaringTheShitOutOfPoop]

Ive been a plumber for 20 years. I used to keep track of my hours and mail them in. After finding out that I needed to fax them in and having my hours not count cause i waited to long to turn them in plus the hassle of trying to get one states hours to be recognized in another state, I got so fed up with L&I I quit keeping track and sending them in.
Ive been working for myself for the past five years and ive got over 200 clients as of now. Ive never advertised, just went by word of mouth and referals. But now I was reported because I never tested out in Washington and L&I is on my ass wanting their part of my money.
My question is this, I want to be 100% legal, with my company licensed as a business and Ive always been bonded and insured. But i can only do it as a journeyman. Could I hire/offer partnership to a licensed journeyman and put everything in their name to be a co-owner of an establish(somewhat) company? That way I could work under his license while I work on getting my hours up to test out and keep my company going? Im pretty busy now with just word of mouth, if I was licensed bonded and insured and could advertise on a bunch of different platforms and get more business I could stay so busy and keep my journeyman going full-time plus me. Does anybody know if this is possible? I knew a guy that was an apprentice that opened up his own company that did this exact same thing that worked it out I used to work for them I was just wondering if it was all legal to do it that way if anybody knows I mean I don't know if I'm in the right spot to ask but any help would be much appreciated

 

[Breplum]

I know in CA, I get mailers soliciting me to be an RMO. responsible managing officer. I did it to help a friend once. Should be possible if you google it for your state.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jeff H Young]

Im sure there is a way legally to set up a partnership something like we can here in Ca. no idea what this Landi stuff you are talking about. Why not just get a licsence?

 

[Jeff H Young]

my guess is Wa has something similar , I suppose an RME might be interested I would never give up my licsence to bea RME for someone else I guess id demand buisness was incorporated and isured to protect myself but yea if you want to pay someone a percentage of your buisness. or just keep working illegally I* got My licence about as quick as I could around 5 years in the trade basicaly 3 of those I spent as a informal partnership with a guy with a licence technically I was more like a employee but we split everything 50/ 50

 

[adamjones]

Ive been a plumber for 20 years. I used to keep track of my hours and mail them in. After finding out that I needed to fax them in and having my hours not count cause i waited to long to turn them in plus the hassle of trying to get one states hours to be recognized in another state, I got so fed up with L&I I quit keeping track and sending them in.
Ive been working for myself for the past five years and ive got over 200 clients as of now. Ive never advertised, just went by word of mouth and referals. But now I was reported because I never tested out in Washington and L&I is on my ass wanting their part of my money.
My question is this, I want to be 100% legal, with my company licensed as a business and Ive always been bonded and insured. But i can only do it as a journeyman. Could I hire/offer partnership to a licensed journeyman and put everything in their name to be a co-owner of an establish(somewhat) company? That way I could work under his license while I work on getting my hours up to test out and keep my company going? Im pretty busy now with just word of mouth, if I was licensed bonded and insured and could advertise on a bunch of different platforms and get more business I could stay so busy and keep my journeyman going full-time plus me. Does anybody know if this is possible? I knew a guy that was an apprentice that opened up his own company that did this exact same thing that worked it out I used to work for them I was just wondering if it was all legal to do it that way if anybody knows I mean I don't know if I'm in the right spot to ask but any help would be much appreciated.As for bringing on a licensed journeyman as a partner, that can definitely work if structured right. You'd need to ensure the partnership terms align with state regulations, as each state has its unique requirements, similar to how cross-chain transactions work in crypto, where compliance varies across networks. Since you’re bonded and insured, you’re already ahead of the game, but having a licensed journeyman on board might give you the flexibility you need until you're ready to test out.

Hi there,

I completely understand your frustration with the L&I process; it can be really cumbersome. Partnering with a licensed journeyman could indeed be a practical way to keep your business running legally while you work towards meeting all the requirements yoursel

 

[adamjones]

wow

 

[Sylvan]

I own two companies and hold 51% of the stock in each as required by NYC BLDG dept.

One is plumbing ,heating etc and the other strictly fire suppression work.

The reason for the 51% is accountability if something goes wrong they know who to hang

 

[John Gayewski]

Here in Iowa to become a Journeyman plumber you have to complete a recognized (by the Dept. of Labor) apprenticeship.

