So I'm doing contract work for a couple of telecommunications companies and I didn't realize how much I missed doing that type of work. The bad thing is, even at $25/hr, I don't get paid shit for it. Let me explain. I live in the Phoenix Metro area and that is a whole lot of area to cover. I'll get called out for a simple repair that I can bang out in under an hour. The problem is I would drive 45 minutes to the job, have no more work for the day so I end up driving 45 minutes back home. That's an hour and a half travel time that I don't get paid for and about 60+ miles that I don't get paid mileage. Do the math and I end up losing money on the job. That sucks. To add insult to injury the guy I work for questions every. Little. Thing. I. Do. Not only that but I've been called back to jobs that I've done because "something isn't working right". He then lectures me on the stupidest things about it. I've been in this trade for almost 16 years, I know what I'm doing. Anyway I get out to the job site and the problem was customer created. Vindicated bitch!
Now the whole point of this post is to say, I've decided to go into business for myself. Lets do the math on a job I did. The customer was charged about $1300 for parts and labor on a system install I did. I wired five locations, mounted the equipment, programmed the switch and did a little customer training... all within five hours. I zipped through it! The total cost of the equipment was probably around $300 for (allegedly) refurbished equipment.
$1300 Total Cost
- $300 Equipment
- $125 Contractor Charges (this is what I got paid folks!)
$875 Profit
Granted I know there is overhead, etc but it can't be too much because he runs the business out of his home.
Well I can run the same business out of my home too. Adding the Contractor Charges and Profit together you get $1000. That would be mine.
Yes, yes, I know I'm over simplifying it but the $875 difference in profit is enough for me to deal with running a one man business.
Now the whole point of this post is to say, I've decided to go into business for myself. Lets do the math on a job I did. The customer was charged about $1300 for parts and labor on a system install I did. I wired five locations, mounted the equipment, programmed the switch and did a little customer training... all within five hours. I zipped through it! The total cost of the equipment was probably around $300 for (allegedly) refurbished equipment.
$1300 Total Cost
- $300 Equipment
- $125 Contractor Charges (this is what I got paid folks!)
$875 Profit
Granted I know there is overhead, etc but it can't be too much because he runs the business out of his home.
Well I can run the same business out of my home too. Adding the Contractor Charges and Profit together you get $1000. That would be mine.
Yes, yes, I know I'm over simplifying it but the $875 difference in profit is enough for me to deal with running a one man business.
Deduct that shit in your tax return, Mr. Libertarian, and get your hard-earned dollars back.
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