Inner Turmoil - Salaried Employee vs Self Employed 24

[cal91]

Reading through "First Solo Project"

https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=455362

prompted me to make this post. I was gonna write a comment but it got too big and I didn't wanna steal the thread.

I'm starting to get a little itchy to leave my current job and set out on my own.


Current Side Work

I do smaller non-competitive engineering on the side (wood, cold-formed steel, concrete, etc.). Currently I only have one client, an architect. I average around one $2000, 20hr, job a month through him. I think I can charge a lot more, but have no way of knowing. I do the work before or after work, and my employers know and approve of it because it gives me the required experience for my CA SE.
​

Current Employment

I work for a structural steel sub-contractor, have an $88k salary, great health insurance, 4% 401k matching (I put in 10%), and an ESOP. (My share of the company was valued at $13,000 last year, but after a bad year the ESOP is worth ZERO). Should I wait a year to see if the ESOP will get back before cashing out and leaving the company? My feeling is I shouldn't base my decision off the ESOP - in the end it won't make a big difference.

My employers say they want to have me in a leadership position in the future, and have had me listen in on calls with CEO and COO to train me to basically do what they do in the future. Our lead, senior engineer (~$150K), CEO and COO (~$250k+), and many others are going to retire in 5-10 years, so there's big potential for me. But work has been so slow this last year and still is currently. The ESOP is at zero because last year we had a couple horrible jobs and the company went from having $5M in cash to being $2M in debt.

Lately I feel I've just been wasting my time at work, as there's been nothing to do, so I end up making super awesome complex spreadsheets that I'll probably never use. It drives me crazy. It used to not be so bad because I could study for the PE/SE exams when there was nothing to do. A couple of times I've down work on side jobs when there's been nothing to do but it racks me with guilt so I try to not do that anymore, but I'll justify it in my head that my employer's paying me for my time to be in the office, and if the company has nothing for me to do then that's the risk their taking. I know that must be a bad attitude, and I should always be finding something to do. I just don't like wasting time and feel that if I was on my own I wouldn't have that dilemma. What do other employees do when there's nothing to do? I feel like it's gotta be a pretty common issue but either it bugs me more than most and I'm making a bigger deal of it, or no one else wants to talk about it.​

What to do next?

I'm 4 years out of college (master's degree). First couple years were not so slow, I was learning more, and working towards my PE, then my SE (just passed, but still need another year of experience to be licensed in CA). Now that I passed the SE exam, and work is slow I'm just feeling so itchy for the next thing. Maybe I need to talk to my boss about wanting a challenge to work towards, maybe I need to start my own business. I love the idea of being my own guy, fully responsible and in charge of my own income and not at the mercy of higher ups. Some of this comes from my Dad being a self employed contractor and growing up having the impression that employees were too scared to take risk to make more money and content with making okay money for having the security of a salaried job, while the business owner is the risk taker and more profitable and thus "better". I know that's flawed thinking and offensive and not true but it's in my head and I'm just word-vomitting and putting all my thoughts out there.

I've been thinking I should try to get more clients (I have a structural engineer mentor who is self employed, he says contractors are better clients than architects? ) I could pick up more side jobs until I can go off on my own, but I also don't want to not have anytime to be with my wife and kids, and I don't want to be dishonest with my current employer. I also don't have any E&O insurance, but my co-worker said that the companies E&O insurance covers any work we do on the side. That doesn't seem right to me though, and am wondering if I should get E&O insurance if I plan to do more sidework, or not worry about it until I'm out on my own. If I were to be on my own I'm not sure if I'd want to be my only employee or hire others.

I'm afraid of making the wrong decision. I don't know what I want more or what has more potential upside (be it money, satisfaction, freedom, spending more time with wife and kids, etc). I don't know what I'm going to regret not doing in 10-20 years. I don't want to work 15 more years making little more than I am now doing the same thing and being torn like I am right now, but I also don't want to quit my job and fail my start up, or realize the grass is not as green as it seemed from the other side, and realize I gave up a great opportunity at the company.​

Other pertinent info....

