Part time job

[anubis]

Have any of you ever made the jump from just a home stringer to actually applying for a part time job in stringing racquets? Either at a racquet pro shop, a local indoor facility or a club? If so, how was the transition? I'm thinking of applying at some local places to pick up some extra money. I string for about a dozen personal clients, and do approximately 10 sticks a week.

Thanks!

 

[Cobra Tennis]

I had a friend who managed an Academy Sports / ***** type of store want me to do the work...but HOURLY instead of per frame.


I told him I would only do it per frame. Make sure you get per frame and a set rate.

Also, a 1099 tax form is going to hurt if they have to pay you over the table.

 

[Irvin]

Why would you want to drive to work to string rackets and do other duties required by the part time job probably for minimum wage? Why would you want to string for your prospective customers somewhere else? If your friends who do not know you string rackets see you in a store stringing rackets will they start coming to you directly on the side? Sounds like a conflict of interest to me. Seems like you would be better off starting a part time business and attracting your competitor's customers.

 

[eelhc]

There are much better ways to earn extra cash than stringing... The economics are sketchy even for the guys who have a part time business stringing at home. Accounting for meeting with the client, examining the frame discussing string +tension, filling out the ticket, etc, cutting out the strings, mounting..... all the way to handing the racquet back to the client and collecting the $$.. How long does it all take... Probably anywhere between 30~45 minutes (that's if you're a experienced stringer)... All for what? $15-20? If it's a legit business that pays taxes, how much does one earn in the end? Insurance? I don't mean for broken frames while stringing... What if a client slips on a slick spot on your driveway and gets hurt?

Plenty of guys advertising racquet stringing on Craigslist... I have no idea why they do it...

 

[am1899]

Even as a part time job, it generally doesn't pay well - even if you can string accurately and fast. You'd do much better to grow your own business.

 

[LeeD]

Most shops insist on at least 15 non gut string jobs a DAY!.
For quality gut work, more likely one an hour.
And, you gotta answer customer questions while still showing a few racket's and shoes, while watching tennis on TV and making critical analysis of the play you see.
Don't forget, you get to check in string shipements, grips, and all the associated stuff that tennis requires. Sometimes even tennis clothe, the biggest profit make for a tennis shop.

 

[sportsfan1]

eelhc - I have no experience on this, but not sure about your comments on the sketchy economics. If OPs stringing 10 racquets a week and charges average $40 per racquet (including strings, higher for gut), and if we round it up to 2k a month, then it's in the 20-25k range annually. Still sounds easier than getting a 25k raise at your regular job, and doing something the OP presumably likes? What other things did you have on mind when you say better ways?

 

[struggle]

eelhc - I have no experience on this, but not sure about your comments on the sketchy economics. If OPs stringing 10 racquets a week and charges average $40 per racquet (including strings, higher for gut), and if we round it up to 2k a month, then it's in the 20-25k range annually. Still sounds easier than getting a 25k raise at your regular job, and doing something the OP presumably likes? What other things did you have on mind when you say better ways?

not sure where you're getting these numbers.

you getting free string? gut ranges up to $40-whatever a set.

how' bout this:

10 rackets per week at $15 dollar labor = $150/week

$150/week = $7800/yr.

 

[Chotobaka]

Have any of you ever made the jump from just a home stringer to actually applying for a part time job in stringing racquets? Either at a racquet pro shop, a local indoor facility or a club? If so, how was the transition? I'm thinking of applying at some local places to pick up some extra money. I string for about a dozen personal clients, and do approximately 10 sticks a week.

Thanks!

Spending some time in a quality pro shop with high standards would probably benefit you before going it alone in a more serious way than you are doing now. The key is to work with someone who really knows what they are doing. The old saying... "you don't know what you don't know". Good luck.

 

[LeeD]

Working at a shop, you gotta be good at multi tasking.
While stringing a racket, you still gotta greet customers, shoot some breeze, show some shoes and answer "how good is THAT racket"?
All the while, you have to keep track of where you are on the racket you're stringing, answer more questions, and make witty comment's about the current state of the pro game.

 

[eelhc]

eelhc - I have no experience on this, but not sure about your comments on the sketchy economics. If OPs stringing 10 racquets a week and charges average $40 per racquet (including strings, higher for gut), and if we round it up to 2k a month, then it's in the 20-25k range annually. Still sounds easier than getting a 25k raise at your regular job, and doing something the OP presumably likes? What other things did you have on mind when you say better ways?

