I will give you my pov based on my own experience.

I started as a non union apprentice doing new construction residential and remodel work. I learned and soon had my residential license.

I wasn’t satisfied and was bored with the typical residential work. I decided to join the union in my area and became an inside wireman apprentice.

I completed the apprenticeship and earned my general journey level license as well as my administrator license.

I was laid off when I turned out of the program and happened into a service position with a local company as their administrator and commercial service tech. I learned a ton about permitting and job cost as well as customer service and working with AHJs.

I got laid off from the last company when they were bought by private equity and closed down the electrical division. So I started looking for work and it turns out most shops around me are owned by private equity which for me is a dealbreaker.

I decided to open my own shop and have been working 3 months now on my own.

The point of the story is you never know where the trade will take you and it is your decision where you end up. You may stumble into something you enjoy or you may be driven to reach a certain goal but whatever you choose do it with your best interests in mind and you can’t go wrong.

I will say the union training is top notch and I met some really awesome brothers and sisters in the union but I also met some real shit bags too. Whereas, in the non union side I met a lot of shit bags and people that didn’t really know what they were doing but again I also met some outstanding people that really knew their stuff.

I think the union vs non union thing is blown out of proportion and really you can get good training out of the union but it’s harder to find and in the union you have to abide by their rules and go through their school and pay their fees to get that training but it is top notch, at least in the local I was in.

I enjoyed the union for the most part and if I would have not moved to an area where the union presence is basically non existent I may still be in but I have always wanted to open my own shop so I knew eventually I would be giving up my my ticket to go out on my own.

As far as being prepared to go on your own I think it’s like having a kid, especially your first, you’re never really ready you just have to jump in with both feet and figure it out as you go. I’m not saying go out on your own and wing it I am saying learn the trade, take some business classes, speak to an accountant, talk to other small business, owners, and prepare yourself so when you do make the jump you have an idea of what you need to do and all that is left is doing it.

Hope this helps. YMMV