Great article!
Nicely done!
I've observed some of these same actions in my years of job hopping to get the variety of surveying experience I wanted, along with the chance to observe how those businesses "do" the business of surveying.
From large firms to small, we as surveyors have a tendency to not pay attention to business details to this extent.
What I've observed over and over, is that we (the professional, or soon to be) "we", could greatly benefit from some small business/professional business training.
That would be a good start.
But, for setting an hourly rate that we can "live with" over time, and the budgetary know how to pull it off. Check out Michael Gordon's CPA website in Coos Bay Oregon for plenty of good information. He presented a full day seminar for a chapter of the PLSO here in Oregon on "Setting your professional hourly rate". One of the best days I've spent indoors listening to someone speak! He hit the nail on the head, over and over.
In his presentation, I saw every previous employer I had ever worked with. From the big firm, to the sole owner. The good and bad things they were both doing.
I haven't had time to go check his site lately, but he used to post some of his presentations on his website.
This article is a great follow up to his fee structuring advice!
Again, nicely done!