How much should I be making?

[celtic]

Look I think his trucks look cheesy and I never liked the Sparky thing, Like a plumber called leaky yeah I want him working on my house. Not my thing, I am not envious, I just do not think it is professional sounding or looking.

The plumber is called Ben...Benjamin Franklin:

 

[aline]

Look I think his trucks look cheesy and I never liked the Sparky thing, Like a plumber called leaky yeah I want him working on my house. Not my thing, I am not envious, I just do not think it is professional sounding or looking.

I too find a lot of advertising and marketing cheesy. It really doesn't matter what I think though. What really matters is what works.

I can come up with a company name, advertising, marketing material and truck graphics that I think are proffesional sounding and look great but if it doesn't work what good is it?

The important thing is to find something that works. If it works who cares if it's cheesy?

I would rather have cheesy advertising that works and gets the phone to ring than advertising that I think looks professional but leaves me wondering if my phone is working.


I would never have thought to name a company "The Geek Squad" and have technicians running around with badges but someone did and I think they're a genius. Others may think it's cheesy.

 

[bradleyelectric]

Others may think it's cheesy.

It is cheesy. It just happens to be making some a boat load of money. I see certain colors a lot with orginizations that put a lot of money into research. I see a cheesy idea myself.

 

[brian john]

The important thing is to find something that works. If it works who cares if it's cheesy?

I would rather have cheesy advertising that works and gets the phone to ring than advertising that I think looks professional but leaves me wondering if my phone is working.

I CARE, I am one of the best at what I do I have a reputation to uphold and in my end of the business I want to look like the professional I am not some comical mouse running with an extension cord (which I have seen).

23 years and counting I get by because people know me and what they get when they get me and my company not my trucks

 

[aline]

I CARE, I am one of the best at what I do I have a reputation to uphold and in my end of the business I want to look like the professional I am not some comical mouse running with an extension cord (which I have seen).

23 years and counting I get by because people know me and what they get when they get me and my company not my trucks

What works in the residential service and repair business may not work in your end of the business. They're not the same and the advertising and marketing shouldn't be the same either.

All I'm saying is that marketing and advertising should make the phone ring and if it doesn't you're throwing money away and need to find something will make it ring. It would appear to me that Mister Sparky found that something. So much so that other companies are willing to pay him for it. Not too shabby in my opinion.

 

[ronball]

wages

wages

My son and I run our electrical business. I took him in 4 yrs. ago out of the union. he runs most of our jobs, etc; i bid and would rather work in field. We have a great father and son relationship. maybe that is where the problem lies. I pay him the same as I pay myself and we spilt differnt profit lines. IF JOBS MAKE GOOD PROFITS WE PROFIT ALSO. Your company has to make money to pay more wages. I think you should make 4-5 dollars more than employees at the very least. You are family, and we take good care of ours.
Work hard , run a tight ship and put more in the company pot. Ron

 

[aline]

My son and I run our electrical business. I took him in 4 yrs. ago out of the union. he runs most of our jobs, etc; i bid and would rather work in field. We have a great father and son relationship. maybe that is where the problem lies. I pay him the same as I pay myself and we spilt differnt profit lines. IF JOBS MAKE GOOD PROFITS WE PROFIT ALSO. Your company has to make money to pay more wages. I think you should make 4-5 dollars more than employees at the very least. You are family, and we take good care of ours.
Work hard , run a tight ship and put more in the company pot. Ron

You're not trying to get this thread back on topic are you?

 

[tonyou812]

I think a lot of you are underestimating the value of clever marketing. Look at the Geek squad. I personally think its brilliant what they have done. Do you think they would have the same noteriaty if their logo was a cheap Nebs magnet on the side of their trucks? People can immediatly identify with who,what they are the minute they see the Bugs and Vans. This also gives the consumer a sense of confidence in their purchase. I can go on with this but ill keep it short.

 

[brian john]

I think a lot of you are underestimating the value of clever marketing. Look at the Geek squad. I personally think its brilliant what they have done. Do you think they would have the same noteriaty if their logo was a cheap Nebs magnet on the side of their trucks? People can immediatly identify with who,what they are the minute they see the Bugs and Vans. This also gives the consumer a sense of confidence in their purchase. I can go on with this but ill keep it short.

And my point is WOW, great trucks great advertising, and all the folks I have discussed their service with were dissatisfied*, not saying anyone else may have made them happy BUT service is more important than FLUFF and in the long run reputation is what's important. And if it ain't then we as a trade are doomed, to an influx of Barnum and Baily type sales, all hype no substance.

*An unscientific sampling of an EC and 2 different friends plus my wife (which really carries the weight).

It would seem to me that a good reputation and word of mouth would be your number one concern. The few residential contractors I work for do more with reputation than advertising and truck wraps. Now they are not huge contractors but for the most part they are still working.

 

[aline]

And my point is WOW, great trucks great advertising, and all the folks I have discussed their service with were dissatisfied*, not saying anyone else may have made them happy BUT service is more important than FLUFF and in the long run reputation is what's important. And if it ain't then we as a trade are doomed, to an influx of Barnum and Baily type sales, all hype no substance.

*An unscientific sampling of an EC and 2 different friends plus my wife (which really carries the weight).

