Average Anual Income For Service Truck

[electriciansnet]

Thank you all again! I hope the recipients of my business plan are as receptive as you guys.
The first one to hear of my plan was the brother of a good friend of mine a who has made his way in the propane biz. He actually contacted me requesting I put the plan in writing.
Most of the need for the financing is for the ads.
All I know is that if i apply as much energy to a new, more receptive market (service) I'm bound to get a better return. I have spent the past few years bidding commercial jobs all night long and doing PM work in the field all day just to put the Marie Callenders on the table for my son and me.
I've won a few Dollar Tree Stores and my guys just finished one near Disney. I barely got my cost back on it and this bid was negotiated for a few days. Don't get me wrong- I've had some pretty good retail hits even in this economy but overall the return is just not there at least not for me anyway. But this is what we do, right? We all deserve a pat on the back for still having our doors open!

 

[Flippy]

I have my NC Unlimited License and my Florida EC. I want to start a residential and commercial service business in south Florida. I have been qualifying someone else for a long time and they are not doing very well. They also won't listen and seem to make what I believe to be a lot of mistakes both technically and business wise. I'm no business expert, but I do have a few college business classes under my belt.

I used a cost of business calculator and with a 20% profit margin (and I don't think I begin to have all of my expenses added in) I need to set my flat rate book with $212 per hour as a minimum. If I want the company to grow (which I do) then I think I have a lot more to add.

I have several friends that are contractors and they are barely making ends meet with T&M. Any help with a business plan would also be appreciated. I know I will make mistakes along the way, but I don't want to repeat the ones my friends have made.

I guess my question after the long ramble is this. Do you think Nexstar and ESI are worth the money? Nexstar doesn't act like they want to talk to me because I'm a start-up. Is there anyone else you could recommend? Do you have any recommendations with help for the business plan? I had a business counselor, but that was going nowhere. Thanks in advance for any help or advice.