No more full-time building

[pilgrim]

     Mongrel may figure that I am one of those,     could be,     I am surely  qualified.

[45 Bravo]

I truly am sorry that they smacked you with an un expected tax, and you have to rejoin the rest of us on a regular job.

I know what it is like doing something part time and enjoying it, then HAVING to do it for a living, it suddenly isn't as enjoyable any more. It actually does become a pain, and the people you gave to deal with makes it turn sour even quicker and even get burnt out on it. (yours is guns, mine is computers)

I hope you find your balance in life, and start to ENJOY what you do again..

Ian..

[DandJofAZ]

Mike.   I and may others here, who have known you for years, can understand your outlook on life.  We will still be following along on the posts of your  builds like we used to...go back to building for fun!!  Doing the builds because Joe Blow Hard wanted it yesterday sucks...Life is to short not to enjoy it....

Your friend,
Doug 

[Rev]

Happens a lot more often than you think. Try to make a living doing what you love is hard, once you make it a job. Tell me about it...

[mongrel]

Okay, I have to 'fess up on that "Self-Employment Tax". While trying to arrange payments of my tax bill, this morning, I checked out the IRS explanation of what I took to be basically a penalty for trying to go it on my own (in other words, I ASSUMED, with the usual result). Mmm, no-o-o-o -- this is to match the payment normally made by one's employer, into Social Security and Medicaid (Medicaire?). The reason it's new to me, is that till after June of last year I had never claimed the gun work as my sole income, thus never had to pay it.

I try to be fair, even to the IRS, and as violently proud as I am I am NOT too proud to admit to having been wrong. As, plainly, I was, in this case.

This doesn't change my decision to back out of the building-for-a-living gig. It doesn't change that, having worked with no more than a single two-month break, since I was 13, I'm used to a regular paycheck and being able to budget my money or at least see in black-and-white how much money I don't have. Nor does it change how personally I take it when someone behaves as though my time and labor are for them to waste as they see fit. I'm not cut out for self-employment, but it turns out the IRS can't be blamed for any part of that -- except that this discovery makes me wonder how much ELSE I don't know that I would find out the hard way, if I kept on keeping on.

[Stormrider51]

I'm sorry, Mike.  Like a number of others have said, I've been there.  I did general gunsmithing as a hobby/sideline for "friends and family" for most of my life.  When I retired from EMS in 1999 I made that sideline into a fulltime business.  I regretted it.  On top of the "need it yesterday" demands and all the other things you mentioned, I was also dealing with the BATFE.  I was cited once when they showed up to do an inspection because I had one of my personal muzzleloaders on the rack holding guns waiting for repair.  I was told that I had to put a ticket on it marked "Personal".  I pointed out that it was a muzzleloader and therefore not considered a firearm under the law.  Didn't matter.  I had to tag it.  I did contract work for two large gunshops and was required to maintain a $1 million dollar liability insurance policy.  I never had a single claim made against me but the policy premium rose by $100+ every year.  After 10 years I sat down and averaged out my profit over the past three years.  I was making about $6/hr.  I closed the doors and went to work as a bailiff for the county.  I went back to gunsmithing for friends and family and it was fun again.

Best of wishes to you.
Storm

[gunmaker]

I'm about at that same point Mike,  Have made the decision to quit advertizing for work--everyone wants a custom gun for less than a damn CVA...And how bout tomorrow "EARLY"...Go with your heart Mike, build what you like, on your time frame...I'll never quit--but from now on it's me calling the shots....  Good luck....& semper-fi....Tom

[bassfan586]

Sorry to hear this Mike.  I run a small finish carpentry buisness.  There are times when I want to break some heads.  Like when I hear "can you come down in price? "  Sure if you use cheaper materials because I wont cut corners to do a job.  I always throw in a little extra.  Its good for buisness.  My other gripe is the gimme mentality.  I want it yesterday.  Never mind I have a wait list. I estimate, invoice, do payroll, look at work, schedule ect....plus I have very understanding wife and two kids. Instead I hear where are you?  I dont work for just you.  Luckily I have enough good customers that get "it".  My big bill is workmans comp..  insurance companies are legalized extortion. 

By the way dont feel rushed about my reading style build. I will never be a nagging customer.  Hopefully you will have time to build a couple rugrat rifles for my boys in the near future