Help moving need advice

[Erle385]

ok my family is thinking of moving to florida. probably near port charlotte. we have some family down there. its not like were running from debt its just that we want to move. here in conneticut my dad wants to try to sell his shop and go down there and open a new one. we will also sell our house. my parents suggested the idea of me dropping out of school and helping them get the business started and later going back for my GED. im fine with that idea but how would i get a job if the biz went belly up?

my questions are what are the labor rates down there?

building costs?

house costs?

and how hard would it be to get a dealers licence?

what would be better buying an established business or starting your own?

any other things i should know about this?

i know you all know alot so please share your experiences

 

[sirsloop]

All I do know is you can sell your place in CT and buy a nice 3br 2ba ranch cash, and have enough left over to buy another house for cash. The market down there took a MASSIVE dive in the last 3yrs. My buddy bought a place for like 190k and his neighbor just sold his comparable house short at like 80k! OUCH!

 

[hetkind]

don't drop out of school...

 

[pgreen]

WOW, I don't know about the drop-out then GED thing. To each his own, but a HS Diploma is better than a GED most of the time.

A lot of companies will not hire anyone without some sort of a degree anymore. It is not that you learn so much more in college, but they see that you can set and accomplish a time tested goal.

 

[rodnok1]

don't drop out of school...

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
"going back later" sounds like a good idea, but what happens if everything goes in the crapper and you end up working full time for years to come. Get your HS degree 1st no matter what.

 

[evintho]

my parents suggested the idea of me dropping out of school and helping them get the business started

Is it just me, or is that just WRONG!

 

[gpstraub]

I am a huge proponent of real world experience. But, in todays day and age, you've got to combine your experience with a good education. It will take you so much further in life. Do yourself a favor no matter what happens.. stay in school.

 

[Dragster Racer]

Finish up school. Help out nights and weekends. I know. Broken record. And you were asking about Florida. Did I mention finishing school?

 

[6768rogues]

I say finish school, too. I dropped out of college when I was about 20 years old for a short break. I went back and finished 30 years later. Actually, it was cool walking across the stage at 50 years old, but it finally opened doors to good jobs that I was not qualified for before. Whatever it takes, finish at least high school.

 

[Brad1234]

Don't drop out of school. Your parents suggesting that you do hints of desperation. If the buisness goes under you are out of work & probably not employable without a diploma.

 

[TONE]

I really cant see the logic in what your folks are asking you to do. Im really quite bothered by it.

 

[Kevin54]

my parents suggested the idea of me dropping out of school and helping them get the business started and later going back for my GED.

That just isn't right. It sounds to me like the business is a little on shaky ground and your parents want you to help bail them out. If it doesn't pan out, then you are **** out luck. And it is harder to quit and go back later than just finishing it out now.

A GED is nothing but toilet paper now. You need a H.S.Diploma to get a mediocre job today. Most places start hiring ones with Associates degrees which don't seem to carry too much weight either. So get what you can while you can.

its not like were running from debt its just that we want to move.

With that remark, it sounds like there is a little bit of a problem starting.

 

[rsanter]

do not drop out
graduating will be better respected than taking a GED test.
unless you are unhappy in life and school, take the time to enjoy your time there and work the buisness after school and on the weekends.
between the babes, sports, friends, and babes you will be missing some great times.

bob

 

[930dreamer]

Stay in school, let your parents start the business. You need to be educated and more so than just high school.

 

[Ram]

Your folks need the help but your going to be around a lot longer then they are. Get with it and move, stay in school till you graduate. You can still give them support in the evenings and weekends.

Under "No" circumstances should you quit school.

 

[sstruckguy]

Erle385:

Many words of wisdom here. (mostly the same but still wisdom) You can always work, but YOU can't always hang that diploma on your wall.

As a person that has been in a management/hiring position for almost 30 years, basic direction(or at least a semi obvious attempt) is the first thing I look at. Someone with a sketchy work history and or an incomplete education, usually will go to the bottom of the interview pile

You have what..10? years invested so far? Why not finish what you started?

I don't want to sound like typical dad, but I hope you will take my "typical employer" advice

 

[ket-tek]

Uh, I could see if dropping out was your plan. But I'm really concerned that your parents would come up with that idea?! Seems like there is a bit more to the situation.

