In today`s local newspaper (Green Bay Press Gazette), a lawyer from Tennessee wrote a guest commentary about his state`s requirement for those who shampoo hair to be licensed and have over 300 hours in training to do so. The main points of his commentary are:
1) The cost of the license keeps out competition and drives higher prices for services
2) It prevents the poor or low-income wage earners from getting jobs in less-skilled positions, such as washing hair at a beauty salon or spa
3) There is NO training program or school in Tennessee that teaches JUST hair shampooing, so someone MUST become a beautician or cosmologist in order to wash hair (hence, the 300 hours of training/education requirement)
4) Continuing education requirements and annual state-license renewals are cost-prohibitive to people working in these "less-skilled, hence lower-paying professions".
His points are well taken and Tennessee is now in the process of re-evaluating its licensing needs for less-skilled occupations.
I know that there are some of you who have asked if there are any certifications for detailers. I would hope that my state (Wisconsin) does not require the need to have a license for detailers. It seems to require some state license or certificate to work in a self-owned business EXCEPT, lawn care and snow removal services, handyman services, vehicle detailers, and on-line sales of second-hand items (Ebay and Craig`s list). When I think about this, these are probably the four most unregulated self-employed garage/home/cottage-based cash-only businesses in my home state.
My concern is this: Does a license tell you that that person is competent enough to perform the task or service your are paying the person to do??
For those of you who do have legitimate detailing business (IE, you are: 1) legally registered as an LLC, Inc., Company, or enterprise with a local, state, and federal government, 2) pay business ,FICA, and Social Security taxes; 3) have business insurance; 4) have taken training and purchased equipment to be compliant with all local, state, and federal safety (OSHA) regulations; 5) have local licenses as required by municipal ordinances), you are well aware of your costs associated with being a "legitimate business" and why you find it "difficult" to compete with fly-by-night/underground/garage cash-only"businesses"` who do not have the above mentioned costs-of-doing-business.
Would licensing change that??
I also know that OSHA requirements can be cost-prohibitive and somewhat counter-productive. Having worked in the manufacturing sector, I am well aware of the training need to be compliant with those regulations and the cost of equipment needed for safety. For those of you who may be mobile detailers, I doubt many of you carry MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) binder of the chemicals you use or have a HAZMAT-compliant chemical spill kit with you. Like when you knock over and spill your quart can of 3M Adhesive Remover or gallon of acid wheel cleaner in a customer`s drive way or garage. (Think neighbors or customer asking, "What is that smell?", then calling the police or fire department, and its implications to you and your business, legit or not).
Would licensing change that??
I`d like to get fellow Autopian`s , both professional and hobbyist, thoughts on this somewhat "controversial" facet of detailing. Kind of like religion and politics; we don`t talk about them in public conversations.
1) The cost of the license keeps out competition and drives higher prices for services
2) It prevents the poor or low-income wage earners from getting jobs in less-skilled positions, such as washing hair at a beauty salon or spa
3) There is NO training program or school in Tennessee that teaches JUST hair shampooing, so someone MUST become a beautician or cosmologist in order to wash hair (hence, the 300 hours of training/education requirement)
4) Continuing education requirements and annual state-license renewals are cost-prohibitive to people working in these "less-skilled, hence lower-paying professions".
His points are well taken and Tennessee is now in the process of re-evaluating its licensing needs for less-skilled occupations.
I know that there are some of you who have asked if there are any certifications for detailers. I would hope that my state (Wisconsin) does not require the need to have a license for detailers. It seems to require some state license or certificate to work in a self-owned business EXCEPT, lawn care and snow removal services, handyman services, vehicle detailers, and on-line sales of second-hand items (Ebay and Craig`s list). When I think about this, these are probably the four most unregulated self-employed garage/home/cottage-based cash-only businesses in my home state.
My concern is this: Does a license tell you that that person is competent enough to perform the task or service your are paying the person to do??
For those of you who do have legitimate detailing business (IE, you are: 1) legally registered as an LLC, Inc., Company, or enterprise with a local, state, and federal government, 2) pay business ,FICA, and Social Security taxes; 3) have business insurance; 4) have taken training and purchased equipment to be compliant with all local, state, and federal safety (OSHA) regulations; 5) have local licenses as required by municipal ordinances), you are well aware of your costs associated with being a "legitimate business" and why you find it "difficult" to compete with fly-by-night/underground/garage cash-only"businesses"` who do not have the above mentioned costs-of-doing-business.
Would licensing change that??
I also know that OSHA requirements can be cost-prohibitive and somewhat counter-productive. Having worked in the manufacturing sector, I am well aware of the training need to be compliant with those regulations and the cost of equipment needed for safety. For those of you who may be mobile detailers, I doubt many of you carry MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) binder of the chemicals you use or have a HAZMAT-compliant chemical spill kit with you. Like when you knock over and spill your quart can of 3M Adhesive Remover or gallon of acid wheel cleaner in a customer`s drive way or garage. (Think neighbors or customer asking, "What is that smell?", then calling the police or fire department, and its implications to you and your business, legit or not).
Would licensing change that??
I`d like to get fellow Autopian`s , both professional and hobbyist, thoughts on this somewhat "controversial" facet of detailing. Kind of like religion and politics; we don`t talk about them in public conversations.