$40 per racquet including strings? Maybe if you're installing $19 Biphase?

The clubs around here charges $20/racquet + cost of the strings. Some will throw in a "free" overgrip. Overnight service (or in some cases while you wait). One would need to charge significantly less than that...

Check Craigslist nationwide... you'll see that $15 is the going rate (even in the most expensive cities).. once in a while a guy will charge $13 or even $10. I spoke to a D1 tennis player with a Neos 1000 in his dorm room recently... (this D1 program did not provide strings + stringing... apparently not uncommon). He was charging his teammates $6/string job.

10 racquets a week... By the time one answers the emails, phone calls, deal with drop off, pick up, etc, etc would probably be closer to 10 hrs than 5 hrs... Definitely a labor of love.

 

[gmatheis]

not sure where you're getting these numbers.

you getting free string? gut ranges up to $40-whatever a set.

how' bout this:

10 rackets per week at $15 dollar labor = $150/week

$150/week = $7800/yr.

$7800 a year will easily pay for my club membership and probably a nice trip to the US Open ... maybe more.

I would have no problem coming home and stringing 1 or 2 frames up per evening.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Not sure if this is the best way to earn such low wages. All the stringing and weaving wears on the fingers man.

I absolutely hated it when I was in high school, working in a tennis shop part time.

 

[struggle]

$7800 a year will easily pay for my club membership and probably a nice trip to the US Open ... maybe more.

I would have no problem coming home and stringing 1 or 2 frames up per evening.

agreed, but in the context i responded too...... and not that which you chose to respond, it's a big difference.

 

[struggle]

Spending some time in a quality pro shop with high standards would probably benefit you before going it alone in a more serious way than you are doing now. The key is to work with someone who really knows what they are doing. The old saying... "you don't know what you don't know". Good luck.

i definitely agree with this, but in many locations there are no shops with tennis gurus. (there might be gurus, but no shops)

 

[Chotobaka]

i definitely agree with this, but in many locations there are no shops with tennis gurus. (there might be gurus, but no shops)

Very true. Definitely location dependent.

 

[osutennis24]

Working at a shop, you gotta be good at multi tasking.
While stringing a racket, you still gotta greet customers, shoot some breeze, show some shoes and answer "how good is THAT racket"?
All the while, you have to keep track of where you are on the racket you're stringing, answer more questions, and make witty comment's about the current state of the pro game.

haha, this is so true

what sucks for where I work, the stringer is in the director's office, so I have to string in his office and listen for phone calls ringing at the desk, or listen for customers walking up to the desk. Most of the members have learned now that if I'm not at the desk, I'm probably stringing, and they'll just poke their head in

 

[eelhc]

10 rackets per week at $15 dollar labor = $150/week

$150/week = $7800/yr.

$7800 a year will easily pay for my club membership and probably a nice trip to the US Open ... maybe more.

I would have no problem coming home and stringing 1 or 2 frames up per evening.

Not after taxes.... Not for a legit business.

You can write off your stringer, supplies and maybe a portion of your house.

 

[hydenst]

while i was in grad school i worked at a racket club and taught some lessons and strung some rackets in my down time...when we strung the rackets at the club the stringer would get just their hourly rate plus a great labor commission of $0.50 per racket lol

 

[anubis]

Why would you want to drive to work to string rackets and do other duties required by the part time job probably for minimum wage? Why would you want to string for your prospective customers somewhere else? If your friends who do not know you string rackets see you in a store stringing rackets will they start coming to you directly on the side? Sounds like a conflict of interest to me. Seems like you would be better off starting a part time business and attracting your competitor's customers.

I love stringing racquets, believe it or not. Sometimes when I'm bored, or have a big match the next day, I'll cut strings out of one of my frames that only have a couple hours of play time on them, just for an excuse to restring.

I love the act of it and take stringing very seriously. I really enjoy having conversations with my teammates and personal customers to find out the best string and tension combination. I listen to their issues almost always have solutions through changing of string types and tensions.

