Fly or Clean Toilets?

LucasM

LucasM

Well-Known Member
Ok I got out of the flying biz about 2 years ago and I am itching to get back in. I quit my CFI job with about 1,480 tt, 145 me, and about 1,100 dual given and I started a cleaning biz. I keep my first class medical current, IPC, BFR and ATP written current even though I don't get to fly much.

But now that operators are starting to hire again, here is my dilemma... Do I pursue flying at a regional or somewhere because it's what I've trained for, or do I continue growing my cleaning business? I have employees and contracts with commercial retail stores worth about $135k a year, so you can see why giving that up for <$30k is kind of a big deal to me. I am my own boss, don't have to worry about being laid off, etc. etc... and we all already know the pros/cons of aviation/airlines.

Basically I think I just need someone to slap some sense in to me.
 
Depends... Are you happy at your job? If so, stay. If not, find something else to do. Money doesn't buy happiness...
 
What is your local airport scene like? You are starting to get to the point where you have enough flight time to pick up some piston contract work.
 
Both?

Obviously you would need to hire somebody else to do it when you can't. But my favorite part of this job is that you can get a pretty huge chunk of time off (relative to normal jobs). It'll be tough when you start out because it takes a little while to attain the schedule that I'm talking about. But If you can hire somebody part time to be there when you can't and can make it through the first year or two, things would be pretty good.
 
Just my opinion.
Hire a business manager to keep the day to day operations of your business running.

Go fly, and if something should happen, you have your business to fall back on.
 
What is your profit after expenses on contracts worth $135k/yr? If enough to hire a manager to take over I would do that. If not enough for that than you will make more money in the airlines anyway.
 
I hope to net at least $85k this year after expenses, being that I do a lot of the work myself. Also since i'm a contractor, I could just as easily get more work, hire more people and make more money doing it. Just seems kind of a lot to handle worrying about hiring a "manager" as well as being a competent FO/Capt. if I were flying professionally. I've thought of just about all the options (i.e. buy my own plane, hiring a manager, do both, etc.) This is my only second year having this business and things just started taking off (pun intended), but then I think, "Hmm this is only year 2, I wonder how much more I could grow after 5 years? Maybe I'll just buy my own citation and fly around...". My mind wanders easily sometimes.

I am fairly young (mid-20s), but I also don't have any college experience which would inevitably hold me back in aviation at some point. But then I think, "Why do I care? I'm already doing ok financially, I don't need to waste my time with that." They way I see it: somebody is always going to need to fly somewhere, and there is always somebody willing to pay for cleaning.

Decisions, decisions...
 
When I read the title I thought this was going to be another Madlion thread...

1. Continue growing your business. Make $$$.
2. Spend that money on getting a 4-year college degree (community college first & transfer if necessary).
3. Keep flying and building hours.
4. With college degree + hours, go get hired at an airline. Keep your business.
 
LucasM said:
Basically I think I just need someone to slap some sense in to me.
Click to expand...


If you're married, talk to your wife. They are good at that.

But, seriously, I'd go along with the "both" answer. It sounds like a great business to have will holding another job. Ideally, you have a trusted individual (maybe that wife that just slapped you) who could take care of the details while you are away.
 
As someone who cleans toilets.... Fly. ;)

Like others said, is there any way to do both? It'd suck to drop it all to fly for the airlines and find out "jeez, I really don't like this all that much" and then be stuck.
 
LucasM said:
I hope to net at least $85k this year after expenses, being that I do a lot of the work myself. Also since i'm a contractor, I could just as easily get more work, hire more people and make more money doing it. Just seems kind of a lot to handle worrying about hiring a "manager" as well as being a competent FO/Capt. if I were flying professionally. I've thought of just about all the options (i.e. buy my own plane, hiring a manager, do both, etc.) This is my only second year having this business and things just started taking off (pun intended), but then I think, "Hmm this is only year 2, I wonder how much more I could grow after 5 years? Maybe I'll just buy my own citation and fly around...". My mind wanders easily sometimes.

I am fairly young (mid-20s), but I also don't have any college experience which would inevitably hold me back in aviation at some point. But then I think, "Why do I care? I'm already doing ok financially, I don't need to waste my time with that." They way I see it: somebody is always going to need to fly somewhere, and there is always somebody willing to pay for cleaning.

Decisions, decisions...
Click to expand...


Dude, really? You're looking to net $85k this year with a growing business and you're looking at hanging that up to make half that and be away from home? Someone does need to slap you! Like you said, you're making that kind of money on YEAR 2. Imagine what you can do on year 5, or 10..... Get the net profit into the 6 figures, hire a manager to do most of your work, buy a Cirrus/340/Cheyenne and a Pitts and spend most of your time at the airport and traveling with your loved one. You're nuts man. If I had my own business like that and already making that kind of cash, I'd be dreaming about expanding and getting bigger and bigger. Don't be silly.
 
While I was a sophomore in college (I'm finishing my degree this semester),I put aside my plans for medical school knowing that if I never gave the 121 flying career a shot, I would regret it forever. I say continue to grow your business while getting current again. Talk to as many new and experienced guys in all sectors of the industry to get a well balanced set of view points that rang from the excited young guys to the old and senile guys. At that point in time, you should know if this career path is what you really want to do. However, If you feel for a second that you would regret or wonder "what if..." if you don't try out an aviation career bigger than CFIing, I say go for it because no matter how much money you make, you will still feel like crap.
 
As someone who tried to keep flying the line to stay current while also serving as a full-time union officer, I can tell you that this whole idea of flying while also managing a business is a pipe dream. It all sounds well and good, and theoretically, you might have enough time to do both. But you'll be stressed out, worn ragged, and end up hating both jobs. You've got a very successful small business with a chance of growing it and making a consistent six-figure income. Keep it is my advice.
 
Do both. Hire some workers.

Smartest way of going into the aviation business is with financial stabilitiy and an ancilliary income.
 
+1 to keeping your business and flying for fun. Flying for a living quickly loses its luster.
 
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