Stay in school. Some schools have whats called an Early Leavers program that you might qualify for that will allow you to essentially take some prep classes take the ged but graduate with the next graduating class so you technically finish high school with a diploma instead of going back for a ged...

Oh and btw, stay in school..

 

[Demian]

It is not a good time to start a business in Southwest FL and if that business doesn't work out there are very few jobs in this part of the world.
We had a Target store open a while back and they had over 1000 people lined up outside to apply for jobs.
Unless you have something lined up I would not move to this part of the country right now.
Don't get me wrong my wife and I love it here, great weather, lovely beaches, etc. It's just not a great place to be if your looking for work.
And like everybody else said STAY IN SCHOOL.
good luck

 

[Nuts&Bolts]

All I can say is stay in school, like ME. You sound familiar, eh.

 

[mad57]

Ok i have 2 properetys down there in fla, cant find good tenents and the rents are low.. houses are selling for cheap!! jobs are scarce, now when i went to high school i hated it but i would never quit, i went on a work study program which allowed me to go to school till 12:45 then to work the rest of the day.. and i still graduated from high school, iam still working the job i started since 1989 and have never looked back, I can tell you love your folks to even consider this, but youll be more help to them in the future if you stay educated, when you graduate go to a trade school for mechanics if thats your passion, get a good job with that diploma... good luck youll do the right thing. mad57.

 

[ddawg16]

ok my family is thinking of moving to florida.

Advice? Tell them to leave all the warm clothing behind with you. Tell them they will be fine, enjoy the weather and write you often.

 

[JCQuick]

Is it just me, or is that just WRONG!

No bro I'm with you... and i know first hand thats not a good idea specialy today



Oh and better make sure they can get homeowners insurance it's a big problem here

 

[Krusty]

This stat might tell you something. While Florida has roughly 5 percent of the US population, the state has over 10 percent of the sign shops in the US. (I used to be in the sign biz.) Among other things, this means that there's more competition, lower sign prices, lower income for sign guys, etc. I assume it's the same for many businesses, including cars.

Krusty

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Finish school first - the diploma will serve you much better than a GED....from what Ive heard from my kids / friends, you'd have trouble even doing something like joining the military with just a GED, if you decided to go that route (even when there's no jobs localy, Uncle Sam is always looking for help).

 

[Cargo]

Stay in school. Get your diploma. Also, Florida is a great place to visit.

 

[Red05GT]

Erie 385, many times our so called friends and family are the first ones to sabotage
our hopes, dreams and successes. You've not had a single person reccomend you
follow yours folks suggestion. Stay where you're at and make it on your own. You will
discover a lot about yourself and begin to break that old family self defeatist curse.
Many people think that moving to a different part of the country looking for a better
job market, or an easier job, or better weather will make everything better, it won't.
One has to manage their resources, live within their means, aquire knowledge, and have
a better work ethic than the next guy to make it these days. Good luck.

 

[Motofixxer]

FINISH SCHOOL!!! There are options for getting out early etc. Work N Learn programs, graduating early whatever...but you really should complete what you started. Shame on your parents for telling you quit now and finish later. If you had a guaranteed opportunity as a singing artist or athlete making hundreds or millions a year. That would be a little bit different. But starting a business in a different state is sketchy. Finish your own responsibilities first then try to help others.
As for the work atmosphere down there. I have heard it's pretty bad. Unless you have some kind of exclusive deals or products. The general economy is lower than many other areas. I have been told the jobs that pay $30-50\hr other areas pay about $10-15\hr down there. The houses are relatively cheap. I have seen some ads for them. What sells for $3-400K around here is going for $140-180K there. That stuff tells me what the standards are like in FL. And the heat\humidity down there. That alone is enough to make me stay away. Nice to visit occasionally but not to live. But only you can decide whats best for you.

 

[Steve from Socal]

What kind of parents would advocate their child dropping out of school? No matter what you think, you will only hurt yourself in the long run. Jobs even at the lowest level are VERY competitive today why would any employer look at a kid who didn't finish high school. The ones that would will likely try to exploit you and, I hate to say it but your folks sound like that's what they doing.

Finish high school and really consider some level of post secondary education. You are young and with out some marketable skills you are at the very bottom of the food chain job wise. Harsh words indeed; somebody had to say it. Don't waste your life before it starts.

Steve

 

[X1 Mike]

They get my vote for worst parents of the year.