You make it sound as if the cost to run a one-man, home-based, low-keyed electrical business out of a van would be similar to managing a 50 employee, industrial/commercial electrical contracting company. You must think I?m pretty gullible and maybe I fit that description but I figure as long as someone doesn?t fill that niche, the shoddy work you?ve been seeing will continue because the average homeowner can?t justify paying for your overhead.
What about that overhead? You mentioned a parts inventory. Let?s see. You buy them at wholesale, for convenience sake you store them in your van or at home until needed, then charge a premium to your customers when you use them. The only cost you have is the storage space and that?s paid for by the markup. If not, then you need to re-evaluate your processes. So you?ve got a van and a few tools. If a job comes up requiring more specialized equipment, you rent it and bill it in to the job.
I run a small part time farming operation. I manage that farm entirely on its own and do not support that operation using income from my regular job. I am quite certain that my cost in equipment, tools, and land is considerably higher than it would be to run the kind of small time electrical operation I?m talking about. Despite my overhead costs, I don?t charge anywhere near $100/hr. when I contract myself out. I'm not going to get rich doing it but I'm satisfied. I'm too old now to consider changing careers and obtaining my masters so all I can do is offer my opinion - good, bad, or otherwise.
We have a local doctor that opened a small clinic and chose not to seek the high salaries typical of your average doctor. Instead, she?s more interested in providing a service to people because she cares more about people and integrity than about the almighty dollar. She also reduces paperwork and costs by not filling out and submitting insurance claims. She leaves that responsibility to her customers where it belongs. Her price for an office visit make it much more affordable for people that have little or no insurance to obtain medical care. She takes it a step further and offers something you rarely see anymore ? house calls. Wow, a doctor that provides a service, is not out to get rich, and knows her customers by name and not by their insurance policy number! Who would-a thunk?
I?ve read plenty of boasting on this site about how lucrative the electrician?s career can be. Maybe it is well deserved because unlike us farmers you are highly trained, educated, and specialized but it seems to me that if you guys really cared as much about safety and quality as you claim; the greed factor could be set aside once in a while to help the average person afford your high costs, especially those on fixed/low incomes. Nobody?s asking you to work for nothing. We all know you are well paid for what you do but is it always necessary to be well paid?