I'm only 27 years old but I also have a wife and soon to be four children plus a $220,000 mortgage (but no other debt) for a 1000 sf house we're quickly outgrowing (value of house is ~$310,000 and we've got $40,000 in savings, saving an additional $1000 a month). We're debating moving into a larger $450,000 2000sf house next year, but I'm unsure if we should do that if I'm thinking of starting my own business. My wife and I even think of leaving California to go somewhere less expensive, and probably would've by now if we didn't have all of our family in California (I've heard being a CA SE but living elsewhere can be a good deal). Just another decision tormenting me, but we'll probably stay in California - just tired of scrimping and saving with 10% retirement savings (+4% company match = 14% + ESOP), 10% tithing, and saving $500 every other week for starting business/buying bigger house.

Lastly, I hate sounding braggadocious but feel that I am an exceptional engineer and could be an exceptional business owner. I was top of my classes without having to put forth nearly the same effort as my classmates. Classmates always complained about how hard classes were and how much time they spent on assignments, and I never really struggled and was always able to complete assignments much quicker than they, and often got the highest score on exams. I passed the FE, PE, CA state exams, and SE all first try without feeling crammed on time. I did both parts of the SE simultaneously while having a wife, 3 kids, and doing side jobs and still didn't feel like I was over straining myself. I already feel more capable than the other engineer thats been working here for 15 years, and know my employers agree with that. I can get stuff done in a third of the time it takes other engineers, and I am thorough. I feel that my time would be so much more efficiently used having my own business and could potentially be very lucrative. On the other hand I know being an exceptional engineer doesn't mean an exceptional business owner, and my current job could also be potentially lucrative. But both also have potential vastly under performing expectations. I know after proof reading this paragraph how arrogant I sound and I hate it and don't talk that way in actual conversations.

Also is there no way to PM people on this site? It'd be nice to share some things privately instead of putting it all out on the internet for all to see.​

 

[KootK]

KootK: Regarding #4; you should join a local engineering society or two; solved the social problem for me quite nicely. Decent networking as well.

I appreciate the advice but, for me personally, I believe that the answer is different:

1) I think that tethering even more of my social life to engineering is to take me even further in the wrong direction.

2) I attend some business/entrepreneurial social groups which is also good networking and really helps me to develop in my weak areas.

3) I'm ramping up my involvement in cycling, music, etc as I really do think that it'll be healthy for me to focus more on non-engineering interests. As a man with considerable devotion to a non-engineering hobby, I know that you get this.

As much as I've loved and continue to love structural engineering, she's been a fickle mistress. I would not say that my rather intense affections have been consistently returned in kind. She's a looker, to be sure, but she still insists on seeing other people after all this time...

 

[KootK]

6) Consider what you'll not spend when you're self employed in addition to what you will or won't earn. Currently, I get to play some neat tax games, I drive very little, I eat veggies from the fridge instead of lunch out, and I only maintain two nice business outfits. I keep a good deal what I earn these days and that's been a boon. I'm also leaving a lot of money in the company rather than paying myself. There are some risks associated with that but my hope is that, the next time there's a big recession, I'll just keep on paying myself modestly and work 1/2 time or whatever for a year or two. Again though, one really has to have or develop a stomach for risk to be able to exploit these kinds of benefits.

 

[cal91]

How many hours a week do you currently work for your employer?

40. We've rarely had weeks busy enough for me to not be able to get whatever work is on my plate done in 40 hours. Hours are relatively flexible too. 6:30 to 3:00, or 8:30 to 5:00 with a half hour lunch break. Or 7:00 to 5:00 with a two hour break. Employers are pretty chill, have never felt breathing down my neck.

Are you salaried or hourly?

Salaried.

The mentor you mentioned, are they at the same company you are at?

No, I know him through church. He's probably 55 and has been self employed for 25 + years.

How much actual structural engineering have you done at the steel fab business? 4 years of steady structural work is different than 4 years of semi-steady work. If your main experience is only steel, that can handicap you some.

4 years of semi-steady work. I worked part time and full time summers for two years at another firm that dealt with all four materials. While my experience (albeit limited) and studying for the SE gives me confidence in my skill set, I know I would spend a lot of time learning as well.

How good are you at chasing work down or being creative at finding new clients?

Don't know, never tried. But I'm confident in my ability to learn, and am confident in my people skills (especially compared to your typical engineer).

You need to make your mind up first about staying in CA or moving. It is REAL hard to move somewhere that no one knows you and start a skill-related business. If you want to move, it may be wiser to first take another job with someone in the "more desirable" location and later start your own business there. Moving may cause you to lose good contact with your Mentor.

