Get paid for your work

Proper compensation begins with understanding your costs, defining a reasonable profit, knowing what charges your estimating system includes in each repair procedure, determining which additional charges you can be paid for and the best way to go about collecting your fair earnings.

Being in business is expensive. You incur costs before you even open the door. It costs money to get work done. It costs money to find new customers. It costs money to retain customers. There are also costs of capital, employee turnover and public relations. The list may seem endless and overwhelming.

But let's put this in perspective by reviewing a few business basics and then looking at ways …

Lightning-Devils Sums

Tampa Bay 1 0 2 0_3
New Jersey 0 2 1 0_4
New Jersey won shootout 2-1
First Period_1, Tampa Bay, Jokinen 3 (Recchi, Artyukhin), 16:28. Penalties_None.
Second Period_2, New Jersey, Clarkson 3 (Zubrus, White), 16:05. 3, New Jersey, Elias 4 (Zubrus, Gionta), 18:44 (pp). Penalties_Roberts, TB (elbowing), 10:35	Jokinen, TB (high-sticking), 18:02.
Third Period_4, Tampa Bay, Jokinen 4 (Meszaros, Recchi), 10:52 (pp). 5, New Jersey, Pandolfo 2 (Madden, Elias), 15:10. 6, Tampa Bay, St. …

Championship stars may feature in friendly

Bristol City will bring a strong squad to Twerton Park for afriendly on Tuesday night (7.30pm).

New Robins chief Derek McInnes plans to use the game as a chanceto run the rule over the side he inherited from Keith Millen, whowas axed last month.

That means the likes of former England keeper David James,pictured, and highly-rated frontman Nicky Maynard could be given arun-out against a City side who will be preparing for their FA Cupclash at Dagenham & Redbridge the following Saturday.

The match, which is open to …

Another Tour Rider Tests Positive

GOURETTE, France - Another Tour de France rider - Italian Cristian Moreni - failed a doping test and was led away by police at the end of Wednesday's 16th stage.

"He accepted his wrongdoing and did not ask for a B sample," said Eric Boyer, manager of Moreni's Cofidis team.

Athletes who fail a doping test are entitled to ask for a follow-up "B" sample test to confirm - and in rare cases refute - the results of the initial "A" sample.

Police were seen leading Moreni away from the Cofidis team bus. It was unclear where they were taking him. France has tough laws against trafficking in doping products.

Moreni tested positive for testosterone after stage 11 …

Mikhail Youzhny defeats Rafael Nadal in Chennai Open final

Mikhail Youzhny was grateful to Carlos Moya after crushing world No. 2 Rafael Nadal 6-0, 6-1 in the Chennai Open final on Sunday.

Youzhny handed Nadal his worst career loss in terms of games, taking only 57 minutes to earn his fourth ATP title.

Nadal had battled with Spanish countryman Moya for 3 hours, 54 minutes _ the longest three-set match on tour in 15 years _ in the previous night's semifinals, and took a medical time-out during the second set of the final, but wouldn't offer excuses for his crushing defeat.

"I had no injury, just wanted the trainer's help in overcoming tiredness," Nadal said.

"Maybe I was a bit tired …

Death toll of Aug. blast at UN Nigeria rises to 25

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The U.N. says another staff member has died about four months after a car bombing hit its Nigeria headquarters, bringing the death toll to 25.

The U.N. said in a statement Wednesday that Fred Willis, who worked for The United Nations Children's Fund, died in South Africa on Dec. 23.

It said Willis was one of 12 U.N. staff members flown on life …

Youth Cooking Classes at Haley House: Some words from Chef Didi

When the teens come into our kitchen at Haley House, I tell them who I am that I grew up in a small town in Connecticut where everyone was white and Christian, that I played tennis and that my favorite meal was a grilled hot dog and an icy cold root beer in the heat of summer.

I tell them that love to work in Roxbury, where I can learn about cultures I never got to see as a kid. Then I ask each student to talk a bit about where they grew up, their heritage, and some of their favorite foods.

I jot the foods and ethnicities down as ideas for future classes. Burritos, nachos, pastelitos, cereal bars, clam chowder, banana pudding - no problem, we can make delicious healthy …