Getting a contractors license is just a matter of filing paperwork and paying the fee. To be a Plumbing/Mechanical/Electrical contractor you need a licensed master of whatever craft, to sign off on your contractors license as the "master of record". At least here being a contractor is much easier than becoming a plumber. You need schooling and work hours signed off by a licensed contractor.

If i were you I'd look into the particulars for your state. Doing a whole apprenticeship under a contractor and then waiting two more years to test as a master sounds like a big detour for what your wanting to do. It's hard for me to see how a state like California or Washington could be easier to become a plumber that here, but I guess it could be.

 

[Sylvan]

Here in Iowa to become a Journeyman plumber you have to complete a recognized (by the Dept. of Labor) apprenticeship.

Getting a contractors license is just a matter of filing paperwork and paying the fee. To be a Plumbing/Mechanical/Electrical contractor you need a licensed master of whatever craft, to sign off on your contractors license as the "master of record". At least here being a contractor is much easier than becoming a plumber. You need schooling and work hours signed off by a licensed contractor.

If i were you I'd look into the particulars for your state. Doing a whole apprenticeship under a contractor and then waiting two more years to test as a master sounds like a big detour for what your wanting to do. It's hard for me to see how a state like California or Washington could be easier to become a plumber that here, but I guess it could be.

When my time was up after my enlistment I attended a 5 year apprenticeship 10,000 hrs plus 744 hours class room studies codes, safety welding etc

To take my 3 part masters exams I had to prove I had 10 years documented time with W 2 forms working for a master plumber (NYC licensed)

 

[John Gayewski]

When my time was up after my enlistment I attended a 5 year apprenticeship 10,000 hrs plus 744 hours class room studies codes, safety welding etc

To take my 3 part masters exams I had to prove I had 10 years documented time with W 2 forms working for a master plumber (NYC licensed)

A had to walk to school in the snow up hill both ways. Then I had to crack a safe and challenge God to am arm wrestling match before I could get home every day.

 

[Sylvan]

A had to walk to school in the snow up hill both ways. Then I had to crack a safe and challenge God to am arm wrestling match before I could get home every day.

John then you also decided to became an expert witness and charge $3,500 to go to the accident scene or go over the paper work provided, then go to a deposition for $3,500 and appear in court for $3,500 each time.

I now have 6 cases all the firms already gave me my retainer $3,500

When you have the right credentials there is a small fortune to be made and it helps us 77 year old guys life decent life style

Plumbing offers an amazing opportunity to supplement someones income.

I convinced another LMP to became an expert and he is 83 years old and he goes to the sites and takes water temperature and lots of pictures and gives them to me to sent in an affidavit. He is thrilled making $1,000 for his time.


As a certified low pressure boiler and unfired pressure vessel inspector, Masters license in fire suppression, Ex NYC auxiliary police sgt, up to date OSHA certifications, Just completed another 8 hr CEU plumbing / fire suppression course.

USN boiler tender1,500 PSI super heated steam looks great on my CV

Of course I still do my water jetting, gas inspections and installations and have over 18 employees including an office staff of 5 people and my other company is strictly fire suppression and we completed a stand pipe 8" plus sprinklers on the 87 floor of the empire state building.

 

[John Gayewski]

John then you also decided to became an expert witness and charge $3,500 to go to the accident scene or go over the paper work provided, then go to a deposition for $3,500 and appear in court for $3,500 each time.

I now have 6 cases all the firms already gave me my retainer $3,500

When you have the right credentials there is a small fortune to be made and it helps us 77 year old guys life decent life style

Plumbing offers an amazing opportunity to supplement someones income.

I convinced another LMP to became an expert and he is 83 years old and he goes to the sites and takes water temperature and lots of pictures and gives them to me to sent in an affidavit. He is thrilled making $1,000 for his time.


As a certified low pressure boiler and unfired pressure vessel inspector, Masters license in fire suppression, Ex NYC auxiliary police sgt, up to date OSHA certifications, Just completed another 8 hr CEU plumbing / fire suppression course.

USN boiler tender1,500 PSI super heated steam looks great on my CV

Of course I still do my water jetting, gas inspections and installations and have over 18 employees including an office staff of 5 people and my other company is strictly fire suppression and we completed a stand pipe 8" plus sprinklers on the 87 floor of the empire state building.

I had a hole in one a few weeks ago.