LOL ... one of my college buddies/roommates got a simple BA in Bidness ... while we all partied to excess.... we were kidz :D

He pulls in around $675K per year in retirement... a solid "B" student back then. He wanted to be an exec .... even way back when....

Different strokes ... different paths ... and different than I am too ;)

Wouldn't have traded careers with him for many millions more. It's not about the $$$ in my world .... and it never has been.

The cream will always rise to the top. He probably would have been successful without any degree at all. I was more thinking about the kid who parties for four years, gets a useless degree with $100k worth of debt, and then ends up working at Starbucks. I’m not funding that.

Part of the problem with what owner operator trades charge is the misconception of the customer as to how much time it takes to do the job.
When someone comes out to quote a residential or commercial job, the time and expense to arrive at the jobsite and to do the quote needs to be paid. If they don't get the job, they don't get paid for the time to quote but you can bet the next job has enough padding to pay for all the quotes done that day.
Providers pay for their insurance/bond for their protection and their customers protection.
Providers pay for their vehicle, the maintenance/insurance/tools and stock in the vehicle.
Providers need to account for the time/costs for billing and running the company.

So while the job maybe only took 15 minutes on site, the bills still have to be paid.

When I was on the tools, I would have some customers protest against overtime rates and travel time.
My response was always the same. Call me during business hours and bring your problematic equipment to me for service if you don't want to pay for a callout or travel time.

As an instructor in a certified (Red Seal) trade in Canada, I have seen many of the former students start their own business after completing their training.
There are a few that make it but most go back to working for a company to make their lives easier.

Side note:
In Alberta we have a program for high school students called "RAP" (Registered Apprenticeship Program)
Though the school guidance counselors and service providers students can earn high school credits and time towards their apprenticeship training.
Think about this, you are 20 or 21 years old and earning a journeyman rate.
In our industry that is somewhere around $100K and that is before O/T and benefits.
If they choose to further their education, being able to work summers on contract as a journeyman would be close to self funding.
Great opportunity for young people if they can get over the stigma that has been attached to trades over the last 30 years.

By the way, we are busier than we have been in many years trying to keep up with demand for tradespeople.

I would mind the cost less if the contractor/trades guy could actually do the job. If they get about 75% of it right, then that is a win...and I can usually fix it myself later after they leave.