COL with a single income for wife + 4 kids is tough in CA, but I do not see us moving as a large possibility. We value being by family too much. Funny thing is everyone else in our family thinks the same way. We joke about all migrating to Idaho.

$2000 a month in side work is awesome, best of luck continuing this pace and growing

Thanks, that's all from one architect that my coworker was too busy to do work for, so he gave me the client. It makes me wonder if marketing and getting more clients wouldn't be too difficult.

Maybe I'm not completely understanding this, but if you aren't fully licensed yet, how are you providing the side services? Are you doing this work under another enigneer?

I should've clarified, I am PE licensed, just waiting for required experience to be SE licensed.

It sounds like you could benefit from staying at your current position (or similar position) a bit longer - those phone calls you're sitting in on with the CEO/COO are boosting your soft skills (see above regarding finding more work), and in your current position you're probably making contacts with future clients.

Yes, I think I am going to stick around for atleast the rest of 2019 to see how things go with the company, while also building up my side business.

On the other hand, if there's not a serious succession plan in place, this might just be where the company folds and you're kinda stuck holding the back (tough love, try not to be offended).

That's been a concern of mine... that the company is just gonna fold after the top dogs leave. Try not to be offended by who, the company? Not following your thought.

1) Frankly, I feel that you're at the perfect age and experience level for this. Firstly, if you succeed, you've got lots of time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Secondly, if you fail, you've still got plenty of time on the clock to get a cubicle job and climb the ladder. If I had it to do again, I wouldn't have waited a day past 35 and, preferably, would have been closer to 30.

2) I believe, right down to my bones, that risk aversion is the number one thing keeping people from maximizing their true potential. Particularly so in affluent places like North America where, truly, what's the worst outcome that could possibly result?

Yes, I agree with all of this. Going on my own has high risk, high potential reward. Staying does not have as high of risk (besides just company folding in a couple years), but still has very high potential reward. That's why I'm thinking of staying and reevaluating the company after several months.

When the OP talks about his companies plan for him (leadership role) that sounds like it would be just what he's looking for. Sure he wouldn't have started it and built it to what is is today, but he could take it to new heights. To Koot's point though, you better make damn good sure there is a good succession plan in place.

Yes it is what I'm looking for, I'm just impatient and need to see how it goes for a little while, and put forth effort into learning leadership/management/client relations from the CEO and COO. If the company starts turning around this next year, with me progressing into leadership, then I'll stay. If not I'll go

I'm probably one of the closer people to your situation who has recently jumped to the self-employed route. I'll definitely share my thoughts on how it's worked out for me and what my challenges were...

Ideally I need to start bringing in at least $10,000+ each month to make this truly worth it and I can definitely see me maxing out around $150,000 at which point I'll probably start bringing in other employees, which sounds great.

Thanks, all great advice and info. However that seems like a really small spread, $120,000 a year just to make it worth it, but at $150,000 ceiling before hiring others? I'd want to be able to make $200,000 without hiring others. No experience or data if it's doable, just what my goal would be.

-Since this is a forum filled with structural engineers, do you think we all communicate the same? Do you think we all value the same things to the same degree and in the same order?

Not sure what you're getting at with these questions, but no everyone communicates differently and values things differently.

-How much do you know about communication? Do you know how to converse with an Extrovert as compared to an Introvert? Do you know how to spot the difference? Do you know the difference in people (i.e. Clients) who make decisions based on Logic versus Feelings? Do you know how to spot the difference?

I actually have read a couple books on communication - Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, Jim Collin's Good to Great, and The Arbinger Institute's Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the box. While I won't say I'm an expert, and I will say I have much to learn, I think that this is one of my strengths as a person, especially as an engineer.

-You posted 3 days ago. You have not interacted with anyone who has responded to your posts. Some of the audience will be put off by that.
-I was the first to respond. I asked you 4 questions. You have not responded. Some of the audience would be put off by that. I was nice enough to take time out of my day to assist where I can, to some, you would not appear appreciative enough to at least respond.
-These thoughts are business. You must be able to assess who you are reaching out to, figure out how to most effectively communicate with them and then sell them that you are the solution.

