TOPIC: part time/full time?

I was just wondering how many of you inspect full-time and how many just do this part-time. I'm just getting started so I'm only able to do this part-time right now, but I would love to do this full-time some day. 

Eric, in this economy you may want to start part time and move to full time if you get enough business. I do this full time, but it took awhile to get to that point. What part of the country are you in? How many inspectors are you competing with? Do you have a website that will be at the top of the search results? You need to answer those questions to really determine your business structure. It is imperative that you get a good website that is hitting page one of the search engines and gets you to the top of page one.

Full time.  Started eight years ago full time and within 6 months began supplimenting my income with woodworking. Didn't officially make a dime for a year and a half and burned my savings down to zero. It was three years before I was fulltime again. If I did it over again I would do part time to start with.

there isn't another inspector in our area, so that's made it easier for me to take it slow and just do it part time. I don't feel like I have to rush into inspecting full time. I've been a carpenter for 6 years and know that my body want hold up forever doing that, so this is something I definately want to do full time in due time.

Eric, I'm full-Time.  As I look on my wall, I passed my State Exam/National Home Inspector Exam Nov 24, 2004. My Certificate Ownership of Business is dated Dec 20, 2004 (7 years tomorrow).

Read not just on our industry; but on starting and running a small business.  Learn from other small business owner's...not just inspectors. Starting out part-time is a smart move if you have the flexiblity with your day job.  Like Cameron, I burnt through every penny. Yup...There were many sleepless nights and cold sweats; so you gotta love what you do.

I enjoy part timers coming into the business in my area.  I use it as a marketing strength for my own business.  I explain to the price shoppers that Home Inspection is my only business, and that I rely solely on Home Inspections for my income and do not have another job that takes my time and attention.  I explain that the vast majority of inexpensive quotes they are getting are from part-timers, newbies or both.  If that is who they want inspecting their home, that is their choice.

What happens when the client wants an inspection on a time or day you are working elsewhere?  I guess you can tell them your schedule is booked.  But that word will eventually get around and you could damage your reputation before you get a chance to build one.  Then again, after putting in 40 or 50 hours on another job, do you really want to use one of your days off to perform an inspection?

The first year was tough.  Any spare time was spent learning or marketing the business.  If you don't market, you don't grow.  If you don't grow, you are destined to be part time forever.  Every major study on starting a business tells you to have at least 12-18 months of total income set aside before starting.  That is without relying on any income from the business.  It is a tough thing to do from the get go.  The choice is ultimately yours to make. 

Good luck.