Thanks @Jess W, the fuzzy head cold is just starting to clear.

I think my type of business is pretty straightforward compared to many others. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's still way too busy, and it can in many ways go from zero to 100, and 100 to zero without any notice at any time.

The thing that might have made a difference early on is getting my charges right, I didn't charge enough and if you don't get that right nobody wins.

Maybe knowing more about my work vehicle could have helped. But I started off with a Ford Transit which are top notch except for the rust. I believe the newest version - the Custom - is much more rust resistant (needs confirmation). The trouble with Transits is once they start rusting, if you don't do something about it you might just as well set fire to them. I spray all vulnerable parts of mine (Ford Transit Mk7 2007) with Corrosion Block (developed by Lear Aviation Corporation) once or twice a year. It reduced my welding bill by 90% in the first year I used it.

The more I think about this the more I realise I could probably write a book