Bob, when and if you try the business thing again, don't do it as a one man show...Young guy I know, Electrician, starts his own business a year and half ago, after being a foreman for a big company for several years (union).. well, he def. does not want the work 80, get paid for 40 routine, so he goes out, lines up a chit load of union work, makes his co. a union shop, hires 3 guys he knows, bills them out at a hundred + per hour, and works about 3 days a week himself, so's he can fish
... I think he's up to 4, maybe 5 guys now.. work keeps piling in.. he ain't payin' them a hundred per hour, that's for sure... he only hires guys he knows.. most of them like to fish, so, they are agreeable to working 4- 10 hour days, or the occasional 3-13 hour day, weeks.. so works well for all.. a good formula, and better than the one man show. He primarily just lines up the jobs, estimates, billing, and collecting and such.
Good luck in your endeavors.