When is it time?

RocketQ

RocketQ

It's Not Rocket Science
Silver Member
Any one have thoughts on when it is time to jump ship at the day job and build cues full time. Just wanting to get the thoughts of other builders both full time and on the side. Right now I think it is time. If I had more I could build more. Then I think I got a lot of bills. Wood isn't cheap.
What is the slow time for other builders?
Just trying to pick some brains out there..
 
I am not a cue maker, but starting any business takes time to build it up, I would make sure you have at least 6 months of funds set aside so that your personal life won't suffer, plus you need insurance and things like that. You don't want to start and find out 2 months later that you have to quit and go back to work full time, just my 2 cents.
 
I was gearing up to go full time but, after watching 2 family members fight cancer the thought of not having insurance and all the othe benifits my job offers was hard to walk away from. I was able to get into a self employed health insurance program that my work pays for and I will be able to take with me at the same cost when I do leave. I am trying to get all the equipment I want now so it is all paied for and also build up a sizeable materials selection so when I do make the switch I can go for a while without having to pay for materials. I also am trying to build up my savings account to have money to pay bills if the market slumps, I get injured ect..
I see alot of people talking about the market being slow but I am busier than ever. I am going to try to switch to a 4 day work week and than I will have more time to work on the cues. A little farther down the road if all goes well I will drop down to part time and work 3 days a week. That way the house bills will still all be paied and I can go to more shows. That is my plan for now, I will see if it works out that way. Chris
 
I appreciate the replies guys. Not going to do this now... Just wondering if anyone had done this or are most still working in some capacity to support the hobby.
 
RocketQ said:
Any one have thoughts on when it is time to jump ship at the day job and build cues full time. Just wanting to get the thoughts of other builders both full time and on the side. Right now I think it is time. If I had more I could build more. Then I think I got a lot of bills. Wood isn't cheap.
What is the slow time for other builders?
Just trying to pick some brains out there..
Click to expand...

I you can make the same amount of money as you need to live on, plus vacation time, insurance & have enough materials to last 6 months. INSURANCE is the most important. I'm laid up right now with a broken shoulder & won't be making any Qs for months. Without insurance & a 6 months nest egg you won't make it. You should also have at least 2 lathes & all of the tools you'll need, BEFORE you go full time. Very few people make a lot of money in this business. Don't forget that you may be doing well, part time & hiding your extra income from the tax man, but if you go full time taxes will be a part of your life & a chunk of your income...JER
 
I can only speak of the New York area, so keep that in mind. The billiard business looks bleak to say the least. Business is down in all the pool rooms and there's been lots of closings in the last few years, specially this year. If doing repairs is going to be a considerable source of income it doesn't look good. Less players means less buyers of custom cues or any cues. Not to mention the onslaught of new cue companies and custom cue makers.

At a time where i see downsizing everywhere going full time seems suicidal unless you have countrywide appeal, or lots of money in the bank.
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
I you can make the same amount of money as you need to live on, plus vacation time, insurance & have enough materials to last 6 months. INSURANCE is the most important. I'm laid up right now with a broken shoulder & won't be making any Qs for months. Without insurance & a 6 months nest egg you won't make it. You should also have at least 2 lathes & all of the tools you'll need, BEFORE you go full time. Very few people make a lot of money in this business. Don't forget that you may be doing well, part time & hiding your extra income from the tax man, but if you go full time taxes will be a part of your life & a chunk of your income...JER
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I think I have all of the equip. I need..... however there is a bunch of things I would like. Still need to build a spray booth. been doing that in the garage but overspray gets everywhere. Would like a bigger mill, bigger shop, another big lathe, 2 just isn't enough. Would like to have 1 machine for each process. biggger compressor. Hmmm starting to sound like a christmas wish list. Big bag of hundreds.
 
John,
The hard truth reality is that very few people will ever make a comfortable living from building cues full-time. One of the reasons for this is that the industry is already lousy with cuemakers and the influx of all the wannabees is just making matters worse. Now, before you all start rallying to have me deported let me say that I'm not denying anyone the right to pursue their dream and if building cues is your dream, then so be it. Just be mindful of what you're getting yourself into. I'm not being overly pessimistic by saying that the industry is down right now. Not to mention that pool is, and always will be, seasonal. Pool by it's very nature is a luxury, a game, to be played by those that can afford to.
When the economy is down, such as it is now, luxuries are the first to go. From where I sit, I don't see the economy turning around anytime soon and as a matter of fact, it's going to get worse before it gets better, much worse. I live in Michigan and I'm told that there are more home mortgage foreclosures going on now than at any other time in history. Michigan is bankrupt and more states will follow suit. The Federal government has driven the country into debt beyond belief. The Bush administration has squandered more money than all of the previous administrations combined. The value of the American dollar has fallen to a new low, it's now equal to the Canadian dollar. I'm 60 yrs. old and I don't remember THAT ever happening before. Our economic problems are now not ours alone, they are now having global consequence. The run on the banks in France is proof of that and that's just the beginning. If you have a job, one of the few jobs left in this country that hasn't been exported to China, Mexico or elsewhere, then I'd hang on to it for all it's worth. No....now is not a good time to take the plunge. Do you have a family? The price of poker just went up.
 
Good discussion. Most of the industry in this country has been exported. Any economics experts here feel that the falling dollar will create more manufacturing in this country, as some people seem to think in the news? I'm curious if anyone thinks We'll see another made in america type campaign. If our dollar can't compete with the world market, then how will that effect the import market?:confused: Yes bankruptcy is on the rise, and it's not just the people trying to discharge their debt while hiding income. There are some general concerns, and the creditors are even going after the unsecured dept in court more then ever, which forces many middle-lower income families into bankruptcy that may would normally try to work through the debt if given enough time. With all the credit card debt in this country, not even mentioning morgages and secured debt, I wonder what will happen if this continues? How will this effect industry here, how will it effect jobs locally,the ones that are now exported, and the general market place for small bussiness here?

It's hard to expand a new bussiness if You can only devote so much time to It a week, so there's going to come a time when the 2 incomes will conflict with each other over priorities.

Will the demand go up or down is a good question, and when is a good time to make a plunge is another one, only wish I could predict the future.:(
 
OK First I work in a family business. We have seen a decline over the last 5 years alone to cut our customer base to 2/3. I still have a job yes. For how long who knows. I am wanting to get some input from those who have done it to see where I think I need to be.
Imports SUCK but we all work on them. We have to. Hell that is what the majority of my reapirs are. Fix cheap junk. The economy is in the tank and sinking. Small businesses like ours are getting exterminated by large import companies. We have a niche, yes.
I think the biggest part of the problem is people do not have any pride anymore. No pride in themselves, no pride in their work, no pride in their country.
I on the other hand growing up in a small business have put great value on pride. When a cue goes out I am proud to have signed it.

KJ I don't want to deport you. This forum is here as a resource does it always have to be about who is right.. News flash there is more than one way to skin a cat. I appreciate all of the help it has given me and to the business relationships I have made.
Chris KJ Dave Dick excuse me for not mentioning all of the know builders but you guys have helped a lot of people. Let them worry if they did it how you explained.
 
Well if you love it, you'll do it, not for the money, but for your self. GOOD LUCK. If you ever have a problem that I can help with , you know where I can be found...JER
 
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