Like I said in the title, I'm starting my own company after I finish my exam next month. I've been in the trades since I was 18 and it's been alright, better than any job I've ever had but since covid started I've been thinking alot and I'm not particularly happy with the way myself and everyone else who works for someone else is treated. I've been shit on for taking time off alot this past year just like many of us have, I've missed important moments in my family's lives and I don't want that for myself or anyone else anymore. After everything that's been happening my buddy and I decided we would start a trenchless sewer lining company, there is really good money in the trade and it being a new trade, those of us who are in it now are the ones who will set the examples for everyone else starting new company's in the same field as time goes on. In the next few years when we can start hiring we have already decided that we will hire people on for whatever 6 dollars above minimum wage is at first (we have to send you to classes out of state ect.) But after that time period and a month in the field we will being raising their wages 4 dollars an hour equalling $10 over minimum wage after just 2 months, here that's about 25 an hour at the moment. I want to do this because I don't want people to go through what we all have experienced in the past. All I want for my future is to do well for myself and help my guys do the same with not just their wages but continued education in the field, PTO ect. Also being in a trade mostly worked by men I have noticed that men hardly get maternity leave, and if they do its only for a short time which is another bridge we will cross when we get to it but it won't be a shitty 2 weeks, I'm hoping I can let my guys go for however long they need especially later on when we have a bigger crew because money wouldn't be an issue. I would rather work hard so my people can do what they need to and stay happy then force someone to come back to work at a bad time. I'm kind-of rambling at this point but I just thought I'd share this with all of you, so if you are still reading thank you. Our equipment is paid for and my exam is on the 2nd of next month. We are about 75k in debt but I have never been so excited in my entire life to not have to be someone's slave anymore.