ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Making Money

We avoid the mileage or trip charge by charging $125 for the first hour for one man, and $175 for two men. These are minimum charges whether we are there for 5 minutes or the full hour. We make it clear that we do not charge a trip or mileage charge unless the travel time is over 45 minutes one way. More than that and the excess time is added to the invoice.

-Hal

[This message has been edited by hbiss (edited 09-04-2004).]

Ok, I am new and you guys are very funny. As with any new business there are several ways to operate and all of them have learning curves. I think that most of us who started out young in business wanted to grow but, being young and dumb never let the business grow in time by staying fast to one operations. Everyone starts out being nice and reduceing bids until you can't buy food or gas or pay your supplier. If your new new construction but are ready to add service work you will need to hire at least two laborers for your lead techs in the new construction. Their wages are set at the minmum wage for your area and you do not have to work them every day. If at possible you should start and do the service work until you can establish annual contracts then hire a lead and laborer for that work. Once that is established you you be funn-in and joking with your suppliers and customers out on the lake.

Just a quick quote from the August issue of EC&M Magazine:

Only 23% of small independent companies are still in business after their 5th year and only 18% are still around after 10 years.

Kinda stupid to be charging what everybody else is charging like I have been. Everybody else is going out of business!!!!!!!!!!!