January 3, 2011

How do you manage your small trade business in regards to demand?

By Planet Wealth

My husband has his own company and works on his own. He is an industrial electrician for the printing industry. The excellent thing is he has a monopoly on his market and is in high demand most of the time (the minute he thinks there is no work it comes flooding in). The terrible thing is that everybody wants their machine fixed asap as with the printing industry down time means no money. Lately he has been working an average 10 hour days, often not stopping for lunch in his race to get to clients across the city. I have told him in the past that he must stop for a break and to cut back on his hours as physically it is starting to take it’s toll. He is so exhausted at the end of the day he comes home and falls asleep on the sofa. More than anything I am worried he will have an accident due to his being so tired. I have told him in the past to say no to some of the work and to pass it on to the large more expensive international company that also does the same kind of work. But everyone prefers to use him because he is cheaper (and really cannot afford to increase his rates as he doesn’t have the skills and resources that the large company does). He doesn’t want to use an apprentice as he is worried about if there are slow times and he won’t be able to pay them and the dread they will steal his clients. Plus he doesn’t reckon he will find anyone reliable enough (my brother in law has tried to train people several times in his trade and they keep running off. It seems young people are not as keen these days to get their hands dirty). How can he manage his time and days better?
Thanks for that advice, but he has no competitors in our city, so there is no one else that will take over the job, including the huge company who will not contract for him (but amusing enough he contracts to them sometimes). Sometimes he even has to travel interstate to do jobs.
Also I reckon he is charging extra, but it is the fact that there is so much work it makes no difference. He needs a system where he can manage it and himself without losing his health.

Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

One Response to “How do you manage your small trade business in regards to demand?”

  1. SOUTH LAKE Says:
    January 3rd, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    First of all , he needs to stop for lunch or he will be sick . When I say stop , I mean take 15 minutes to sit down and eat , not drive with a burger on your lap . A 10 hour day will become 10 hours and 15 minutes , but he will feel much better .

    His skills must be in demand and if the print shops know him , like his service , and he has a monopoly, they will be glad to pay a small extra if he keeps their presses running .

    The print shops charge their customers extra if they want a rush order with a priority deadline and they will know the concept because their livelihood depends on his service. If he charges a few extra dollars for a job that requires extra hours , he can contract with someone to do the extra job for him.

    If 70 hours of work needs to be completed in a week , he needs to contract the additional 20 hours to someone and limit himself to 50-55 hours .

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