What do you charge?? - Page 4 - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

BuzzKill · 11-05-2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnettica

No one has called me about that..... yet.

I get themallot, that, or someone selling me something.

Magnettica · 11-05-2009, 11:53 PM

I was lucky, I had this forum to tell me to hang up on the Yellow Pages types.

rewire · 11-06-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnettica

That's not a lot of overhead, believe me. Wait'll the big guys chime in and call me out on being so cheap. But that doesn't matter because I'm not running their business and they're not running mine. I'm still working out of the 2 family house that I rent and the dining room is filled with electrical crap that I refuse to just throw away.

I will give you this to think about. Right now you are charging based on where you are at you might want to think about charging based on where you want to be.

sparky105 · 11-06-2009, 05:08 PM

I have many times thought about going on my own. However I am at a selfish point in my life where I just want to do my 36 hrs a week and enjoy life. I give you a lot of credit for making the jump but in my way of thinking I work to live(and I live well on my hourly rate) not live to work (which is what you have to do to make a 1 man shop go) It is rough to balance business and personnel life so good luck and live long and prosper.

NolaTigaBait · 11-06-2009, 05:10 PM

I'm a one man shop. I don't "live to work". Yes, there is more bs to put up with, but I think it is worth it.

BuzzKill · 11-06-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NolaTigaBait

I'm a one man shop. I don't "live to work". Yes, there is more bs to put up with, but I think it is worth it.

Huge, very well worth it. Being your own boss is the shiznit.

robnj772 · 11-06-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewire

I will give you this to think about. Right now you are charging based on where you are at you might want to think about charging based on where you want to be.

Which is very good advice however I think most of us won't be thinking about that again until this economy gets better.

Most have switched into survival mode.I have been conservative with my pricing and my spending because I think is going to be a while.

Alot of guys in my area have dropped their prices to staggering depths just to get work.It just makes you want to

BuzzKill · 11-06-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robnj772

Which is very good advice however I think most of us won't be thinking about that again until this economy gets better.

Most have switched into survival mode.I have been conservative with my pricing and my spending because I think is going to be a while.

Alot of guys in my area have dropped their prices to staggering depths just to get work.It just makes you want to

Gotta hold firm, man; if in doubt, ask what their budget is; if no answer, then price it high and "work with them" down to what your original idea of a price would be.

McCaa · 11-08-2009, 01:31 AM

I charge flat rate pricing. If I'm fast (which I usually am) i receive about $125 an hour. If the problem is tough and it slows me done some it could creep as low as $80 an hour.

rewire · 11-08-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzKill

Gotta hold firm, man; if in doubt, ask what their budget is; if no answer, then price it high and "work with them" down to what your original idea of a price would be.

To me holding firm is survival mode.We lost a few jobs to bargan hunters but the work we land is at our price which is profitable.

macmikeman · 11-09-2009, 01:09 PM

I banged up my prices once again the day after the former Pres got on tv and showed us that the world would end next friday unless we gave his buddies at banks all our money.... I feared all work would grind to a halt. I have broken all my rules since then about not working all the damn time since for some reason I got overloaded with projects at the new improved pricing level. So... I did it again the day after they swore in our new chairman. Even more overload of work. I have had to work Sundays. My knees and my legs are screaming at me. All out of fear of the unknown. Its been profitable as hell but stupid as hell also.

drm · 11-11-2009, 06:10 PM

Just present yourself well and do the right thing and you can charge what you want. Most people will pay more for a respected company even in these down times. I know guys charging $165 hr. and are still busy. I also know guys who charge $75 hr and are dead. I think people generally know that they get what they pay for. Just figure out what it costs per day to operate(ins,comp,payroll etc.) and base it on that.

BuzzKill · 11-11-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drm

Just present yourself well and do the right thing and you can charge what you want. Most people will pay more for a respected company even in these down times. I know guys charging $165 hr. and are still busy. I also know guys who charge $75 hr and are dead. I think people generally know that they get what they pay for. Just figure out what it costs per day to operate(ins,comp,payroll etc.) and base it on that.

Cool! I'm raiding my rates to $1500 an hour, that way the customer KNOWS they're getting quality service.

TOOL_5150 · 11-11-2009, 08:15 PM

I charge:

1-

1-

~Matt

480sparky · 11-11-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOL_5150

I charge:

1- 1-

~Matt

Only if you wait on your customers

TOOL_5150 · 11-11-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

Only if you wait on your customers

hahaha that took me a minute.

Good one!

~Matt

woodchuck2 · 11-13-2009, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NolaTigaBait

I'm a one man shop. I don't "live to work". Yes, there is more bs to put up with, but I think it is worth it.

I agree as i too am a one man show for the most part. Hourly labor for me is $45 and $60 for my mini-ex. Flat rate is $45 per box for new construction and $65 per box for remodel. These prices are for basic 14ga-12ga circuits. Prices on 10ga and larger circuits will vary by length of run.

robnj772 · 11-13-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodchuck2

I agree as i too am a one man show for the most part. Hourly labor for me is $45 and $60 for my mini-ex. Flat rate is $45 per box for new construction and $65 per box for remodel. These prices are for basic 14ga-12ga circuits. Prices on 10ga and larger circuits will vary by length of run.

What is your mini-ex

This IS a joke ! Right?

PLEASE TELL ME YOU ARE KIDDING!!!

woodchuck2 · 11-13-2009, 10:28 AM

Its an older 8k lb machine, Sumitomo SJ38. I cant charge any more than that since everyone else around here only charge $65 per hour for thiers. Alot of contractors dont even bother buying one anymore. The local hardware has 4 of them for rent with heat and A/C for $300 a day with unlimited hours. I have even had customers rent the machine themselves to save money. Its hard to compete with that. Luckily my machine is bought and paid for, just tired iron.