Declaring yourself a Minority!!!!!!

I know this is a non-sequitur but has anyone heard from Jeff lately?>>>

Gosh Mike, Stop holding back and tell us what your real feelings are!>>>

I agree 100% with that Miscreant, at least as it applies to SBA loans and the minimal oversite given to the probability of success given the proposed business model.

Unfortunately, these "set aside" projects are a government fact of life, and there is work that a legitimate, competitive, and competent contractor simply can't bid because he's a white male. Somebody is going to do the work.

Here in our great state, all of the Ohio School Facilities Commission projects, and I believe all other state projects, now require a minority participationp percentage, based upon the minority population of the project locale. There are minority companies that do absolutely NOTHING except act as pass-through supplier, while marking up the materials 3% for sending you an invoice with their name on it.

If I do a state project, I have to order my materials from my regular supplier. The supplier does all the ordering and shipping arrangements, sees to it that delivery occurs, then instead of sending me a bill, they send the bill to the minority set-aside "contractor", who marks it up his 3% and sends me a bill. It's an absolute crock>>>

About 15 years ago the SBA announced that they had a program allowing Women and minorities to borrow money. They didn't see my logic that white males are a minority and everybody else is the majority.

A friend of mine got a loan and opened an ice cream shop. It lasted 6 or 8 months. She foolishly opened the shop around the corner from a shop that serves the best ice cream most people have ever had. The shop around the corner could have qualified for the minority loan if they had just been starting out.

The moral of the story is that the ones that provide the most value will win regardless of race or sex. These minority set asides are crutches that will be your downfall.

Focus on providing value and you will flourish. There will always many oppurtunities to lose focus, this is yet another one.

.>>>

My GM is currently in the process of trying to set up a DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise), as they are referred to in Ohio. There's also WBE, MBE and maybe another or two (Woman and Minority, respectively). The program is administered by the state of Ohio, and requires that you be in business at least 1 year and demonstrate a legitimate business model producing work. It is certainly not as easy as we thought it would be.

His spinal cord was injured in a swimming accident more than 20 years ago and he is very limited in mobility. The guy get's his butt out of bed and puts forth 4 times the effort to work every day than the average man. If anyone should have been granted a certificate it is him.

I suspect every state is different in what is required. If you've already been operating as legitimate business for more than a year, it should be fairly easy, at least it would be here. I would suggest obtaining the assistance of a corporate attorney that is exerienced in DBE enterprises.>>>

By definition, most of the "roofers" in the world are Asian. There are a lot of Budhist Roofers, as well as Muslim Roofers. I guess water runs down hill all over the world. Heck, Mike in NZ even can roof upside down. Like Mike says, if we are roofers, then we are roofers, and we are all minorities. Roofing will beat hell out of you and it doesn't matter what gender or race you are. It is hard work, but it gets into your blood.

If you can get an edge somehow by being a "minority" go for it, but the bottom line is that quality work will win out in the end. If you are after a quick buck, you may get it, but you will not be around long to enjoy it.>>>

I am a minority,a roofing contractor with workmenscomp and liabilty insurance for roofing. :woohoo:>>>

Do you do the work yourself, or do you rely on subcontractors or employees? How much liability insurance are you able to carry? Have you ever done any bonded jobs, and if so, how much bonding can you get?

A lot of the government jobs will make you a lot of money, but you have to able to perform and you also have to be bondable to get them. It is a catch 22 for a lot of people. One of the worst things that can happen is to get a job with a bond and then not be able to do the work or do it well. You may get the contract, but the bonding companies are responsible to get it done if you can't. They often times require you to play a game called "you bet your house and everything you have" If you get caught on one of those it is no fun at all.

Ask a lot of questions as Ed said because this forum is one sure place to get a lot of answers. There are a lot of very smart people here too and I almost guarantee you that one of us has ben in any situation you may find yourself in when it comes to roofing a building.

If you are just getting started, learn to crawl before you try to walk and walk before you try and run. If you can run a good company, the sky is the limit for you. That limit does oftem times come hidden behind a huge amount of work though. good luck!>>>

msshottet,

It sounds like you are in need of a lot of basic beginning business advice.

Try contacting S.C.O.R.E. for a free mentoring and advice association sponsored by the Government. It is staffed by Retired Executives that volunteer and I hear great things about the knowledge that they possess and make available to others.

They should be in Sync with all of the Government programs too.

Also, when you post a question, you should follow up with some of your thoughts to further expand the thread topic and generate more follow-up ideas, otherwise the thread dies out.

Ed>>>

I'm in the process of doing that right now. I know one of the first steps are getting CRR Certification which is the codes for the industry. Also check with PTAC and small business administration they will help you step by step. When I get back to my office on Monday I will send you some links. Good Luck!>>>

I can't see where it would make any difference in residential. It would be Government and government funded institutional. Identify some of the projects that would qualify that are being bid now and see what they spec as minority certification and go from there.

This is an article on the issue that I read a little while back. It's long, but amusing.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Utilities/printer_preview.asp?idArticle=16510&R=161991B4>>>