Queit here

[Bill]

Gosh, it's been pretty quiet here.

[Stormin Mormon]

Some of us are working.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

Gosh, it's been pretty quiet here.

[Bill]

Okay, I was just checking to make sure you were all right. I'll go back to playing with my shovel and pail of drywall compound.

Bill

[Stormin Mormon]

Fine, thanks. Up to my eye sockets in debt, thanks to NYS and the various liberals around the nation.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

Okay, I was just checking to make sure you were all right. I'll go back to playing with my shovel and pail of drywall compound.

Bill

[The Daring Dufas]

We're working our little/big heinies off. I get in at night and can barely walk because everything hurts. My hair hurts, my toenails itch and my eyeballs are squeaking. Exhaustion is kicking my butt. O_o

TDD

[Stormin Mormon]

Wish we lived closer, I'd offer to come and help.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

We're working our little/big heinies off. I get in at night and can barely walk because everything hurts. My hair hurts, my toenails itch and my eyeballs are squeaking. Exhaustion is kicking my butt. O_o

TDD

[The Daring Dufas]

I appreciate the offer but HVAC is not all I work on. I do have a friend who's working on putting us together with a bunch of other guys to exclusively handle a restaurant chain's maintenance but most of what I've been doing is electrical power, telecom and data systems. Today we were installing a new Cat5 cable to hook up a thin client in a retail store which required a scissors lift and a lot of crawling around on the floor and ladder climbing. Tomorrow I have to install power to a RedBox DVD rental kiosk, I installed the outdoor breaker box a couple of weeks ago and the kiosk needs to be hooked up tomorrow. The job was scheduled for Monday but we have another call requiring us to drive 60 miles to another town to survey moving a telephone system demark at a large retail store. Me and JH had to take yesterday off because we were exhausted and in so much pain. We've been looking for a young guy around

50 years old to help us climb around in ceilings for pulling wire. O_o

TDD

[Steve]

I can't help it if you don't charge enough....

[Bill]

Keep it up and I'll go door-to-door doing free capacitor checks with my new multi-meter. And I'll replace any that are performing at less than

90% of spec for $120, all parts and labor included. : )

[Stormin Mormon]

Wow, you're expensive!

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

Keep it up and I'll go door-to-door doing free capacitor checks with my new multi-meter. And I'll replace any that are performing at less than

90% of spec for $120, all parts and labor included. : )

[Bill]

LOL! : )

[Bill]

I won't lower my rates! I charge fair pay for the work done.

[Steve]

Let me know how bankruptsy court goes for you... especially after you get the attention of the local inspector.

[Bill]

Is it against the law to replace capacitors for folks? I wouldn't claim to be a licensed A/C tech or that I can fix an A/C. I would just claim that I can replace a capacitor. I decided I should charge $20 to check them, but I would include that in the $120 if one needed to be replaced.

[Bill]

Steve, Where would be the rule which says I couldn't go door-to-door trying to make contracts with people in the manner I've suggested? I live in what is technically a rural area and the county level is the lowest governmental-level that might be concerned. It's largely an academic question, but you've got me curious about the answer. I've mentioned before that I had some interest in "handyman" work. This seems like it could be more practical and more lucrative than many of my other options! I worked in sales for several years.

Bill

[Bill]

Since you are replacing a part, you don't need to pull a permit. How is the "local inspector" (county?) involved in contracts I might make with neighbors?

[Stormin Mormon]

But, how many customers do you get, with those kind of prices?

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

I won't lower my rates! I charge fair pay for the work done.

[amdx]

If you charge twice as much, you only need to get half as much work. Maybe a little less than half, some of your expenses will be lower. Mikek

[Stormin Mormon]

I have a theory on pricing. See if I can describe it in type writer art. Theory is that if you rate prices from low to high. Too low, and people don't believe you. Too high, and scare folks off. But, there is a middle range. Price low is on the left, and too expensive is on the right.

NUMBER OF CALLS COMPLETED * * * * *

• *

-------------------------------------------------- low high

ACTUAL INCOME * * * * * *

• *

-------------------------------------------------- low high

The point is, by being "high but fair" you get fewer # of calls, but the $ income goes up. Also, you tend to weed out the cheapass time waster pretend customers.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

If you charge twice as much, you only need to get half as much work. Maybe a little less than half, some of your expenses will be lower. Mikek

[Steve]

You are operating a business, and that has several things that go along with that... check with your city, county, and state for the requirements of operating a business... oh, and don't forget the feds when it comes tax time... sole propriator tax rates run 28% - 30% just for federal. Check on licensing.. HVAC? electrical?... city, county state.....business, professional, etc., then there is sales tax... the state has to get their pound of flesh, liability insurance... if you work on a system, you own it. if their house burns, it won't matter how or why... your gonna get called on the carpet for it. There is a lot more to it than just running around with a meter and replacing capacitors. Now go do your homework and find out what your really getting into.

FWIW, I am in a rural area in south Mississippi. I live in the county seat... only 2200ppl. The closest "city" is 10 miles away.