there is good money to be made in CT.
the key to getting jobs is not always being the lowest price.you have to sell yourself ,your skill,and your services.my partner used to freak out when we lost a job to someone else,i do not.i learned in the landscaping business long ago to bid accordingly.there is plenty of competition out there and you will not always get the jobs you bid and you will not always lose jobs because of being more expensive.
i have seen guys underbid a job and then comeback and ask the homeowner for more money.sometimes it happened,sometimes not.in CT i wouldn't count on it.
i told my partner not to give prices when he sees a job until i see it.he doesn't listen to well and he feels sorry for them.you can do this sometimes but not very often.they will rarely if ever feel sorry for you.this just happened today.he told someone a price and i went and looked at it tonight,my price is $1500 dollars more.he can do it for his price but i will not be on the job. he still sees dollar signs instead of time and labor factors.he is young and i hope he will learn.you have to look at a job long term and always expect anything such as equipment breaking,guys not showing up,weather,needing more equipment,the town or a neighbor getting involved,etc.if you want to make a profit,you have to put money IN YOUR POCKET! after everything else.
MY FREE TRUCK IS ALWAYS IN THE SHOP!