I am sorry if you are some of that audience that is put off by me not responding in 24 hours. I put a lot of effort into my first post to give as much information as I could and needed some time after that to clear my mind and take a break. But I am very appreciative of everyone's posts.

Some additional thoughts en route to what I hope is a balanced perspective.

This post actually makes me realize that I do really have a good thing going, it's too early to turn away from it just yet. Great hours, potential and pay. I'm able to be home with my family a lot. I'm not stressed out (except for lately as I've been thinking about leaving). Don't get me wrong, if things don't pan out with the company I will not hesitate to start off on my own. In the mean time I'll just keep up with the side work, try and pick up a contractor as a client but still try to be a key player in my current company.

 

[KootK]

Try not to be offended by who, the company? Not following your thought.

On the other hand, if there's not a serious succession plan in place, this might just be where the company folds and you're kinda stuck holding the bag (tough love, try not to be offended).

I simply meant that I'd hoped not to offend you by my suggestion that your company might fold. Not everyone is mature enough to gracefully handle the suggestion that there may be a hole in their plans. As you've already considered this, though, it's surely not a big deal. I'm Canadian damn it. Excessive, disingenuous politeness is part of genetic heritage.

 

[cal91]

I simply meant that I'd hoped not to offend you by my suggestion that your company might fold. Not everyone is mature enough to gracefully handle the suggestion that there may be a hole in their plans. As you've already considered this, though, it's surely not a big deal. I'm Canadian damn it. Excessive, disingenuous politeness is part of genetic heritage.

Ha, no offense taken. Although normally I would not categorize you as excessively polite. You've been known to offend a poster or two through your passionate debates. Don't worry, I am not one of those and enjoy the debates, especially when I'm not in agreement with you as those are usually the most thought provoking ones.

And yes, I've considered the possibility of the company failing ever since I've been hired. If it happens, I'm not too worried. That'll give me the push I need to do my own thang.

On the otherhand, I do hope that I can play a large role in the company's success. Ideally I would make enough money and have enough job satisfaction to not even be tempted by side jobs.

My biggest concern is the middle ground, being on the fence (like I have been ever since I took me SE exam), and not progressing in the company. I don't want to be delaying my own business year after year because I think that NEXT year I'll be in a great leadership position, helping the company's success, the company actually WILL be succeeding, and I'll be rolling in dough, with reality being the company is getting by and I'm not in a leadership position but I'm comfortable enough to just stick with it and not really progressing much in leadership or pay, and still doing side jobs to afford some of the finer things.

 

[KootK]

You've been known to offend a poster or two through your passionate debates.

Yeah, no argument there. When I'm doing that, however, it is with purpose and quite against my nature. I did, however, spend my 20's in the US where I learned a few things about the benefits of direct, forthright communication. I'll always be indebted to uncle Sam for that. It practically makes me a predator up here.

 

[Ron247]

needed some time after that to clear my mind and take a break.

This statement is similar to what I mean by my comment. My critical comments are intended to be helpful. One of the more gut-wrenching things you will have to do as a business person is to communicate in a style that is not your preferred style but is your future Client's preferred style. At best, given a 100 random people in an audience, you will maybe communicate successfully with 25% or less. If you want something from me, communicate in my preferred style to have a better shot at success. Some people are really good at this but they got that way from practice.

You already being cognizant of the fact people communicate and react differently is a huge plus. You would be surprised how many people do not realize these two simple facts. If you have never taken a personality traits test such as Myers-Briggs or something similar, take one for a 80% glimpse into your preferred styles but more important than what your answers indicate, look at the vast percentage of people with different traits that are in fact your potential customers. There are several test of this nature on the Internet. You need at least a 40 question one to get a glimpse. There is no correct "style" of personality and regardless of style you can be successful at anything. The important thing is to know the differences, better ways to reach other styles etc.

You needing to clear your mind is a prime example of a trait some would not understand and others would fully support. If you read your customer would not understand, you have to force yourself to not take as much time to clear you mind. The shortened time frame would be gut-wrenching.

 

[Rabbit12]

cal91, I assume you have some sort of annual review. If so, I'd seriously consider discussing your future goals candidly with your reviewer or someone else in the leadership chain you trust. Tell them what you're looking for and make it clear that if you aren't seeing progress towards your goals then you'll be forced to entertain other opportunities. If you are as good as you're leading us to believe they won't want to lose you and they will find a way to help you prosper and grow.

