Life Sucks, Then You Move On

[JoeRaisin <joeraisin2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

Lost my job yesterday.  My regional ops mgr and supervisor are lobbying
to get that decision reversed but I'm not holding my breath.

I'm receiving a military pension which helps in one regard but that
almost entirely offsets unemployment...

Filed a DBA (Doing Business As) today for low voltage wiring and I'm
picking up liability insurance Monday.  I have a few questions.

I am NICET Level II Certified and hold a Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty
Technician License.

1. What's covered under a non-compete clause?  I won't be installing
alarms but am planning on trying to subcontract low voltage wiring for
sprinkler companies.  Mainly (I hope) it will be phones, TV, network
cabling - things like that (I don't know enough right now about sound
system cabling but I'm a quick study if it comes to it).

With my license I can do NFPA Fire Alarm Inspections and am told (by
someone who may or may not know what they are talking about) that as
long as I don't solicit current customers of my former employer it isn't
a problem.

2. I know it varies from region to region but how would you guys go
about estimating a wiring job?  By the foot?  By the estimated hours?
By the number of drops?  All of the above?  Money up front or bill later
or a combination?

As for contacting builders - I was thinking about doing a sort of
'resume' thing that details my background, training and what services I
offer and visiting builders in person.  Any suggestions?

3. Business cards - I googled free business cards and came up with tons
of sites - have any of you used such a thing and do you have any
recommendations?  Simple/fancy - what info should be on them?

4. Supplies - I know I can get wire at Home Depot or the local
Electrical Supply house - what other options might there be?  I've
worked with enough cheap wire before to know I want to use a decent
product so are there any brands I should avoid?

I know these may be basic and perhaps dumb questions but I've never had
to deal with such things before and I have to admit I'm still a little
befuddled and off balance - pretty sick to my stomach as well.

Is there anything else I should be considering?  I am totally a fish out
of water here but, being in Michigan, there's a lot of folks lining up
for 7 buck an hour night stock jobs so, while I do plan on looking for
something, and who knows - this might work out.  Regardless, I've got to
do something or we don't eat.