Side Work: Is It Worth It?

Should you REALLY be doing side work? A tough but worthy question to ask. In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin talks about what side work is and what the potential problems can be if you get caught working without the appropriate licensing.

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#electrician #electrical #electricity

Let’s define Side Work first. Side work is work that you perform away from your normal job and get paid for it. So, say, your folks need some lights installed at their house, or someone you know has a building that they would like some receptacles installed in. second, you must consider your location in the country. Some states have rules governing contracting. Many states require a license for the particular trade in question and those states may also require some type of insurance to go along with that license. If you are performing work out there without these items, you can face serious consequences if you are caught. So, make sure and check with the state you are presiding in about the local rules. Another thing to consider is the company you are CURRENTLY working for. Are they OK with you doing work away from work? Or will they view that as taking customers away from them. Most employers are good with you performing small amounts of side work as long as it doesn’t impact your performance at the job or interfere with their customer base. But check first!
The problem really lies in the liability. If you honestly are not a qualified electrician (or any tradesperson!) you should not be performing side work. Our trade has A LOT to learn, and we should NOT be out there working on our own until we have enough experience to install things properly. If installed incorrectly, electricity can cause massive amounts of damage to houses, businesses, equipment and so on. It can also cause serious injury or even death. So, if the state you live in requires licensing, go out and get the required license and insurance. Even if the state you are working in does NOT require licensing, insurance is always good to have because we can’t possibly see each and every outcome for every situation up front.
Well, why would we do side work anyways if it’s such a liability and a huge no no (for the most part)? Finances could be one reason. We all know what its like to be just starting out as an adult and having more bills to pay than money coming in. Maybe, we want to learn additional skills. For some of us, we love the trade, and we love to work (yes, I am one of those!! Workaholics I think we are called!!). Some of us want to get into contracting and this may seem like the logical first step. I think it’s safe to say that most of us tradespeople do work on the side or have at least done some in our career. Whatever the motivating factor in your desire to look into side work, you really must weigh the potential consequences and see if it is worth the potential risk. Again, it depends on the municipality, but there can be stiff fines/penalties, removal of any licensing you currently have, and even the denial of any further licensing you want to obtain! So non conformance to the rules can have a lasting negative effect on your ability to work as an electrician.

[OUTDOORS]

Doing things safely is the last thing they are worried about. All the government wants is making sure they get their grubby hands on your money.

[Ephesians-tsze]

Never do side work on a house built in the 70’s. If it’s wired with aluminum, it especially needs to be done by a contractor who’s licensed and insured. I was offered a side job for a home owner that had an interior recessed FP panel. In the process of removing the panel cover I saw arcing and lights flickering. I very carefully put the panel cover back and told them to call a contractor who’s licensed and insured.

[frankporfidio]

"Side jobs" were actually my introduction to the world of electrical work . During the early 1970s there were a lot of furloughs and 6months on and 6 months off (or whatever it was ) going on with a lot of the unions. My Pop started doing them when he realised unemployment wasn't cutting it for a family of four with a mortgage . I was 13 and dragged in as slave labor, but after a few weeks, I started making a little cash and it beat the hell out of my allowance !! LOL as time went on when Pop went back to work, I'd pick up work with some of his friends who were doing the same thing and then when he was furloughed again go back to working with him . I finally got the call to join the apprentice program but by that time a sound company I had been working for shoved a world tour in my face and I took that instead . Had a great career doing live sound and my Pop encouraged me . He never said so, but I always felt like I let him down not following in his footsteps . A few years before he passed I was changing a ballast in a fluorescent light and when I was on the ladder he just looked at me and said " You would've been a good electrician Talk about a lump in my throat Sometimes you gotta' do what ya' gotta' do !!

[JWimpy]

I know what you mean. I did some side work too before getting my license. I wanted new seat covers in my classic car and made a deal with an upholstery shop to do my seat covers in trade for running them a new circuit and hanging a string of lights in their shop. About a month later I drove back by that shop and it was a huge pile of burnt lumber. I was scared to death. After asking around I found out that they had a bunch of dirty cleaning rags in their trash cans that ignited spontaneously and burnt the entire shop down. I never did another moonlight electrical job after that.

[andreapaolucci]

I’m a 3rd year apprentice and I was constantly getting in over my head at the beginning of my apprenticeship. Took on a ton of electrical side work and realized how much of a responsibility I had for all the work I did. Now I only do electrical work for family. Taught myself networking, camera systems, alarms and access control and now I just do that on the side while using my construction and electrical knowledge to my advantage

[sparkyobrian]

Before my electronics career took off I had been in electric trades in high school, and worked a second job for a local electric company for many years, finally getting my journeyman lic in a few local cities. I did alot of side work but 99% of mine were mostly troubleshooting things from hotwater heaters to tripping breakers. I found most people did their own installs then called someone if it didnt work or caught fire....

[crazyolmedo]

Not me watching this video inside an attic at the side job I’m doing.

