Help This Accident Disabled Amputee To Restart Electrical Service Business
by Glenn Holland
Although I have no military experience, I have over 15 years of management experience. The disability chapter in my life started when I hit an 18-wheeler head on. I had fallen asleep at the wheel going home from work after working a double shift. I fought a losing battle with an infection in my left leg. My doctor told me it would be best if I had it removed below my knee. So it was June 4, 2011. I was granted disability March 2011. We are struggling because I am used to making $3500 - $4800 a month, not $1258. Every month my bank account is overdrawn because of our bills. When there are six people in a household it is hard to cut stuff out. My wife has looked for a job but with no luck. We only have one vehicle, because I sold mine just to buy Christmas gifts for our kids. I don't like the change. I want my life back, making the kind of money I used too! I worked full-time in and out of jobs up until I had to get on disability. I had no choice since I had an infection in my left heel. My doctor had done extensive testing on it to try and get rid of the infection so that he could rebuild my left foot. I was a high risk for the companies that I worked for. Then I asked the company that I was currently working for if they would let me go part-time, and they agreed. But March 1, 2011 they backed out and let me go. Since that date I've been unable to get work. And I had to find insurance that would pay for my surgery that was scheduled on June 4, 2011. I found one and soon had my lower left leg taken off. That put a hold on my wife getting a job, because not only did I need her help but our baby girl needed her. Although I was doing a home-based business, it was not paying off because I did not have the extra funds to invest in advertisements. But I still worked at it hoping it would bring in money. I am allowed to make $1,000 a month, according to my SSI/Disability worker. We still do the online business but it is just breaking even. Now that we've moved back to Haleyville from Florence, people that I did electrical work for in the past have contacted me about doing work for them again. I told them it all depends on if I could get the funding needed to start my business back up and run it the way I used to. My credit is bad due to being in and out of jobs because of my existing injury. I was a high risk those employers said. I am looking for a business grant of $85,000 to get my electrical service back up and running. If I could do this, I'd have my entire town back as customers, guaranteed! I would use the money to purchase the necessary equipment, license, insurance and hire an employee. This would be a re-opening of the very same electrical service business I started in 1998 and then closed in 2002 to work for a larger company for the medical benefits. Now my old customers want me back! Here are some of the numbers connected with the business: Labor Rates $30 an hour during regular times 8 am - 5 pm $50 an hour outside regular times 5 pm - 8 am $1.95 a mile vehicle charge Material Markups 35% for up to $100 30% for $101 - $500 25% for $501 - $1000 Added Services Generator installation Holiday decorating Troubleshooting PLCs, drives (my specialty) The state of Alabama approves all the charges, because I called and asked. I have 15+ years in management: retail, food industry, manufacturers and the electrical construction industry. When I first went into business, I made $55,000 in the first six months all because of the quality of my work and prices. Alabama will reinstate my license if I send in my old business license and a fee. I have disused this with the electrical contractors board.
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