[99Kilowatt]

After 30 years of being an electrical contractor I want to grow my company.
I am turning down 50% of the business coming my way.
I want to hire elec. techs and manage jobs and service calls.

Anyone know of a publication outlining a practical business plan for a service oriented business.? I am not interested in buying expensive software.

I am a very good electrician. I have never taken a business management course. I see guys like plumbers, painters etc. with trucks and techs.

I am ready for the next level.

 

[btharmy]

Since I haven't seen Cletus or rewire around lately, I would probably talk to flyboy and 220/221.

 

[Rollie73]

The business ideas/info that I see here from flyboy seems to be all top notch info. I myself have taken his words as gospel and put a couple of ideas into play at my own shop.

Thanks flyboy.:thumbup:

 

[Chris1971]

PM Flyboy. He is a wealth of knowledge and he has a lot of great ideas that might help you out.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

After 30 years of being an electrical contractor I want to grow my company.
I am turning down 50% of the business coming my way.
I want to hire elec. techs and manage jobs and service calls.

I think that is great. I wish you the best luck.

Anyone know of a publication outlining a practical business plan for a service oriented business.? I am not interested in buying expensive software.

I can understand your reluctance to buy "expensive" software. IMO, you will need some software to help. The bigger you plan to get, the more you will appreciate good software.

I am a very good electrician. I have never taken a business management course.

That does not bode well for success. You should consider a course or two.

I see guys like plumbers, painters etc. with trucks and techs.

I am ready for the next level.

Did you ask those guys?

:laughing: Be careful what you wish for, :whistling2:

 

[99Kilowatt]

I'll let you folks know how it turns out. I am too old for crawling. Tired of hacks under bidding me.
I am too smart to not find what I need.

30 years in business. I must be doing something right.

 

[sbrn33]

Would ES2 help him?

 

[macmikeman]

I don't know if the EKR forum is still around, but a member named LA electrician or something close to that wrote a 12 part guide that was pretty good. Try to get a hold of a copy of that thing.

 

[flyboy]

Would ES2 help him?

I've looked at it and if I were just starting out I would definitely use it. :thumbsup:

The only reason we don't use it is because we've been heavily invested in another software for 19 years and switching now is not practical.

Happy New Year Everyone!

 

[TOOL_5150]

I'll let you folks know how it turns out. I am too old for crawling. Tired of hacks under bidding me.
I am too smart to not find what I need.

30 years in business. I must be doing something right.

you sound like my boss.

 

[Lep]

why are you turning down work?
there are several trade temp agencies around the Bay Area, try using some of their people and get your feet wet supervising. the hourly fees paid to the agency can be expensive though

 

[macmikeman]

You need secret sauce:

 

[Semi-Ret Electrician]

After 30 years of being an electrical contractor I want to grow my company.
I am turning down 50% of the business coming my way.
I want to hire elec. techs and manage jobs and service calls.

Anyone know of a publication outlining a practical business plan for a service oriented business.? I am not interested in buying expensive software.

I am a very good electrician. I have never taken a business management course. I see guys like plumbers, painters etc. with trucks and techs.

I am ready for the next level.

IMO unless you have deep pockets and can afford to do flat rate pricing you almost have to charge service work by T&M. And, you have to have very good techs. If they don't actually permanently fix a problem you will have trouble collecting a fee or will have endless call backs and terrible PR.

Now the electronic servicing industry (radio & TV) folks used to just charge 1/2 of what the TV cost to replace it, no matter what the problem was, and seemed to thrive. I just could not bring myself to charge someone $500 to replace a receptacle cap (cheater cord).

 

[CraigV]

:laughing: Be careful what you wish for, :whistling2:

trvth

 

[Kryptes]

Start off a relationship with another slightly larger company. Instead of turning down work just borrow guys from a slower contractor until your more established to retain your own guys.

 

[robnj772]

IMO unless you have deep pockets and can afford to do flat rate pricing you almost have to charge service work by T&M. And, you have to have very good techs. If they don't actually permanently fix a problem you will have trouble collecting a fee or will have endless call backs and terrible PR.

Now the electronic servicing industry (radio & TV) folks used to just charge 1/2 of what the TV cost to replace it, no matter what the problem was, and seemed to thrive. I just could not bring myself to charge someone $500 to replace a receptacle cap (cheater cord).

:blink::blink::blink:

That just makes no sense.

Seems like you are just afraid to charge what you should.

T & M is for suckers!!!

 

[dronai]

IMO unless you have deep pockets and can afford to do flat rate pricing you almost have to charge service work by T&M. And, you have to have very good techs. If they don't actually permanently fix a problem you will have trouble collecting a fee or will have endless call backs and terrible PR.

Now the electronic servicing industry (radio & TV) folks used to just charge 1/2 of what the TV cost to replace it, no matter what the problem was, and seemed to thrive. I just could not bring myself to charge someone $500 to replace a receptacle cap (cheater cord).

:blink: Huh ???

 

[robnj772]

:blink: Huh ???

I'm still waiting for him to explain this.

 

[rewire]

Talk to Mr Sparky rep. He can set up for you to visit a franchise to see how it runs.If you have the capital to invest a Mr Sparky franchise is the way to go. Even if you choose not to buy in just looking will give you an idea of what it takes to be profitable.

 

[The_Modifier]

I've looked at it and if I were just starting out I would definitely use it. :thumbsup:

The only reason we don't use it is because we've been heavily invested in another software for 19 years and switching now is not practical.

Happy New Year Everyone!

What software do you use?