A prediction and observation:
The HSPs have a hard won territory. They do not need you because you are their best competition...competent techs, operating money and management skills to organize 10 techs and move them as a group. They do need your techs and maybe even you personally to work at their rate under their name & office.
What to do?
They will promise what is needed to get you started. Then the routes will become thin. The drives will get longer. Then the cash flow will slow down. There will be short checks and charge backs you can disprove. This will also take time. Eventually your operating cash will be gone....After you miss a few payrolls and your men try to hang you the HSP will offer them work.
All they have to do is get you signed up for a full pallet of receivers and cut back your work. As those receivers go out of date,,,so do you.
There is only so much meat on the bone and not enough to subcontract from subcontractors. The standard installation has become more complex as the money offered has declined. Directv will not involve themselves in the operations of their HSPs (other than to approve & suggest stuff.) The largest HSPs get sued all the time...even if you win in court you will be out of money and out of business. Your techs will be elsewhere.
Stand in the door....kiss your ass goodbye & jump. Hit the ground running. There will be gunners in the trees. These HSPs are not friendlies!
Joe
