Use your imagination and break a job down into it's smallest parts the first time. Once you've done the job, hyperaccurate task timekeeping will help you in the future. How long does it take to setup & cleanup, hang a fan, change an outlet, fish a wire? Once you have these "actual" tasks in your records you do estimates like an assembly...3 ceiling fans, 3 fish wires, 3 switches, 1 setup & cleanup. Keep your time estimates generous. It's better to make more profit than less.
Keep tracking your time & check your actual time against your estimated times. If it's taking longer to accomplish a task, you need to correct that task time, or you'll lose money every time you do that task. It's OK to lose money once, but it needs to be corrected quickly.
Dave
