Just got a job as a Directv Satelitte installer!! Any experiences?

[Ken785]

I took this off my contribution in the "Blue collar jobs" thread in DJ disscussion"(which should be moved to AE)

found here: http://sosuave.net/forum/showthread.php?t=140082

I just got a job as a directv installer...it is payed by what is called "Piece pay" which means paid by job completed. The basic pay scale is $65 for first reciever $25 for each additional receiver $25 for tech troubleshoot. You are you own "sub-contractor" so its like having your own business kinda.

You can deduct all your expenses including gas,truck,tools,etc and all work related stuff. Sounds sweet...you dont have to pay taxes till the end of the year and when you do so you have all your deductions! I think later im going to buy a new truck since payments are deductible!

What do you guys think? Im going through training right now which is unpaid but oh well at least im learning....only thing that sucks about sub contractor is you are liable for things like damages and stuff...so sometimes if an install isnt possible or too liable...you make the judgment on whether you should do it or not because all liability is on you. Some techs charge extra if its going to be harder work...thats cash in pocket a lot of times.

Any of you guys install or have installed satellites before?

 

[redspicyflag]

I have direct tv

lol

 

[Bible_Belt]

Any of you guys install or have installed satellites before?

I talked to a crew of guys who did it, thought about doing it myself, but it was in Florida and the weather sucks in the summer. You need a truck, ladder, cordless drill, and some basic tools.

Don't buy a new truck. Get something old and paid-for. I doubt that it needs to be full-size, an older Nissan or Toyota is probably fine, gas mileage is better in a small truck. There's no reason to get a big truck payment, like $500/month, when a $1500 truck will suffice. It's always better to avoid expenses, even when they are deductible. With a deductible expense, you pay with pre-tax dollars, but you still have to pay.

But don't skimp on the cordless drill. Buy a DeWalt. 18 volt is enough; you don't need the 36v lithium. Get a car charger, too. That drill is a couple hundred bucks. You could get a $20 no-name drill, but it will cost you more than the DeWalt in the long run, waiting for your dead batteries to charge, since you get paid by the job. People who have to make a living with their cordless tools use DeWalt.

Also, since you are 1099, you have to put away money to pay your taxes. If you make $50,000 in 2008, you might end up owing $10,000 in taxes, due and payable immediately in one lump sum. That means save your money. Put away at least 20% of what you make and plan on paying taxes with it. A lot of 1099 guys file taxes quarterly to avoid getting hit with one giant bill at the end of the year.

 

[Ken785]

Any of you guys install or have installed satellites before?

I talked to a crew of guys who did it, thought about doing it myself, but it was in Florida and the weather sucks in the summer. You need a truck, ladder, cordless drill, and some basic tools.

Don't buy a new truck. Get something old and paid-for. I doubt that it needs to be full-size, an older Nissan or Toyota is probably fine, gas mileage is better in a small truck. There's no reason to get a big truck payment, like $500/month, when a $1500 truck will suffice. It's always better to avoid expenses, even when they are deductible. With a deductible expense, you pay with pre-tax dollars, but you still have to pay.

But don't skimp on the cordless drill. Buy a DeWalt. 18 volt is enough; you don't need the 36v lithium. Get a car charger, too. That drill is a couple hundred bucks. You could get a $20 no-name drill, but it will cost you more than the DeWalt in the long run, waiting for your dead batteries to charge, since you get paid by the job. People who have to make a living with their cordless tools use DeWalt.

Also, since you are 1099, you have to put away money to pay your taxes. If you make $50,000 in 2008, you might end up owing $10,000 in taxes, due and payable immediately in one lump sum. That means save your money. Put away at least 20% of what you make and plan on paying taxes with it. A lot of 1099 guys file taxes quarterly to avoid getting hit with one giant bill at the end of the year.

But if i am going to pay 10,000 in taxes at the end of the year i might as well rack up 5,000 in truck payments to cut that down to 5,000 and get a "free" truck for work right????

