Re: why does a scope
Ah if business were only that easy, everyone would be doing it. Material + Time doesn't equal Cost.
Initially you have to look at it from this standpoint, for every scope you sell you need to have at least 3X the material cost just to make ends meet.
take the materials plus the time to make it, that is your bottom line cost. Then you have you have to add in paying not only the company so it can expand and grow, but yourself and its employees. After that you have to add in what it cost to keep the facility open, rent / lease, tools and supplies. After all that is said and figured you have to add in taxes and fees for even having a business. All that goes towards the final price too.
Marketing and advertising, all that cost money as well, the accountant to balance the books, the import taxes to bring in things from overseas... exchange rates that change daily, its never just as cut and dry as Cost + Time = Price.
I figure Material + Labor X 3 = a start point.