I don't know if this is an age or attitude thing with the next generation, but this is the first time I've encountered it several times in a row.

Younger people are contacting me with an interesting offer. They will work for me for free for a few months in exchange for me teaching them everything I know about my industry. They then plan on using that knowledge and skill to then compete against me with their own business.

Is anybody else seeing this?

We used to call that an apprenticeship. The "ME" generation did they're best to kill those.

Yes.

We've tried to encourage it where we can, with a professional license and required internship, it isn't a process that happens easily.

One person followed through a bit, once we showed them a noncompete (basically territory split once trained), they bailed. Angrily.

Most inquiries we receive are from failed real estate agents and retiring teachers; once they see the license requirements, they bail. Most sales agents don't have the basic education (no BS degree), and the teachers, when they find out they'll have to do essentially another master's program, also give up. ALL of them want us to pay for their education, pay them while they intern, and then NOT have a noncompete agreement once licensed.

We'll probably work until we die. I don't mind, the wife isn't as enthusiastic about it.

My client was forced to bring on a competitor of mine, on account this fella was banging someone important in the organization...and I was not. Anyway, it wasn't working out with the other staff, they really didn't like him, so my contact asked if I'd be willing to "train" him. I refused.

I ended up losing most of the account, but that was happening either way.

In Texas, if you want to get into pest control you have to do that. You have to train under someone in order to get licensed. At least it used to be that way, had a friend trying to get licensed but nobody wanted to let him train since he would become competition.

Yes, sort of.

With all of the regulations/etc/laying out the capital requirements, it doesn’t tend to go to far, in my industry, as the young folks realize it would take quite a few years to build the knowledge base/credibility to really do it.

(Every now and then, ice cream becomes popular among the PE crowd - usually a good opportunity to buy brand new/barely used equipment very cheap, as long as it’s small enough to actually use.)

With what I know of your situation, unless you're planning to retire soon I would politely decline their offer.
Nearing retirement I would be willing to share my knowledge and help someone get started. The other exception might be if I knew they would not be operating in my market going forward.

OP:

What was your response?

Perhaps if you were getting close to wanting to retire or sell the business and they wanted to acquire said business, the only good thing is you might find someone you want to hire full time, and, the majority of new businesses fail, so the odds are you'd get free help and build no competition...

quote:

We used to call that an apprenticeship. The "ME" generation did they're best to kill those.

I've always considered apprentices to be those who wanted to learn a skill in order to work within an industry, or to take over a skill based business upon the retirement of the owner.

This is different.

I'll use Appliance Brad as an example. This would be like somebody wanting to open an appliance store in his area, but who doesn't know much (if anything) about appliances.

They would be willing to work for Brad for a few months, for free of course, but expect to be provided with the technical skills, equipment lists, business contacts, suppliers, customer lists, vendors, etc. They would then open a location in the same community as direct competition.

quote:

once we showed them a noncompete

Those approaching me have flat out stated that they intend to compete against me.

quote:

the young folks realize it would take quite a few years to build the knowledge base/credibility to really do it.

Ha! These guys have businesses already set up, built fancy websites, and are doing it anyway. Breaking laws, violating regulations, and stating they're experts.

quote:

What was your response?

It's not happening. That's not stopping them from doing it anyway, but it certainly won't be with my assistance.

quote:

Perhaps if you were getting close to wanting to retire or sell the business and they wanted to acquire said business, the only good thing is you might find someone you want to hire full time, and, the majority of new businesses fail, so the odds are you'd get free help and build no competition

They aren't interested in purchasing anything. They want to trade 90 days with them in exchange.

There are only a handful of safe making companies, can you at least tell your wholesales rep hey FYI, That new company that just popped up is shady AF and has no experience or industry certs ( if applicable). Just want to to let you know before you attach your name to them. May at least make them think twice.

That being said, The market is very efficient and consumers will find out quickly if that company is less than fabulous.

Yup. Apprenticeship. If you’re interested in selling to them, arrangements are made more easily.

Not so much in software engineering. Too many quick and dirty certifications are available.

not a snowballs chance in hell I would ever do that...

never

I would train my replacement but only if that person was a current trusted employee

I'm struggling to understand why someone would think any business owner would agree to that arrangement? What does the business stand to get out of it? A couple of months of unskilled labor for free or low cost is not very enticing to begin with, especially knowing they will leave as soon as they become somewhat productive.

^^^

Yes, you get what you pay for.

This is like slitting your own throat

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
….
They will work for me for free for a few months in exchange for me teaching them everything I know about my industry. They then plan on using that knowledge and skill to then compete against me with their own business…

Sounds dumb to me. I was once asked (after 15 years in the same job) to impart my knowledge to paper so that others could come in and replace me with a written text to go by. I said “Sure, if you’ve got 15 years to spare without me so I can transcribe all of my work life experience.” Wasn’t there a movie line about “I taught you everything you know, not everything I know.”

I had a vet I worked with that did consulting fees for young vets. They’d shadow him for a week or 2, and pay for the privilege.
In that area, it was always good to have more people trained.

In a different medical field, I’ve seen the same thing, but they were not practicing in that area, they would be from other parts of the state.

They are doing it completely wrong.

The way you go about this is travel somewhere outside the commercial market, and learn from someone who could not conceivably be a competitor.

I.e., someone from Florida traveling up to St. Louis to learn, then going back to Florida.

quote:

Originally posted by jbcummings:

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
….
They will work for me for free for a few months in exchange for me teaching them everything I know about my industry. They then plan on using that knowledge and skill to then compete against me with their own business…

Sounds dumb to me. I was once asked (after 15 years in the same job) to impart my knowledge to paper so that others could come in and replace me with a written text to go by. I said “Sure, if you’ve got 15 years to spare without me so I can transcribe all of my work life experience.” Wasn’t there a movie line about “I taught you everything you know, not everything I know.”

Yeah... that's nuts!

Why would anyone who wants to be in business not first try to learn the business as an employee?

It's going to take longer than 90 days to learn any business.