OP
Dave 85
It's weird because I know a few self employed sparks, all in their 20's and they've all been pretty much flat out for years. I've been running my own business for about 3 years and in the last 2 have also been plenty busy. I do a lot of day rate work, £200 a day until Jan 2012 when I put it up to £225. Whenever I see my mate, he always goes on about how Im far too cheap and he can't believe I work for so little. He turns over £150k+ every year and generally has 1 mate working for him.
I understand that the guys who are really struggling for work have gotta do whatever it takes to keep the money coming in but I know there are people out there who feel that if they are making any profit on materials they are ripping people off.
The guy I used to work for used to get absolutely loads of work, have 2 of us working for him full time (he was only 22-24 yrs old at the time), but he wouldn't charge any profit on our labour or materials because he saw it as stealing (he used to charge the apprentice out at £50 per day and then give him £50 cash!!?) He's now bankrupted his company, is working as an electrician/labourer for builders he knows, has no vehicle, is not registered and declares no earnings and every week is a battle to keep his house from getting repo'd, but at least his conscience is intact....Its F'ing madness.
My point is: You run a business to make a profit. Not just a salary.
I understand that the guys who are really struggling for work have gotta do whatever it takes to keep the money coming in but I know there are people out there who feel that if they are making any profit on materials they are ripping people off.
The guy I used to work for used to get absolutely loads of work, have 2 of us working for him full time (he was only 22-24 yrs old at the time), but he wouldn't charge any profit on our labour or materials because he saw it as stealing (he used to charge the apprentice out at £50 per day and then give him £50 cash!!?) He's now bankrupted his company, is working as an electrician/labourer for builders he knows, has no vehicle, is not registered and declares no earnings and every week is a battle to keep his house from getting repo'd, but at least his conscience is intact....Its F'ing madness.
My point is: You run a business to make a profit. Not just a salary.
