I concur a lot with the above.

I don't run a business anymore but two persons I use to work for (who were very successful)  had a few simple philosophies which I took to heart because they were simply just truth.

1. You can sell high quality work for almost whatever price you want to ask....but you can't give away sh8t no matter how hard you try.

2. Build it like you never want to see it again.

3. Never under-value your work.  If its good and you know it NEVER be scared to ask for what its worth.  Being firm brings respect...being unsure makes others unsure of you.

4. Stand by your work and mean it.  Fixing a mistake without hesitation will be retold to 50 more new potential customers before that story gets old.

5.  Your reputation is your business.

6.  Never take a job on when you know its over your head or beyond you when you start.  If you are over your head ...get help and see it through to the end.  We all take our lumps sometimes but we don't EVER have to break our word.

I know that did not answer a lot of your questions directly but nonwithstanding.....if you keep your head screwed on straight and you keep your commitments your will succeed.   I remember a welder I respect greatly offering me his entire shop, contacts and business for 10% of the net till it was paid for......I looked at him and let him know I was not ready to be at the shop till 4 a.m. on a Saturday morning spraying primer on a set of handrails for the State (like I had seen him do many times) and taking home less then I was making.  He owns a shop now that takes in probably 30% of all the serious fab work in the lower half of the state.   If you want it and your honest....all you have to do is work work work and pretty soon you will have more work then you can deal with then you can pick and choose your jobs.

I wish you good luck
Best Regards
Tommy