pricing jobs

[hunterseye]

I'm fresh out of night classes doing a 6129 lv 2. And because in my area i can't even work with anyone at weekends (for free)i'm having to try and start out on my own doing small jobs to build my confidence and working my way up. A problem i'm coming across though is pricing jobs. Is there any help you guys can give me with this. I dont know what the going rate is for any of the work.

Cheers

 

[gasmanrob]

there is no going rate as such some people charge £15ph others £90ph. some jobs are better on price others an an hourly rate. ultimately what do you feel your worth?

 

[Dannyparty92]

Same problem as me iv finished my level 2 6129 tech cert cant find anyone to take me on so im starting up on my own. Iv learnt the best way is to charge for bronze and make sure your work is gold. This way by word of mouth you will get more and more work it will be worth it in the end .

 

[hunterseye]

its daunting danny aint it when you turn up at a job and the customer is asking questions that an experianced plumber would answer straight away. but with every little job comes that extra confidence mate. keep plugging away and dont give up. thanks for your reply gasmanrob

 

[Dannyparty92]

Yes very! But with every small job I'm gaining confidence also I try to read as much as I can on this forum the guys here are very knowledgeable and I'm learning more and more all the time. I think when I turn up at price a job and the customer looks out the window and there's a 20 year old getting out a ford focus and not a van it raises eyebrows. But hey everyone has gotta start somewhere.

 

[kay-jay]

Where do you guys live and work? Perhaps some members local to you can give you some input on local pricing or better still give you a helping hand on jobs you feel are a bit beyond your current experience .........

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[dontknowitall]

:bigcry:

Gave a maximum price for a job for today but it's overrun.

 

[hunterseye]

I'm in boston kay jay.

 

[Phil]

Its a long hard road ahead, you have only the very basic of knowlege, tools and equipment and every job will be a learning curve, even the most basic. It will be at least three to four years before you even start earning proper money.
I know because I started out on my own 4 years ago and only now is the proper money coming in now I have speed, confidence and all the right gear.

You'll be constantly going back and forth to the plumbers merchants maybe even twice per job getting all basic parts that you will one day have in stock in your van but for now you wont even know what to stock until you've done all the bread and butter jobs a few times. Some days you will earn nothing even though you've worked all day.

When speaking to customer learn how to install confidence, if they realise you don't know what you're doing then it will be a "I'll think about it and give you a ring" which basically means 'on yer bike'!

 

[hunterseye]

I've found the honesty approach is working at present as in. fresh out of college mate. be gentle lol

 

[SimonG]

It's when you get the call for that job that's just beyond you and you can call somebody in to give you a hand that will get your foot in the door. i.e. 'can you help me with this as I'm looking for experience'.

 

[Plum Bob 66]

Hi Hunterseye.
Im not far down the road from you near Grantham. Started up three years ago. Yes its been a long hard road but just now starting to see the fruits of my labour. Give it time and take all the small jobs on offer because more often than not bigger jobs will come from the small ones you have done well along with recommendations to friends, family etc
The forum is a great resource for info, if your not time served (like me) your going to be on here quite a bit. You will find some a re sceptical and see you as a fast tracker out for a quick buck but mostly their supportive with the answers you need.
Also be careful where you advertise, dont use the scattergun approach, we have a community village link magazine round here which drops on the door of 14,000 home so try and get in one of these in your area.All my work comes from this now. You will have plenty of days were you earn jack, but thats par for the course when your self employed, just make sure when your harvest comes in you bank some for those inevitable rainy day periods !!
Bob:smile:

 

[hunterseye]

Cheers for that Bob. I'm not expecting no quick buck. I just want to learn the job to the best of my ability. Its an absolute minefield. College gives you such a limited knowledge base. Its like passing your driving test. You only start learning when you've passed. I think the scope to mess a job up is huge and it doesn't take long before word gets around that your poor at what you do. when i get a job i spend time researching everything about the job, even if its a tap change, just to see if there is anything i should be looking out for. But so far the jobs i've done have been a sucess which drives me onto the next one. I do actually get job satisfaction which i enjoy.

 

[Dannyparty92]

Im from Heacham but i spend a lot of time in Long Sutton and thats not far from you is it hunterseye?

 

[hunterseye]

No danny. not far at all. close enough for me to help you out if your struggling on a big job mate.

 

[Dannyparty92]

excerlent. Thank you hunterseye mostly tap washers and toilet syphons ATM but if anything bigger comes in il have to give you a shout mate .

 

[Barry98]

Yes very! But with every small job I'm gaining confidence also I try to read as much as I can on this forum the guys here are very knowledgeable and I'm learning more and more all the time. I think when I turn up at price a job and the customer looks out the window and there's a 20 year old getting out a ford focus and not a van it raises eyebrows. But hey everyone has gotta start somewhere.

Park round the corner

 

[Phil]

I understand 100 years ago before cars were popular a plumber had a little hand cart that he pushed around with everything he needed on board, he dressed smart with a tie etc and was a very respected member of the community.

Still it must have been pain when he needed to 'nip' to Plumb Center for for Speedfit elbows. :hurray:

 

[Barry98]

I understand 100 years ago before cars were popular a plumber had a little hand cart that he pushed around with everything he needed on board, he dressed smart with a tie etc and was a very respected member of the community.

Still it must have been pain when he needed to 'nip' to Plumb Center for for Speedfit elbows. :hurray:

Think he used a flexi to get round it

 

[Plum Bob 66]

Cheers for that Bob. I'm not expecting no quick buck. I just want to learn the job to the best of my ability. Its an absolute minefield. College gives you such a limited knowledge base. Its like passing your driving test. You only start learning when you've passed. I think the scope to mess a job up is huge and it doesn't take long before word gets around that your poor at what you do. when i get a job i spend time researching everything about the job, even if its a tap change, just to see if there is anything i should be looking out for. But so far the jobs i've done have been a sucess which drives me onto the next one. I do actually get job satisfaction which i enjoy.

Hi Mate
As im just down the road message me and I will send you my mobile number.If you get in a spot of bother give me a ring, if I can help I will
Bob