 

[KootK]

Further to Rabbit's point, I'd go right for the throat and ask what reasonable expectations are with regard to succession planning. That, if you haven't done this already. I think that much of this will come down to will be what percentage of the company you own at present and how much you could realistically purchase if it were offered to you. As I mentioned before, the "leavers" are mostly likely cashing out to see their retirement goals realized. If you'll own 30% of the company when the leavers go, I see leadership in your future. If you'll own 4% at that time, then I see leadership at your firm in someone else's future. Perhaps even someone external. As you said though, you've got time and it makes nothing but sense for you to use that time strategically to increase the odds of your making a better decision.

Another model that might be attractive to you is to go out on your own but finagle things such that your current employer is your anchor client. That's not always an easy conversion to make but it's been done to effect by many in the past.

 

[KootK]

@Ron247: I feel as though you should probably be my business coach.

 

[Ron247]

Thanks KootK, Happy to help anytime. I have learned a lot from you in this forum and would always be humbled to reciprocate.

 

[KootK]

Sweet. If you could turn me into the Don Draper of structural engineering that would be satisfactory.

 

[Ron247]

Mad Men reference--3 Stars

 

[271828]

1) ...For me, the biggest challenge has been reconciling myself to what are, on average, lower caliber projects with lower caliber clients relative to how things were when I was a big dog at a big firm...

2) The flip side of #1 is that interesting business problems are plentiful and accessible to all entrepreneurs.

I've been transitioning over to running my own business.

The two issues quoted above are most definitely the biggest down-sides for me.

When I worked at a big firm, I worked on high-profile projects with fees with lots of zeroes. While getting a small firm up-and-running, I'd design an outhouse.

By #2, I assume you mean business and admin stuff. My advice to the OP is to take how long and how much you think you'll spend on admin, PE license, accounting, CoAs, and marketing and multiply them by about five. Those tasks can be a nearly full time job, and as a start-up, there's nobody else to do them. They're boring, tedious, and stressful.

 

[Ron247]

One of the worse things about a 1-person firm is how many hours you have to be putting in before you can hire another Engineer to grow your firm. In a 10 person firm, each person works 5% to 10% more time before someone decides to hire the 11th person. In a 1-person firm, you have to be working 50% to 70% more hours before you feel comfortable hiring the 2nd person UNLESS the 2nd person arrives with their own Clients.

When you add the Admin stuff in there that is difficult to get paid on, it really stresses you.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

A couple of quick notes about succession plans:
1) If it's not written down officially, then it's not worth anything.

2) Even if it's written down, I've seen things change. Your employer will do what's in their best interest. I've seen even someone I really respect wiggle their way out of a written agreement for 3% of the value of the company. The employee (this was not me) was given something less than 1% of the value of the company. His choice was a long, drawn out lawsuit, or to accept the 1%.

3) Succession plans go out the window (for the most part) if the company gets sold. This is what Mitt Romney's company did so well. They had a lot of companies come to them when the owner / operators wanted to retire, but didn't have a clear succession plan. Or, when they didn't believe they would be getting good value out of their succession plan. Romney's company would bring in new management or arrange for it the company to be purchased by a 3rd party... usually at a much higher price. Romney's company collected a nice profit. The former owners and their heirs got a better return for selling the company. All these people were happy..... But, I gotta believe there were some folks who THOUGHT they supposed to be part of the succession plan that ended up getting nothing.

 

[KootK]

By #2, I assume you mean business and admin stuff.

No, although I agree with all that you wrote. That said, the Scrooge McDuck / Big Data parts of me are gradually starting to take a liking to accounting/invoicing day.

I was really referring to what could better be described as business strategy. Thinking strategically about the future and pairing up resources with opportunities. MBA stuff -- an area in which I've been doing a lot of reading over the last few years. Two examples of ostensibly boring stuff that really wasn't:

1) I currently earn about $30K/yr, nearly passively, by virtue of work that I have done by others. Am I Warren Buffet? No. But I did this thing and the doing of it and seeing it blossom have been enormously satisfying to me.

2) I recently identified that construction engineering is sorely lacking in my area. So I've leaned how to do some and I've engaged a technician stolen from a firm that is, essentially, my only competitor. It's early days but this appears promising and is exciting.

