All,
A question: Do you charge one rate for work performed during normal (9-5) hours and another rate for work performed after hours (5-9)? If so, what is the percentage differential?
Example: repairing a residential water supply line break at 6:30 on a Friday p.m. vs. doing the same job during the day.
Thanks,
dlb
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Replies
Depends on several factors. Is it a regular or established customer? But yes, there would probably be a premium. If you have to pay employees, then at least cover their overtime rate. If it's just you, 25% or enough to take DW to a nice restaurant later.
Do it right, or do it twice.
My plumber has no qualms about charging 1.5x for emergency calls...day or night. If you call him to respond to a 'situation' quickly, even in the middle of the day in the middle of the week, it's still 1.5x which is about a hundred bucks an hour.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
Depends,
Is he unable to reach you during the day?
Is he a regular steady custome?
Is it your fault the water line broke?
generally, yes, charge more.
I also have "Emergencies" which are nothing more than inconsiderate people who don't plan ahead and want a room finished off for company coming in a week, requireing round the clock construction.
That gets billed at double time for the whole durn job, 'cause I had to bump someone else, and will still be knockin' myself out to play catchup for another month.
But one job like that a year is more than enough, and it pays the tax man.
Excellence is its own reward!
I charge time and a half if called out on an after hour emergency. That doesn't include estimates or evening meetings that I or the owner can only make at that time.
We are doing a job right now that is for a business that can only be done in the evenings and weekends after the business is closed. I asked my guys to work their 40 during that time but marked the labor up $5 an hour and passed it on to them. Every one is seemingly content. DanT
If you charged an exrtra 5 and paid the men an extra 5, you are losing at least 2.50.
It can be a worthwhile proposition. I used to do some motel and restaurant work that had specific time slots for work. I charged more than regular residential for it. .
Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin,
Good point. I had not thought of it in that light until reading your reply. Not being able to see the forest for the trees I guess. Thanks. DanT
Just plug in your normal labor burden and overhead to know how much the extra is..
Excellence is its own reward!
Depends upon the work. Service work generally has a premium attached to it. "Daytime" plumbing work in my area is paying a journeyman $15-17 per hour. Service (repair) work pays around $20-25 per hour; sometimes more for "after 5" call outs.
Now, that being said, I would sometime offer "after hours" work (like remodeling) as it better served the needs of some customers. The labor rates would be higher, as the labor was moonlighting as much as I was. Also, the hours worked were less (in part necessity, in part, by plan). So the rate for that work was what is was. Hard to find customers who would appreciate that--but the ones who did were worth it.