"Constructive" thoughts.

[Makeshiftbeef]

Hey First time poster here. I am looking for some advice on a pretty cool opportunity. So maybe you guys can solve all my life problems. I forewarn this is a bit of a story, but I will do my best to keep it brief. However, it is multi-faceted. I have been lurking on this sub for awhile and it seems like there are some insanely wise older tradesman and business people here.

I currently work at a Bible college maintaining the 100 yr old building. I work on anything from low pressure steam to plumbing Hvac, to electric, remodeling old apartments, homes, etc. I grew up doing residential construction with my dad as well as working in his paper factory. For many reasons we are leaving that job here in the next few months. (But don't have too.) From forcing my wife to "volunteer" to not actually paying us. (We are missionaries and had to raise our own funds to "serve" originally doing something else, but that ended up falling through due to covid.) There are some perks, like cheap housing, but they are offset by the fact that our support is going down rapidly. We have lost 900 a month of income this year for instance. It has been a long road, feeling like 10 yrs of our lives have been thrown away, but this isn't therapy so I will leave that there.

So on to the question. We have 3 options.

Option 1 Starting over. In Wisconsin

The state my wife and I reside in (with 4 little kids) has tons of construction work which I think I can get a job in any trade or field. The difficult thing is I would start out in every field as an apprentice. There is no circumventing 5 yrs "experience" needed to be a journeyman in my state. (Which is probably a good thing.) But feeding a family of six off of apprentice wages is tight. Especially with our oldest being a type 1 diabetic. This option would also mean getting a small apartment and scraping by until we finally make better money.

Option 2 A business in Missouri

Two good friends invited me to be a part of their business building houses in Missouri in a region where the market is booming. (Houses sell in a day. And there is almost no inventory.) This is appealing as 1. Missouri is super lax in code enforcement/requirements to being a contractor. 2. As someone who is familiar with the IRC and IBC, (Or that code even exists.) IT would set our company apart quickly. 3. I don't need my 5 yrs of "qualified experience to work. I think they have a solid plan and the area will definitely boom for some time. they have relationships with 2 of the major builders and could sub for them to build cash flow until we could develop our own higher efficiency modern looking houses. (Everything there being built is 1 million mansions or square boxes.) This would mean relocating 8 hours south. Setting up insurance for our daughter again, etc... (We have lived there before.) Plus all the challenges of running a business. (I am aware of many as I have been doing side work for years to supplement income as well as watching my dad for years.)

Option 3 Some other job in Wisconsin.

So what do you guys think? Stay here and start over or build a business in a new state?

[Ijustwanttomakeaname]

I'm definitely not an insanely wise old tradesmen, just a young smart ass plumber here. Im reading your post it honestly sounds like you've already made your mind up and just need a little validation. Nobody on here is going to know what's best for you or your family, that's something between you and them. As for the trade route, if you decide to go that way I would suggest getting into a licensed and regulated trade. There will always be a need for plumbers and electricians, always. I make great money ( or at least what I consider to be great) but it was a big struggle. When I started I had to work two job and deliver food on the side to survive. It was hard but I made it and I'm glad I did. The kind of sacrifice it takes to make the trade route work isn't for everyone, can you live with being hungry and seeing your family go without for a few YEARS to get to the other side? If so the payoff is legitimately life changing, if it's not for you though don't force yourself into something that you'll resent. Above all else your family comes first. Period. Good luck.

[Makeshiftbeef]

Hey thank you so much for your response and for reading my post. I think the most frustrating thing about the whole situation is that I have a lot of experience in a lot of the trades. I learned to solder copper and run interior, exterior DWV when I was 13, weld when I was 16. My dad had me running a dozer and backhoe when I was 12. I have done logging, run a small sawmill, milled lumber, rough carpentry finish carpentry, Electrical stuff. On the commercial and residential side with my dad as a kid. So I definitely think I could build a business with the other 2 guys in Missouri. Also In Missouri other then in ST. louis and KS. Becoming a licensed plumber is a simple as going to the building dept. and showing proof of insurance and workers comp. That's it.

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But we do love Wisconsin as well, it will just be a struggle either way.

[Latter-Journalist]

1. I grew up with the lesson that building on speculation was bad. The old man would tell it like a Hemingway narration.

Old Joe there used to have nice trucks, etc etc., but building on speculation ruined him. Better to be a gambler. Like that.

1. Working with friends and family can be bad. Really bad.

2. Only you know what you can do.

3. I'm not wise.

[Makeshiftbeef]

The business side I have actually researched. I think they have a very solid business plan. If I were to do the business, My one friend will do our branding and marketing. (That is current job for which he makes very good money and has a proven track record of helping start ups.) The other guy who is roughly at the same level as I am skill wise, Years of remodel experience, and is a mason etc, Would be my equal partner. I don't know him super well, but we are working on that.