Growing my business

you asked a question that has no simple reply an trust me, I know alittle about this topic.

To get to the next level is not really something you can JUST do but something you have to work on/at. You have to build up your company on the intake you are getting now and work on meeting new people and network with other yards. When calling "larger yards" or the mills you let them know what you can do monthly and say something along the lines of "but we can do more based on price".

If they give you a good price then roll with it and all up the smaller yards and pay them a little more and sell little higher.

Profit margin if you are looking at profit per pound...you will not make it. You need to look at profit per load. Most times you will only make a profit of a penny or so per pound when all things are said and done but it adds up. I did one deal once where my profit was 1/4 of a penny but I moved 1.9 million pounds of cast iron after everything was said a done (I love rail roads) but you have to look at each deal and work out the numbers not the profit per pound.