My brother is a hotshot business guy and always was. He used to taunt me often about being an engineer saying "if you want to solve technical problems so badly, why not make those technical problems the making of money? That way you can get your tech rocks off AND get rich doing it". Frankly, he's right. Of all that I currently do, I believe that the space where I bring the greatest values is where I've paired up people needing work with work that is available. And that's a highly technical challenge:

- Identify a new/undeserved market and figure out how to speak to it (and have the balls to speak to it).
- Learn how do to the work.
- Learn how to do the work profitably.
- Teach someone else how to do it.
- Teach someone else how to do it profitbly (Ron's last point RE staffing).
- Figure out how to keep the guy doing it profitably from quitting.
- Return to step one with a new client without messing things up with the previous client.

The part of my work that is just doing the work is not a high value thing and, frankly, is much less glamorous than it was when I was cubicle bound. This is my point really. If you're going to go the entrepreneurial route, then you need to put your happiness egg in that basket. Hanging your shingle out and then delaying happiness until you're making billions and doing the next Burj Dubai is a recipe for suffering. If you're going to run a business, do that because you want to run a business. Don't do it because you like to engineer things and are sick of your manager.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

However that seems like a really small spread, $120,000 a year just to make it worth it, but at $150,000 ceiling before hiring others? I'd want to be able to make $200,000 without hiring others. No experience or data if it's doable, just what my goal would be.

I should clarify, $120k per year is my one-man shop goal but I expect it will probably vary from year to year. $150k is where I would consider hiring someone but you're right that realistically it should and could be higher. Also, some consideration for my local is in order; $200k out here in non-city New England is pretty good money. By my understand $200k in LA is not as much of a big deal. You should take my numbers and adjust them for cost-of-living. By a quick google search it's probably about a 40% increase. So, $120k = $167k and $150k = $208k.

If you have never taken a personality traits test such as Myers-Briggs or something similar, take one for a 80% glimpse into your preferred styles but more important than what your answers indicate, look at the vast percentage of people with different traits that are in fact your potential customers.

Good advice to be sure Ron but in my reading the Myers–Briggs is a pretty poor test with minimal repeatability and other issues. I personally don't hold much weight in the results of such tests. However the overall point to cal91 about different personalities and the conflicts that arise trying to market yourself to someone with conflicting personalities is entirely true in my experience.

Ian Riley, PE, SE
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, VT, CT, MA, FL) Structural Engineer (IL, HI)

 

[Ron247]

TME: I agree about the Myers-Briggs. That is why I call it an 80% at best "glimpse". I consider the results of the test but taking the test, getting a 4 letter description of your traits and then acting like it is the gospel is not very prudent. I agree you can take several of these tests and get different results. I always hit 3 letters the same and fluctuate at times on 1 letter. To me, as important is the numerical score for each letter designation. The scale is sometimes 0 to 100 for Extrovert and 0 to 100 for Introvert with both meeting in the middle at 0. An Extrovert with a 6 and a Introvert with a 3 are almost the same in that respect but an Extrovert with a 100 and an Extrovert with a 3 may be miles apart. So to me the results are misleading without also knowing the "severity" of the letter.

Attached is a chart I have shown people that helps them see the difference in what you battle. The percentages shown are for all 16 designations based on controlled tests people (or guinea pigs) have taken. I grouped the traits based on how you take in information and how you make a decision. I felt these most matched what I do for living. I am an "NT" on every test I have taken. Problem is, that is less than 10% of the people that were ever tested. The lucky "SF"s are 43%. It helps me to see my method of taking in information and making a decision as compared to the rest of the world. My numbers suck so I had to learn to adapt some. While no where close to an exact science, the letter designations do come from your direct answers. What Myers-Briggs claims this means is where people like us agree is nowhere close to an exact science.

[URL unfurl="true"]https://res.cloudinary.com/engineering-com/image/upload/v1562813347/tips/Pages_from_Problem_Solving_the_Ivory_Trident_Way_amroer.pdf[/url]

 

[IRstuff]

Bear in mind that your benefits in a typical salaried position is roughly 50% of your salary; when other things like rent, other overhead, management, etc., are included, your billable hours are worth 2 to 4 times your salary.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

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