I want to cut my taxes and use the money for myself (my business) as much as possible...meaning i want to dump as much pre-tax dollars inside my business again as possible. My rule is Avoid as much taxes at all legal costs to increase cash flow (pre-tax dollars) back into my own business. Just as Rich dad poor dad says to do.

 

[Ken785]

From the other "Blue collar job" thread....

Yeah i dont know about the insurance part yet...side work would be great, especially if a customer is looking for someone to install home audio...i know i cant do it on the job but maybe on a day off.. I would assume it is a little hazardous because you have to work sometimes in the rain and climb 2 story buildings on a ladder...im a little afraid of heights but im sure ill get used to it.

I just have to be careful because im a little clumsey at times, dont want to hurt myself falling off a ladder or anything...the other techs seem to get plenty of work everyday. I dont know how fast a can do an install yet because i havent tried one for a customer although i have installed one for my personal home. Im sure with experience i can knock one out in like 2 hours...some techs take longer to insure quality....but then again it would depend on the home too...if the wires are already there, COOL...knock it out in an hour. But if I gotta run new wire it will take longer. The other techs are making avg 200-225 a day...One guy showed me his pay stub and he works 7 days a week avging 6000 a month.

Its normally a full time job which means you have to be available all the time but i told them i had school on Tuesdays and Thursdays and they said it was cool as long as a can work the other days especially the weekends.

Id imagine though that the work can be very stressful and hard, but at least you stay in shape and get to be your own boss...and the pay is not bad neither if you work hard enough!

You have to pay for all your own supplies including tools are wiring and stuff but like i said, its all tax deductible...so you dont pay any tax for a whole year which is sweet...plus you can deduct a lot of stuff to cut your taxes down (anything work related anyway). Buying a new truck would be nice!

Theres a guy there that made about $112,000 last year off his installs and side work!, Has 2 new trucks which are tax deductible and even bought his own house! being a sub-contractor and having your own business sounds sweet!

 

[Bible_Belt]

But if i am going to pay 10,000 in taxes at the end of the year i might as well rack up 5,000 in truck payments to cut that down to 5,000 and get a "free" truck for work right????


If I started the same job with you, I would buy a $1500 truck. Then at the end of the year, I would have $3500 less than you in deductions, but still net thousands more than you. Tax rates are only about 28%. Then the next year you would have a $5000 deduction again, and I would have nothing, but at best you only save 28% of that $5000, which is $1,400. I am still ahead $3,600 in pre-tax money compared to you.

Deductions are great, but only for costs that help your business, like that DeWalt drill. You don't make more money with a new truck than an old one. Even though your deduction is larger, your net bottom line is still smaller. Deductible is not the same as free. It is like getting something on sale for 28% off.

 

[MikeYikes122]

To cut down on your taxes, I think you could try to count your garage as a portion of your house that you use for work purposes, provided of course that you house your truck there and keep your tools there as well.

This might sound like obvious cheating, but it's tough as hell for the IRS to dispute this if you get audited. It's not like someone could come into your house and try to accuse you of lying about which part of your house you use for work purpose, provided of course that you house your truck and your tools in your garage. I'm self-employed and I have gotten away with counting every room in my apartment except my kitchen and bathroom as portions of my residence that I use for work purposes. This makes a gigantic difference on the amount that I owe each spring.

If the IRS gets sh!tty with you about this claim, you could probably even argue that you bring stuff home to work on in the tool bench in your garage or something.

Also, if you're taking this truck on long drives to jobs, it's probably best to keep a log of your trips for tax purposes. You can write off that mileage on your taxes and receive a pretty good deductible for it, if I'm not mistaken. You just have to show written documentation of your travels.

Of course, that is kind of a moot point I guess if your only using the truck for work purposes.

Taxes suck though man. At 25, I haven't been paying them for too long, but I know well enough now why dad was always in a sh!tty mood around this time of year when I was a kid.

Hopefully I gave you some good advice.

 

[Ken785]

But if i am going to pay 10,000 in taxes at the end of the year i might as well rack up 5,000 in truck payments to cut that down to 5,000 and get a "free" truck for work right????


