Had to choose between a union gig and going solo last year

I was working for a big HVAC company in Phoenix making $28 an hour but the union shop wanted me to sign on for 5 years at a lower starting rate. I ended up going independent, bought a used work van for $4,200, and now I clear my own schedule. It's been 8 months and I'm actually making more money even with the overhead, but man the paperwork and taxes are a nightmare. Anyone else ditch the steady paycheck for self employment and regret it or love it?

3 comments

3 Comments

wadew511mo ago

Buddy of mine did the same thing and now he's back at the union gig.

cora5181mo ago

I get what you're saying but honestly I think it depends a lot on the person. Some people just aren't cut out for the whole freelance hustle or the instability, and that's totally fine. But Ive seen plenty of guys make the jump and never look back because they found a niche or built up a solid client base. Not everyone who leaves the union is gonna fail, and not everyone who goes back is making the right call either. It's just situational.

bennett.evan1mo ago

Flip it around and you could be one bad season away from wishing you had that union protection and steady bennies again, especially with Phoenix summers getting worse every year. The freedom is nice until a major compressor blows on a Saturday and you're eating the cost because you don't have the shop's wholesale pricing.