[gregfisher]

Your story made my lower extremities pucker! I too did electrical side work for years ! I went to trade school and took industrial Electricity. I took my Journeyman test in 1983 and passed it . I never did work for an electrical contractor as I had a good job at a local factory where I lived . I was very fortunate to never have any problems with the work I did .I never had a house burn down or anyone have to go behind my work . MY greatest personal achievement was to wire my brother's house by myself in 1988. I haven't done any side work going on two years .I am 68 years old now and my wife's salary as Collège professor means I don't have to do any side work . I still have all my tools and test instruments and do electrical work in my own home but that is it ! Thank you for sharing these .Everyone who do side work needs to watch this !

[treyhart]

At my dad's office, they would design tracthomes, and entire HOA neighborhoods.. they were not equipped for, or interested in small jobs like remodels or custom homes, but they still got calls about it, so they set up a "side job" program for their workers to use their work machine and work software to take these side jobs in their off hours. So kind of a side job, but under the umbrella of the office license.

[jacobplank]

I know exactly what you are talking about, I've worked 4.5 years under a licensed electrician and then he was ready to retire and it was a good opportunity for me to start my own company and get my license. But in them years working for him I would get asked all the time to do side work and I did some and my boss was totally fine with it. It's just so much service work out there and not near enough electricians, so people will do anything just to get it done whether licensed or not. I got to the point where very seldom I answer new calls as it's no way I'm keeping up, most messages they leave are about issues. Thanks for the video definitely a good warning to all of us that did and do side work!

[Enlightn]

The dillema of side work is strictly a legal/ liability one. Nothing immoral about working for some extra$. However if you're doing side work in a jurisdiction that requires licensing just realize you're on your own if things get sideways and you cause loss off property or life. Ask yourself am I prepared to face that?


Its really no different than flying down the interstate at 100 mph depending on your skill level, road, and other factors it may be a really bad idea, or no problem at all.

[zaclittle]

Weird how your videos relate so much. Getting ready for my side job right now. Helps out for a new family

[electricbro]

I love this channel and I thank you for many of us in the trade. I have been watching these videos since my 2nd year and now I’m a graduate and going for a masters. 😬
During that time I worked “side jobs” but still under a licensed journeymen. I enjoyed learning as much as possible and it isn’t the easiest to learn when your stuck on large projects. The checks were nice and I learned even more.
That all being said I never took on side jobs unless it was under someone licensed and it solved any issues of time and delivery of someone still learning. But I never got in over my head.
Thanks for your videos Dustin!

[beardedswordsman]

I currently am in low voltage. I love it. I mainly do card access and surveillance.

[Jason_Van_Stone]

I won't touch a side job unless I get asked by a licensed friend, or if I go by myself and it's for someone I know/good friend, and we come to an agreement on a "just in case" accident happens. Nothing deadly, but more of a "I'm not patching your wall if you want a receptacle moved"

[cynic]

Better question is, when you do diagnoses and repair side work for friends and family why is it always the most complex issue to diagnose and repair you’ve seen in your entire career regardless of experience?

I just did a job for a friend where a breaker would randomly trip for some lights once every other month or so. After nearly a year I found that with you stepped with all your weight on a very small but very specific area on the floor a wire that was pinched between two joist would short. Since nothing that provided immediate feedback (like a light) would turn off (just some outlets in another room) it seemed random. It was between floors behind drywall. Even once I found it and cut out the drywall it was still difficult to repair due to the joist.

So yeah, if you don’t want to go insane then don’t do side work.

[qapla]

Some years back my FIL needed a new service panel to be able to add A/C to his house - his old panel was not only too small, but it was also in a location that does not adhere to current code. He was quoted an extremely high price by the A/C contractor so I told my FIL that we could do it ourselves even though the A/C contractor tried to tell him we couldn't. We called the city utility and asked. They asked if either of us was licensed. Neither of us was. They said, in that case, YES we could do it ourselves as long as it passed current codes and my FIL pulled the permit as a homeowner. If either of us had been licensed, we would have had to pull the permit under the license. I was also told that I could not take any money for helping since this was a homeowner job and I did not have a license. Fortunately I did have the knowledge to do the job and what the current code was.
Short ending, we did the job for about a third of the A/C contractor's quote and everything passed inspection. The new service is still working. The thing is, we did not try to just DIY it - we pulled the permits and had to pass the inspections - which means it had to be up-to-code and properly done.

[AngelTorres-zwjr]

Thanks for your honesty. Your always on target and point us in the right direction. 👍

[Djcanhandleit]

I have always done “side work”, also known as my company before I could make it full time. Companies would hire then lay off. By doing side work it helped me to understand my true potential and value. If I didn’t know if I was capable to do that certain task, then you hire a guy who can and learn, or ask your teacher in the trade school you should be attending

[texassparky]

Love your videos and 100% agree. Im a JM and do not do side work. If I screw up at work then its covered. If I screw up on the side there's big problems. Like I said, I'm a JM and have done hundreds of calls and know what I'm doing however the risk is too high. Side note, I'm taking my masters now and want to follow your path. Failed first attempt but I'm not worried. Saw and acknowledged my weaknesses "motors and transformers" and will fix shortly. God bless u and your business.