As much as I enjoy the act of stringing, I can't seem to grow my customer base. Obviously I would prefer to not work in a pro shop and just increase my customer base, but I can't figure that out. If I can't bring in more customers, then I'm forced to go out to a pro shop and work there instead. Either way, I'm making money. And, I'd probably make more money at a pro shop anyway, since I don't charge much for my string jobs. My stringing fees are only $10. The average string job that I charge for is $20 which includes the cost of strings, since I provide them.

Perhaps another reason why I don't have a lot of customers is because I don't have a large selection of strings in stock. I only have 6 reels of string and about 35 packs of individual strings. Most pro shops have hundreds of types of string to choose from.

Lastly, I may be living in a bubble and completely out of touch, but I feel like I take stringing more seriously than virtually anyone that works for a local "pro" shop. I think those people probably just string as if they're on an assembly line, kicking out as many frames as possible, not too concerned with things such as accuracy, consistency, and customer's wishes. I think that if I work for a local "pro" shop, they'd gain a much better stringer on their staff, which would make their customers more happy and increase business.

Anyway, thanks for everyone's thoughts, appreciate it.

 

[MAX PLY]

Sounds like you need either a plan or perhaps some more experience to formulate a plan. I have no idea how experienced you are as a stringer nor do I know what sort of equipment you have to complete the business once you get it. Nevertheless, the best benefits to working in a quality tennis shop would be to learn more about your craft from experienced stringers, enhance your techniques by stringing so much more and be on the front line with customers and new products.

Assuming you don't want to do that, then ask yourself "Why would a person trust their racquet to me?" In my view, it's based on credentials, experience, selection and the customer experience. Certainly, you can compete on price since you likely have little overhead but you will need to invest in a good offering. If you haven't already, consider joining the USRSA and getting your certification (aside from the benefits of membership, branding yourself as an expert separates you from "a guy who strings racquets cheaply"). Increase your selection of products and services (6 reels and 3 doz. packs of string doesn't bring to mind "expert stringer"). Advertise (flyers, word of mouth, give your current customers discounts for referrals, etc.--good referrals are gold in the stringing biz). Assess your competition. Most of all, give good service. Nevertheless, you will have to invest your time and a bit of cash and it should pay off.

Write up a plan and see what it will take to execute it.

 

[Irvin]

@anubis it good that you are doing something you enjoy. But there is such a good thing as too much of a good thing. You may find that if you work in a pro-shop you will start hating it. I once had a friend who starting doing taxes. He priced his work under all of his competition and drew in very few customers. So the next years he priced his work higher than all his competition and was overwhelmed with work. Many people really believe you get what you pay for. Why do you think your prospective customers go to the high priced shops when that could get it done cheaper by you?

You may also want to join the USRSA and get certified. Many people want their work done by stringers that are certifiable. LOL or is that certified? Would you want a certified plumber or a monkey with a wrench?

 

[anubis]

Good ideas all, thanks. I'll join USRSA and research what it takes to get a certification!

 

[dak95_00]

I like stringing and thought about going to work at a club or store but the money truly stinks. Instead, my 13 y/o daughter and I became USSF soccer officials together. She made $800 cash last month working part time. Some tournaments will pay for your hotel rooms to come work. Since I started this easy money which ranges from $20-40/hour, I've decided not to string as much. I'd rather get paid to run around and wave a flag.

 

[tray999]

I do occasionally string for a big sports box store only because my neighbor is the store manager and he brings the racquets home to me. He pays me a flat rate of $20.00 per frame and I use his strings. He will only do this when he is in a bind and does not have an employee that knows how to string. Trust me when I tell you that employee's he has had stringing in his store give stringers a bad name. Most of his customers do not know they just had their racquet strung by a kid who learned how to string on their brand new frame from another kid who has strung 5 frames and is now the "old Pro".....

 

[tennis_ocd]

As much as I enjoy the act of stringing, I can't seem to grow my customer base.

Interesting why people choose stringers.... Large rec court group with one guy 50ish who is alpha. Played in college and clearly best overall player. Guys give him their rackets and they come back hideous. I mean it's unbelievable. Missed weaves. Missed grommets; several! resulting in an entirely different string pattern. Tie offs all over and in the strangest places. I look at the sticks and am speechless. (I know he just gives them to his hs kid and doesn't look twice.)

These guys are decent players just clueless about stringing. They just want the strings that rafa uses....