If I started the same job with you, I would buy a $1500 truck. Then at the end of the year, I would have $3500 less than you in deductions, but still net thousands more than you. Tax rates are only about 28%. Then the next year you would have a $5000 deduction again, and I would have nothing, but at best you only save 28% of that $5000, which is $1,400. I am still ahead $3,600 in pre-tax money compared to you.

Deductions are great, but only for costs that help your business, like that DeWalt drill. You don't make more money with a new truck than an old one. Even though your deduction is larger, your net bottom line is still smaller. Deductible is not the same as free. It is like getting something on sale for 28% off.

I never knew it was only 28%, it makes sense though...if not people would write off everything....Where can i learn more about owning a business and being able to sneak through "loopholes" when it comes to taxes?? Im reading "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" right now...im more than happy to say it completely changed my ways of thinking about money and spending! Its a great book and i have the hunger to learn more.

One of the Directv guys im training with owns a house in Iceland and his mortgage is $500 a month but he rents it for like $1000...when that money comes to the U.S., since the dollar is so weak right now, it turns into $1200 a month...so that is $700 a month hes making without having to do a thing!...and he doesnt even know about rich dad poor dad! Nows thats a real asset.

 

[Ken785]

They make bank, espicially in San Francisco, come over to San Leandro, and I'll hook it up a taxi cab for 40 a day, and you keep whatevers left. You work your own hours, and its pretty simple

Ughh...thanks but i dont think thats for me.

 

[Ken785]

OMG...I just got home from another day of training...I am burnt!!!!! The installer training me was like the energizer bunny...this work is so stressful i think we worked like almost 12 hours today! One installation took over 5 hours climbing in attics...fishing wires and setting up the dish was a b1tch!!!!

Its SO PHYSICALLY DEMANDING!! and STRESSFUL AND FRUSTRATING!! Pay is good but it takes all your energy from you...i dont know how he was able to do it but i was sitting there thinking to myself like "WTF did i get myself into???"

 

[bigjohnson]

I never knew it was only 28%, it makes sense though...if not people would write off everything....Where can i learn more about owning a business and being able to sneak through "loopholes" when it comes to taxes?? Im reading "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" right now...im more than happy to say it completely changed my ways of thinking about money and spending! Its a great book and i have the hunger to learn more.

One of the Directv guys im training with owns a house in Iceland and his mortgage is $500 a month but he rents it for like $1000...when that money comes to the U.S., since the dollar is so weak right now, it turns into $1200 a month...so that is $700 a month hes making without having to do a thing!...and he doesnt even know about rich dad poor dad! Nows thats a real asset.

Hire an accountant and ask him to help you optimize your cashflow.

 

[Paper Man]

OMG...I just got home from another day of training...I am burnt!!!!! The installer training me was like the energizer bunny...this work is so stressful i think we worked like almost 12 hours today! One installation took over 5 hours climbing in attics...fishing wires and setting up the dish was a b1tch!!!!

Its SO PHYSICALLY DEMANDING!! and STRESSFUL AND FRUSTRATING!! Pay is good but it takes all your energy from you...i dont know how he was able to do it but i was sitting there thinking to myself like "WTF did i get myself into???"

Word. I've helped in this kind of jobs before and, when you're sitting there looking others do the job, it's pretty much like they were flying the space shuttle.

 

[SmoothTalker]

Lol Ken, what have you gotten yourself into. Did you really expect it to be easy? Why do you think they pay is good even though you don't have any special skills? Its because the job is hard work. See my posts in the Blue collar thread...

By comparison, I'd take my dull easy office work, but then again, I don't mind busting my ass in school for a few years to not be climbing through hot attics for the next 50.

 

[Ken785]

When i got home i started feeling sick (probably from all the insulation in the attics) then i fell asleep for like 13 hours...didnt even care about taking off my contacts i was sooo tired...my body was exhausted. I think im going to have to re-think my career choices...