Question about pay for workcamping

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Rene T

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I talked to the manager of the park I'm staying at as the whether they ever hire work campers and he said that they haven't in the past but this summer, he wants to go to Corporate and try to get approval to hire some next winter during their busy season. We're in mid Florida. I'm thinking about applying for a position but I've got a couple of questions. This is all new for me. 

Currently, I'm paying $196.00 per week to stay on a site with 3 way hook ups and pretty good WIFI. If you divide that $196.00 by 24 hrs., that comes up to $8.16 per hour and if you divide it by 32 hrs. you come up with $6.12 per hour. Would working 24 hrs. be a fair exchange for services in order to get the site for free or would the 32 hrs. be more appropriate.

The other option is to get paid an hourly wage. Anyone know what a fair hourly wage would be. I really don't want to get paid that way because I don't want to contend with state taxes, federal taxes, Medicaid and Social security. If I have to, what is the minimum wage for Florida?  My experience level is I can do most rough and some finish carpentry, painting, basic electrical, I can operate heavy equipment, operate a chainsaw, I am very mechanically inclined to be able to work on most any mechanical device.  I also have basic computer skills. Thanks for all responses.  ;)
 
You should get at least the equivalent of minimum wage, which is $8.05 in Florida. I would try to get fewer hours if I worked at a higher skill level. But, in a prime area like Florida, you will have a lot of competition and that will drive the equivalent wage  down, meaning more hours worked. 
 
I've thought about this; but as a contractor of some 35 years the going rates for my skills are in the $100 to $150 per hour range.

I used to fix minor plumbing problems while camping just so I could flush or take a decent shower. I stopped that a while ago when I found myself restoring power to half the camp without so much as a handshake from the camp owner. Now I travel without many tools.
 
"Pay" is usually commensurate with the duties and you didn't describe what those are. A "greeter" is less valuable (lower skilled) than, say, an all-around handyman/helper. Cleaning bathrooms is less desirable work than mowing lawns, so usually pays a bit better. Few get much more than minimum wage, though ($8.40 in Florida).

In many campgrounds, you get regular hourly wages but pay for your own campsite. That avoids any issues with the IRS over taxable status and with the state/federal minimum wage bureaucracies over payscale.
 
Don't assume that if your pay is a free site, that you won't get a 1099 at the end of the year.  The IRS insists that "employers" assign fair value to things that are in place of wages so they can be taxed.  I suppose it depends on what that park owner does but he is also cheating himself of a business deduction if he doesn't file it on his business tax return.

Remember when car salesmen who got free cars as part of their job started having to pay tax on the value of that benefit? 
 
One reply I received said that minimum wage in Florida is $8.05 and another was $8.40. Why the discrepancy? Where can I go to find out what it actually is?

Update: I did a search and found the answer. It's $8.05 in Florida.
 
I was thinking of bringing tools and some basic RV parts with a sign outside the door for RV Repairs.  After reading a couple of these maybe I don't want to do that.  I can see it being a 24hr job I'm trying to retire,  but I have to stay somewhat busy.
 
Jere, hanging out your shingle is often frowned upon by RV parks.  Some have bulletin boards where you can put a notice if you want to work.  Others have business cards available.  Even on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands you might be told to remove your sign.  In any case, I would suggest you talking to the owner/host about their view on such activity.

ArdraF
 
The sign would be on the side of the truck, but maybe I'll just use what works in my business now..word of mouth. That way I won't have to work much.
 
Some parks don't even allow you to work on your own RV, let alone someone else's. Typically any & old "RV repair" is banned but the park turns a blind eye toward minor work or "emergency" repairs.
 
Rene T said:
Hey, you guys just "HIGHJACKED" my post!!!!  :mad:  Just kidding.  ;D  Have a great day everyone.

You might just have to go to Tom Horton's for a cup of coffee.  ;D ;D ;D  Or is it Tim Horton's?
 
How did we get from "Work Camping" to drinking coffee especially where I don't even drink the stuff?  ???
 
Rene T said:
Hey, you guys just "HIGHJACKED" my post!!!!  :mad:  Just kidding.  ;D  Have a great day everyone.
Well at least it is your post. When you start negotiating with the campground I would ask for the moon. Your site free and a hourly rate. Plus incentives for working more hoers or longer hoers, or more duties. 
I guess you will have to see what they offer to see if it is worth doing.
No coffee so is it tea or wine?
Bill
 
WILDEBILL308 said:
Well at least it is your post. When you start negotiating with the campground I would ask for the moon. Your site free and a hourly rate. Plus incentives for working more hoers or longer hoers, or more duties. 
I guess you will have to see what they offer to see if it is worth doing.
No coffee so is it tea or wine?
Bill

No tea or wine Bill but a occasional Bud!! ;) ;D
 
Workamping is basically a convenience for the parties involved. You don't get rich.

The hours versus the rent always work out to a dismal amount, but hey, typically no commute, no taxes, and generally some flexibility and odd perks. I've enjoyed workamping and only received the rent in exchange. I was happy enough most times.

It was convenient and I enjoyed it mostly.

About the 1099...  It's very complicated but generally if you are required to live where you work, then you aren't taxed on that. Hence the vast majority of workamping doesn't fall under 1099 rules until cash changes hands. 

I've been to numerous parks where working on your own RV or hiring someone to work on yours was quite acceptable. Many mobile RV specialists would be bankrupt if they couldn't work in the parks on RV's. We're not talking about rebuilding one stem to stern, but making minor and yes I've seen even major repairs.

I've also seen loads of folks with signage on their RV or car or both about their business. Not a problem there either, you can't repaint the truck cause you're going camping. Some transient workers live in their RV's full time and move with the work load. Many are sub contractors with signage on their vehicles.

Of course I am not staying in the high end parks with mile long rules either, but I am not camping in the slums. Most places are very flexible and reasonable. Just a few high end parks have a long list of rules that make living a bit inconvenient at times.
 
When it comes to RV repairs.

Some parks do not allow work to be done except emergency repairs to get it out of the park to a proper licensed facility
Some let you work on your own
Some allow any repair service in
Some only allow selected services (HINT) some folks pay kickbacks to the park manager) in.

Many parks will not allow you to "Advertise" (hang out a sign) in a park

Since my standard rate is a full cup of coffee.. (I do not get paid) when I work on an RV, Never had a problem.
 
There is a wide range of attitude from campground to campground. I had them come tell me "no washing your RV" when I was washing the windshield using a pistol grip spray bottle. Then have ben reminded that they had a area with every thing you needed to wash your rig.
The only repair I have had to do was replace the plastic drain plug in the hot water heater. I have seen several Mobil repair serveries working in parks also RV wash serveries.
But back to what Rene was talking about. I would be carful that you don't end up working harder than you were before you retired for a lot less.
Rene, stop by I have cold beverages available. ;D
Bill
 
WILDEBILL308 said:
But back to what Rene was talking about. I would be carful that you don't end up working harder than you were before you retired for a lot less.
Rene, stop by I have cold beverages available. ;D
Bill

I was thinking of doing it just to have something to do.  Thanks for the offer Bill, but you're just a tad out of the way. I'm in Lakeland FL
 
One reply I received said that minimum wage in Florida is $8.05 and another was $8.40. Why the discrepancy? Where can I go to find out what it actually is?

Update: I did a search and found the answer. It's $8.05 in Florida.

Mea Culpa, Rene. Sorry for the erroneous info.  It is indeed $8.05 as of 1/1/2015.
 

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