Commission or salary

[pbalentine]

I should of said i kidding about my post. If you did go on your own i would say the opposite. Charge more than them and do clean, consistant installs.  Really is the only way to set yourself apart.  

[shadytints]

30% is about the average here in Michigan for a good tech.  Most techs cap out around 40k/yr in  a shop.   in 2006 I asked for a raise and they said I would have to quit to get one.  back then $10/hr cost an employer $16/hr.  By 2014 40k/yr or $20/hr cost $35/hr.  So I quit my job and formed Shady tints.  I set up different shops with a 60/40 split originally,  switched to flat rate when issues arose.   Starting your own business is the American dream,  just not for everyone.  You will be the first in, the last out and last one to get paid if there is anything to pay you.  You have to be a sales specialist,  easiest lowest paid or hardest highest paid job there is.  Inventory, advertising and accounting skills are necessary.  You are responsible for everything including your employees and their future.  Gross profit, gross margins and tracking average cost per delivery and sales projections.   Bit more then most realize.  I know many that have succeeded and many that failed.  I suggest a little soul searching before making the leap.    

[Roach]

1 hour ago, shadytints said:

Bit more then most realize.

 

I was just at the bank yesterday talking to the guy about setting up stuff for retirement, since that likewise is all on me being self-employeed. Anyway, he made a comment about how it must be nice to be your own boss, and I just said sure... except for the fact that it's all on me to find the work to make the money to pay my rent, food, bills, etc. If I don't find the work, I can't pay my bills. To which he said - yeah... there's good and bad with any job I guess. (or something to that extent) 

 

As they say, the grass is always cleaner on the other side.... 

 

 

[shadytints]

crap can hit the fan faster then ya think,  had the plan set and was cruising through goals ahead of schedule.   back went out and docs are clueless.  did not plan on dipping into the nest egg for another 10 years.  Been nice taking the year off to relax,  gotta laugh

 

anybody have ideas for a new biz easier on the back?

[quality tintz]

3 hours ago, shadytints said:

crap can hit the fan faster then ya think,  had the plan set and was cruising through goals ahead of schedule.   back went out and docs are clueless.  did not plan on dipping into the nest egg for another 10 years.  Been nice taking the year off to relax,  gotta laugh

 

anybody have ideas for a new biz easier on the back?

I think you would be good travelling tint instructor charging 2000 per week of trAining!!!

[drtint]

On 11/8/2017 at 8:10 PM, Jkatfelix said:

The shop that offered me 20% is having a 99 dollar special all month so yeaa

There is your problem. As long as you will do them for 20% and they are running 99 dollar specials, you are the work horse, which will affect your employment at that business as long as you stay there. 

When I was working on commissions back in the day, it was presented to me exactly that, they were running a 99 sale, I said cool. Average ticket at that time was 175 at 40%, I told them they can have all the specials they want but my percent is off normal shop price not the sales. That is where some shop owners start abusing the art and skill a person has developed over years of perfecting this trade.

If General Motors told their employees they were having a big sale and cutting the assemblers hourly pay to make it happen I don’t think there would be any assembled vehicles to sell.

[Tint Slayer]

On 11/11/2017 at 11:04 AM, shadytints said:

crap can hit the fan faster then ya think,  had the plan set and was cruising through goals ahead of schedule.   back went out and docs are clueless.  did not plan on dipping into the nest egg for another 10 years.  Been nice taking the year off to relax,  gotta laugh

 

anybody have ideas for a new biz easier on the back?

Sales 

[Jake]

On 11/12/2017 at 6:31 AM, drtint said:

There is your problem. As long as you will do them for 20% and they are running 99 dollar specials, you are the work horse, which will affect your employment at that business as long as you stay there. 

When I was working on commissions back in the day, it was presented to me exactly that, they were running a 99 sale, I said cool. Average ticket at that time was 175 at 40%, I told them they can have all the specials they want but my percent is off normal shop price not the sales. That is where some shop owners start abusing the art and skill a person has developed over years of perfecting this trade.

If General Motors told their employees they were having a big sale and cutting the assemblers hourly pay to make it happen I don’t think there would be any assembled vehicles to sell.

Exactly! Great post. Not to toot my own horn, but I have never had issue with pay, with any of my installers. I believe it is because I install day in and day out myself. I left commission years ago and went flat rate. That way the installer could care less what I charge. They make the same regardless. I can give a buddy a hook up, or even tint a family members car for free if I choose, with out it effecting the installers pay. But it goes both ways. I can charge a ton if I want also. I have had a couple prospect experienced installers that I have phone interviewed that could not come to terms with the fact that I pay the same for ceramic as I do a NR film. The work does not change. "but you charge more so I should make more" If they can't grasp the concept then I don't think they are the right fit for my shop.Now before anyone gets mad, the ceramic we use installs they same. In fact i like installing it better. If we used a film that took longer to install I would pay more. Now that's just for pay scale. Not saying I haven't had employee issue's in other area's.

[Jkatfelix]

Well I settled down at a shop near my house 120 a day tinting 3-4 cars a day...place is cool somedays I go a day or 2 without tinting

[DynamicATL]

We do a higher flat salary plus monthly bonus.  It works great since you know what your getting paid and it increases if it is busy.  We have done full commission before and IMO it adds to much stress for the installer if you have a slow week or two.  Going forward we will probably do a medium sized salary plus commission and bonus.