Dink, while I admit that my rates are not the lowest in town, I never thought to specifically build in money for equipment purchases.
I rather look at equipment in term of it's ability to generate business. For example, If I have the right gear, I can "certify" my Cat-5E installs- which sets me apart form the guys who can only pull wire!
With equipment vailable, opportunities seem to jump out of the air. Get yourself a boom lift, and it's simply amazing how many light poles need your services- poles that never seemed to need work before! Now, you may not get paid any more than the next guy for changing that ballast, but you can do it a lot quicker- meaning you can do more of it, and you can give the customer better service.
Likewise, get a Bobcat, and you'll soon be making more ditches than you ever dreamed.
My experience has been that, even without special charges, equipment can pay for itself- by generating new business.
