re: Starting a Fencing and Decking Company

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Only decking I do is at Sonic, motherfricker

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Well timed.

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How much would you have to tack on to your ICs price to make a profit and cover your overhead? 30,40%?

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I don’t bid anything less than 20% over job cost.
that will leave me 10-15% after overhead

anything less than that I’d be better off staying home

Right so if OP is hiring you to do the job, he will have to upcharge at least an additional 20% to turn a profit.

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I did not get a nasty note so I feel good about that.

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I love it when I get the post quality review page and can still post,, I think to myself ANOTHER D - YES !!!!

2 things that affect that market and besting your competition (other than pricing):

1. Customers know what they want it to look like, but sometimes can't convey it. You have to pull it out of them. Don't leave it to them to direct you; educate them while doing that extraction of what they really want. I've never figured out why some people/companies think it is a bad thing to ask a question of their customer.

2. Scheduling and time from lead to job start. Most just want you there quickly. Some have a really specific window they want you there. My advice is start your quotes on a FIFO basis. And when it comes time to specific scheduling, if asked for, then add a premium. There's no shame in charging for something that wreaks havoc on your planning and could affect other customers. Just explain it that way. If they want it bad enough, and you're upfront (with adequate explanation) they'll pay.

Couple other things I've noted:
- educate yourself on cement. I've seen lots of wasted time waiting on posts to set. Set posts one day, come back the next. In some cases unnecessary; in others it affects quality. One thing about cement is that it is great in compression, horrible in tension (or shear). A post hole is in confined (by definition) compression. Is aggregate really worth your (or your crew's) time? What about obtaining, storing, and hauling? Why buy sackcrete when you can use straight Type I/II

- Some gimmicks seem to work as long as A) they work and B) you get them in front of the customer. One example is that a company I know uses brass staples instead of screws or nails and fastens them with the grain. That's because they embedded below the surface and you don't see "holes" and they also prevent rust/bleed stains years down the road. The imagery in a brochure is pretty obvious and easy.