Dave good luck on that monumental task that you are about to endeavor on. My time is worth a whole lot more than spending months redisigning the wheel. Flat rate plus isn't perfect,none are, but with about 40 hours in it revisions I had a top notch database. As far as a freeze dried package, I can count on one hand the amount of guys in our area using flat rate. Most believe it won't work.
I will admit that I do not use Flat Rate plus anymore, due to the fact I am invloved in a group that uses a different type of up-front pricing system, and they gave it to us as part of our membership. But we will use it as a suplement when needed.
Now as far as hiding my labor rate. We sell a panel at a set rate. Or an outlet replacement at a set rate. This price has been achieved by determining what it costs per hour per man to operate my company. We are a service company only and not a contracting company, so my operating expenses are alot higher than most. After determining that we usually double the material and a small profit margin to that. Usually 10 - 12%. The customer now pays for the task so it doesn't matter how long it takes. Some times we make out well other times we lose out, but it averages out in the end.
Keep in mind that when you go to McDonald's for your meal your actually paying what amounts to $275.00/hr. They just don't tell you that.
Dave, one other thing about Flat Rate Plus, the software itself is very user friendly to allow you to make the book exactly the way you want it. The only real beef I had with it waws that if you use the same task in different areas of the book, you have to create a seperate task for each page. Other than that I was able to make alot changes with very little effort.
