How do I find a successor who can estimate glass jobs the way I do?

Start with who is around you: your best installer, your counter person, a family member, or a respected person from a supplier. Estimating glass means reading drawings, knowing what can be cut, tempered or ordered, and allowing for breakage and site problems. The person needs trade sense first.

Give each candidate a few past jobs without your numbers and ask them to price them. Compare with what you quoted and what the job really cost. Ask them to explain their reasoning aloud, since the thinking matters more than the total.

If nobody inside fits, look outside, and consider a search through your network or a listing of the business. A buyer with management skill can pair with your estimator. Whoever you choose, plan a period of working side by side. Write down your pricing rules. Your lawyer and accountant can help structure the transition. Pay attention to how candidates deal with uncertainty. A good estimator knows when to ask a question, when to add a margin for risk and when to walk away from a job. Give them an awkward job on purpose, such as an odd shape or a tight site, and watch how they approach it. Also think about how customers and suppliers will respond to them, since relationships carry much of the estimating work.

Key takeaways

• Look first at the people already around your shop.
• Have candidates price past jobs blind and explain their reasoning.
• Plan time side by side and write down your pricing rules.