Some years ago while going through a very long lean period and against my better judgement I found a job through the jobcenter as a emergency plumber, potential hourly rate £70.
I was invited to attend a 2 hour induction, which was intended to show me how to bleed the customer dry, something they were expert in. The arrangment was a 50/50 split, the top earner regularly approaching £1000 a day, before split.
A few days after this I got a phone call at about 11 am, with my first job and a reminder of what to do. The lady of the house was in a highly distressd state as one of her children had pulled the bathroom sink from the wall and she was worried about it falling down, it would't have.
The job was nothing,all that was required was 2 larger screws and washers and some sealant. Based on the scale of charges I presented her with a bill for £125, labour, materials & vat. She paid £25 cash and the rest by cheque.
Once home I phoned as per instructions and was sacked on the spot, I should have not taken a cheque and he was expecting £200+. I took the cheque back to the lady and she told me to keep the cash, for 12 mins. actual work not bad, £125 per hour.
Now please if any plumbers are reading this I'm in no way suggesting this is the norm, I know the ones earning the top money are on call 24/7 or are killing themselves house bashing on price work.