It would seem to me that a good reputation and word of mouth would be your number one concern. The few residential contractors I work for do more with reputation than advertising and truck wraps. Now they are not huge contractors but for the most part they are still working.

Why can't you have great trucks, great advertising and great service?

Does having great trucks and great advertising automatically mean you have to have poor service and a bad reputation?

Seems to me you could have a great reputation and great truck wraps and benefit from both.

Great service is very important but you have to first get the opportunity to provide the great service. Great truck wraps, great advertising and marketing will help get you these opportunities.

Again, this depends on the type of work you're trying to get and how fast you want the company to grow.

 

[weressl]

My father is a licensed electrical contractor and owns his own business. I have an electrical contractors license also and I am his right hand man. I run pretty much all of the jobsites. He is a fulltime employee with the local power company therefore he rarely is ever on a job site other than to talk with me about the work that needs to be done. We have 3 other fulltime employees that i supervise. I call all of the shots on the job site. I do basically everything except getting the jobs, pricing, and billing the customer. I am located in Southeast Georgia. I have been working for my father for going on 7 years now but have only had my contractors license for the past 2 months. I am just curious what you guys think I should be making. I have been working for the same wages for a little over the past year and I think that the job i do is worth much more than I make. Up until the last 2 years I just done the manual side of the job. These days I do much more supervising and planning. My latest project was a 12 suite hotel/restaurant/bar that I handled almost completely on my own. What do you guys think?

Answers(not really):

1. As much as your wife could spend. (You will NEVER make that much.)
2. Did you ask your Dad?
3. Honor thy Father and Mother so thy years will be long and prosperous. On the other hand it is also the Parents obligation to treat their children well.
4. This should be a discussion between you and him. Perhaps there is a disonnect between you and him and I would work on that first, the rest of it will take care of itself. That relationship is more important than money.

 

[brian john]

Why can't you have great trucks, great advertising and great service?

Does having great trucks and great advertising automatically mean you have to have poor service and a bad reputation?

Seems to me you could have a great reputation and great truck wraps and benefit from both.

Great service is very important but you have to first get the opportunity to provide the great service. Great truck wraps, great advertising and marketing will help get you these opportunities.

Again, this depends on the type of work you're trying to get and how fast you want the company to grow.

I never said you couldn't what I said was I do not care for the truck wraps and the ONE name seem to me to be CHEESY.

IMO (read IN MY OPINION) anything with Spark in the name and electrical work DO NOT GO HAND IN HAND.

 

[brian john]

Actually the best resolution mention or at least grouped in the list below:

Answers(not really):

1. As much as your wife could spend. (You will NEVER make that much.)
2. Did you ask your Dad?
3. Honor thy Father and Mother so thy years will be long and prosperous. On the other hand it is also the Parents obligation to treat their children well.
4. This should be a discussion between you and him. Perhaps there is a disconnect between you and him and I would work on that first, the rest of it will take care of itself. That relationship is more important than money.

 

[aline]

IMO (read IN MY OPINION) anything with Spark in the name and electrical work DO NOT GO HAND IN HAND.

I agree.
It wouldn't be my choice either.

 

[brittle]

The comment about the bosses son is so true. I've seen it for years and included me too. My dad owned an electrical wholesale house in Los Angeles. I started working for him at 18 until I was 28 and never worked as hard as I should have. He is gone now but I wish I could apologize to him for not being a better example.


Very rough answer to the question. - $55K - $65K with some benefits plus a vehicle to drive.

 

[Drew Howard]

$$$$

$$$$

I do work in the area and I think you should make: $60,000.

My father is a licensed electrical contractor and owns his own business. I have an electrical contractors license also and I am his right hand man. I run pretty much all of the jobsites. He is a fulltime employee with the local power company therefore he rarely is ever on a job site other than to talk with me about the work that needs to be done. We have 3 other fulltime employees that i supervise. I call all of the shots on the job site. I do basically everything except getting the jobs, pricing, and billing the customer. I am located in Southeast Georgia. I have been working for my father for going on 7 years now but have only had my contractors license for the past 2 months. I am just curious what you guys think I should be making. I have been working for the same wages for a little over the past year and I think that the job i do is worth much more than I make. Up until the last 2 years I just done the manual side of the job. These days I do much more supervising and planning. My latest project was a 12 suite hotel/restaurant/bar that I handled almost completely on my own. What do you guys think?

 

[inspector141]

Kyle, no matter what you decide, just remember that your relationship with your Dad is 100 times more important than your salary or your job. If it ever gets to the point where your relationship is suffering than you need to discuss it and solve the problem or slowly back away. Your only 22, let your thoughts be known to your Dad and give it some time.

 

[jc]

Very Sad

Very Sad

being valued and respected doesn't pay the bills. my objective is to make as much money as i possibly can.

In that case, your future is indeed, very sad. Your objective is a never ending hollow vortex. It will never be enough.

You would be much better served in a job that yields a sense of accomplishment as well as a dose of fulfillment at the end of the day

 

[iwire]

In that case, your future is indeed, very sad. Your objective is a never ending hollow vortex. It will never be enough.

You would be much better served in a job that yields a sense of accomplishment as well as a dose of fulfillment at the end of the day

Sorry I work to live not live to work.

 

[weressl]

Sorry I work to live not live to work.

I agree, that's how it should be.

Do you prefer to have enjoyment from your work?