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Often you will see me at the local intersection.  I bought a "Will Work For Food" franchise ;-)  Truly, last year those guys probably did make more than 75% of the licensed adjusters in Texas alone.  This is a feast or famine business, always has been.  Some have a trade they use to make ends meet but that is difficult when you could get a call at any time to leave.  An adjuster can not survive full-time hoping for a big event every year, it just doesn't happen and the daily side is meager unless you live near a metro or larger population area.  Even the hail CATs are so over staffed these days that an adjuster who used to get 100+ to start with might end up with only 50-80 for the entire event.  So how does the $$ really work?  The bottom line is you stay out of debt.  If you are in debt you get out as quick as you can.  The guys that buy the big truck or RV mid-storm are usually the same guys that loose them 6 months later because they can't afford the payments any longer.  I always have set aside enough money from the first few pay checks to last me at least 4 to 6 months on the back side of the storm in case it's slow going.  That's what kept me going for over 10 years now.  Beyond living smart you also have to get smart using every opportunity to learn, get certifications and be fully licensed.  The days of the cowboys blowing through a storm with little ability and less customer service skills are fading into the sunset (Katrina events exempted).  In the 2010s, if you want to work steady you have to prove you know what you are doing with the software programs, have a solid understanding of construction and treat the Insured with the utmost care and respect.  Anything less and you will be on the sidelines with the crayon and the cardboard sign -- or back to your old boss asking for your job back.

KLS

Notary Public, most people can get a Notary Appointment by going on line in the state they live in. Many area;s have sites for Notary, s who come to you. If you are in an oil & gas state many doc,s are done in the evening, lawyers need help, car titles and the list is long. You can start this service and hire others if you live out in outter BF. Going to the scene of truck accidents. Measure, photo intersections on auto accidents, measure impact marks on autos in wrecking yards. Get permission from the auto impound lot to place your 24 hour sign near the gate.(Notarized doc needed to inspect YOUR auto) many states.

Get  PI training, con  leave and come back after a storm. Stake out on divorce, asset serch, disability serch and photos. Bon,t think big, think small income. Drive a cab, wrecker, hot shot truck, auction cars for dealers, work as temp water suckers for the boss water sucker. work as a clerk of the works on large losses.

If you are good on xmate and can write a good estimate off notes and photos and send back to the "real adjuster" in PDF you can charge and get $25.00 per hour and never leave home. Its worth  $25.00 per hr. , but not a % of the fee bill. Most people who use this system will agree on $1.00 per thousand with a minimum of $25.00. A $100,000 loss will be $100.00. Many many ways to make some $ between storms.

Ole ghost hit it on the head again. Why would any adjuster worth the title of "professional catastrophe adjuster" work for any other vendor as a 1099 instead of a W-2. Oh yes I know drawing total disability from an injury from the goverment or otherwise but; it could be, thats all I could get and many of us are in this boat. BUT when I was much younger it was not this way.