[Dale Wiley]

I see there was a similar thread, but I don't get asked the question.

I am really kicking around charging for that first site visit - pre estimate. My current sales close ratio is under 15%.

I am an experienced sales person, and knowledgeable in my craft. My area is experiencing a HUGE influx of wanna be's, that know just enough to take the market.

One actual contractor who has found that by lowballing, he gets a lot of work. He told me to my face, that he will beat any price myself or a couple of others put out there, and there's not a damn thing we can do about it.

He has done 40K of work that I quoted on.

The people buying new houses, upgrading etc, are so strapped for cash, that price gets anything now.

While I work on building my sports field business, I am taking our estimates down to 10% net profit. I still will be high, because I pay insurances, I pay more than minimum wage.

If I cannot pay myself better than the senior local parks workers get, and realize a profit on my investment, I am going to get out of everything except the public and muni work and sports work.

I would be interested in hearing what y'all have to say about this idea.

I am tired of not getting paid for my work and its going to stop.