Self Employed Pricing Jobs

[Zammo1001]

Hi all

I am just looking for a few pointers when you are pricing jobs.

Not bothered about figues as this varies to location in the country.

Just looking at what people work into the price do you got for a price after the job just incase of problems or do you give figues for hours and an hourly rate?

Cheers Nath

 

[mrlennie]

I look at it and think 1 hour for this 1 for that bla bla bla totalling 8 hours at so much per hour = whatever. Then I add about 4 hours on top and get that figure then i say to the customer between say 150-200 or whatever the price is obviously add materials on first.

 

[Steve001]

Here's what not to do, well you can but I'm still skint but at least I'm busy:
I have units for certain known jobs, for example say £*** for changing wash hand basin, same for bath and WC, with stuff like these you know material costs are not fantastic for a straight swap. Anything asside from this I do what mrlennie does.

Think about your charges for quick jobs too, I'm a bit soft sometimes with the five minute jobs, but then again I do them in the evening when I'm not rushed, and have earnt my crust for the day, you can let your client know what you've been doing that week and tell em how good you are.

If there's unknown factors, set a day rate and talk them through with client, it's good to talk.

Experience on how long somet will take will come with time, I think if your too slow doing something, that's ok but not to pass too much of it onto the client.

 

[johnmcginty]

Cant' go wrong with first hour say £55 then £35 after that. Then put a 100 % mark up on materials obviously and then £ 5 dinner money too ...oh and put at the bottom of every invoice £ £5 pension fund, £5 holiday fund, £ 2 if not offered good coffee, £ 10 bonus for good customer service, £7 extra if dog jumps up onto chest . £3 for awkward parking, £6 for job not as described over the phone, £2.50 extra if raining, £4.60 extra for tiling when hot sunshine through bathroom window, £10 charge as paid by check. Hope this helps zammo 😉

 

[Zammo1001]

Cheers chaps thats a good start

Steve i don't know what you mean by your version of skint but i am skint also!

Anyway i am quite newly self employed and what jobs i have took on i have done it by the hours i thought it would take me to do it and also just giving a price for the overall job at the end not really thinking of the hours but if it sounded about right.

I have been a sucker on a job in an older property where i had to change all TRV's and LS gave the chap a price for labour and materials but when it came to doing the job it was a nightmare with the system not draining down well and busting off threads on old tails sweating my knackers off! This was an evening job aswell and it went on and on i swore i wouldn't do it in the evening again and also making sure i would only charge an hourly rate in future as you never know what may happen to hold you up.

So for future it's make a time up by what i think like you both say then add on some more time just incase then plus materials and see how it goes

Steve when you say discuss with the client incase of unknown factors please explain some more.

I would say i am sometimes a little slow and i agree i should not pass this onto the client so it's only fair to just accept it sometime yeah






John that is class i wish that was true!

Do you really mark materials up that much?

I have only been doing what i buy that materials at plus 25% or if i come into problems i lower that and keep my wage the same

Any pointers here

Pm with information i you wish such as an example invoice explaining whats what infact that would be great if one of you could do that for me

Cheers Nath

 

[Steve001]

Steve when you say discuss with the client incase of unknown factors please explain some more.

Now you've changed the valves on an old system, next time you quote for similar you now know the unknown factors. Plus it'll sharpen your mind for the next tricky job, "Murphy" will strike, it's just getting to know where.

If you can pre-empt these problems and explain to the client "it might be a bit of a struggle and I might have to renew some of the tails because it's easier in the long run because of the new valves being different" Client thinks - he's done this before, that's good, seems to know what he's doing, I'll leave him get on with it.

This explantion will soften the blow when you charge him the top end of your estimate.

john, that seems reasonable enough to me,

 

[Zammo1001]

Many thanks Steve that makes perfect sense no matter how many jobs we do thier are always different problems we come against

Any more top tips people

Many thanks Nath

 

[Avatar]

For small jobs I say it will be x amount, based on my hourly rate, but if it takes longer/is done quicker it will be adjusted accordingly.

I hate giving fixed rates for small jobs as they are the ones that turn nasty. If the job is 8 hours plus then I will give a fixed priced, based on the idea that some things are quicker, and some take longer but even out in the end.

I also make sure the customer knows if the job runs over, or there is extra work then the charge will raise. They dont do overtime at work for no reward do they???

In fact I have acontract for big jobs with these things addedc as clauses - if they sign it they cant argue later can they (although they may try!!)

For a big job it is 100% materials and 50% labour up front for me to just walk into the door, but most are happy with this I find . . .

If they dont like this, then it is double the labour charge and 100% up front, to compensate for the complete pain in the ars that they will end up being to work for!!!!!!!

You cant beat experience in these matters!

 

[unguided1]

If its any help, on certain types of customer where I dont feel comfortable that I will be paid in full at the end of the job, I usually insist on stage payments, so the first stage payment covers all the materials the minute they are on site, If I dont getthis thematerials are removed. Second and maybe a third stage payment covers me wages, If I dont get these I am off the job until I get them, and the final payment is profit, or bonus. If I dont get the last payment, its annoying, but at least I have covered meself, with the other payments.
Obviosly this doesnt work when your only on a job for one or two days but where the job can run into a few weeks,its usually fine