shhh, it's a secret...

[pgriz]

That's not the way to look at it. Will the increase in business that will result if you participate, cover your desired salary, benefits, and other overhead contributions with sufficient profit to make it interesting? If yes, it becomes a no-brainer. If not, then there's no economic justification. The key, at least with small businesses, is to bring to the table something that will increase the revenues by a large enough margin.

 

[jowensphoto]

^That's the thing. I barely profit now. It would mean driving further and more out of pocket for health benefits.

 

[Mully]

Think of it as an investment in your future .... shoot some on the side to offset the difference. Set a goal for yourself of how long you would work there.

 

[pgriz]

^That's the thing. I barely profit now. It would mean driving further and more out of pocket for health benefits.

Perhaps I'm not understanding the situation, but if you are applying to join an existing (small) business, then the calculation the owner needs to make is whether by hiring you, they will increase their revenues by enough to cover the cost of your salary, your benefits, overhead associated with you, an overhead contribution towards the global overhead, and enough of a profit margin to make the risk associated with the hire to be interesting. Someone who can bring new business to an enterprise is always more valuable than one who essentially works in a production capacity (no increase in revenues, but an increase in costs presumably justified by new efficiencies elsewhere). Would you be in the capacity to generate new business?