Reality in any contractor project is what value are
you adding. Are you a middleman (distributor) who acts as a banker for 30 or 60
days credit-and only moves electronics in a box. A wrench adds design, system
sizing, and safe contracting expertise.
My first criteria is am I going to have fun
with this job. If I do not think the client is going to be enjoyable to work
with or the job is too weird, difficult, or bizarre for our crews - then I
simply turned the job down. Last week I returned a check for $55,000 because
the customer was not going to be fun or pleasant to work with once
you young wrenches get to your mid fifties and you will start to
realize - you only have 10 to 20 years to do the work you love before
they wheel you out to the solar wrenches home or recycle you to mother
earth.
If somebody buys the equipment from someone I
charge a minimum amount in advance at $85 for one man or $110 for two men.
All quotes are based strictly on time. The meter starts running from the time I
leave the shop at $65 per hour travel time both ways. The meter runs
as long as I am at the job. I give an honest estimate of the time but
if it takes longer than expected they pay for the meter. All parts that I
have to add or have with me that they are missing are charged at
the full retail price. If I have to travel back from an island to get parts
that they didn't have or forgot about, the meter is ticking at $65 per
hour. We charge a minimum of 880 dollars per day for 2
men.
The only time it has not worked out well is when we
are on a mosquito and no see em bugs and our guys work 12 to 14 hours a day to
get off the island. When you work for somebody that has ordered all the
equipment all your time should be pure profit and get cash in advance for travel
there and back, food, meals, and the estimated job time in advance, with a clear
understanding that if the job goes over the estimate, the customer knows the
meter is running on their tab. Any time the client wants to stop or go forward
is up to the client.
Solar energy is heaven sent but if you want to
have a bright future, then you want to charge for the added value you bring
to any situation there are only 2 things that are worth money- your time, and
your knowledge. That's where the real value is added.
Just make sure you stay agile, mobile, and
confident enough to turn down jobs from a client from hell. Sometimes you
need to get our your bullshit detector to overcome the need for money with
clients who are worse than dealing with a rattlesnake. It is ok for a client to
be crazy, weird, or eccentric as long as they can pay their bills and they are
fun to work with. You might need to get references from other contractors that
they have worked with to determine if you want to work with them. It works both
ways. A client wants your references, If I think they are difficult then I
expect them to give me references of contractors they have worked with. The bird
is on the wing, just make sure when the eagle flies it lands in your pocket on
green pieces of paper.
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