Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1907 — MAKE MONEY WITHOUT BOSS. [ARTICLE]

MAKE MONEY WITHOUT BOSS.

Six Chicago Barbera Try Co-opera-tive Scheme Succeaafully. Six Chicago barbers, all first-class men, decided recently that they could live without being shackled by a “boss.” They clqbbed together, started a shop, and are making good. These •ix men determined to try co-operation Instead of working for fixed wages. They had made from sl2 to sl7 a week working for bosses. Sometimes their earnings fell below sl2, but seldom went above sl7. They had worked on regular salaries, on commission, and they decided to take a chance. Not One of the six had enough money to start a barber shop of his own and hire the others. They decided to pool their resources, and by so doing they secured a lease of a good stand and furnished It. The receipts go into a common fund, a reserve is kept to meet rent, light and other expenses, and at the end of the week the receipts are divided. Thus far, according to the men, the co-operative scheme has been a success. Not only do they make more money per man out of each shave or hair cut, but they find, so they say, that the general public will patronize them rather than a shop owned by a

boss. Each man feels that he is helping the man who shaves him to get a'ong in the world. Besides tint, the Interest of the barbers themselves Is in the work, and they “hustle” for trade, and do their best work on each customer, hoping he will become a regular patron. The boss’ share of a shop is about half the total receipts, out of which he must pay expenses. The expenses of this six-chair shop, including the small wage paid the porter, amount to about $75 a month. The boss’ share from the shop wouiti have been over $175 a -month, according to 6ne month’s receipts tn the co-operative place. By eliminating the boss the men figure that they are dividing between themselves SIOO a month that, he would have received. Besides that, they are increasing the business and gaining to ln<i rWedfly. and that to a rtawd which never has been a great money maker.