Hi All, I have run into this several times now. Used to work for the familiy for free ,labor swap ect. But now this is my business and only source of income how do you charge for your time on these projects. Mike
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Family, who, family?
Parents.....I still try and find the time during off hours, or down times to squeeze 'em in. For larger projects where that can't happen, I usually charge them the cost of doing business for the projects duration. That's what I do with siblings.
Aunts, uncles, cousins, inlaws receive a small discount.....I'll shrink my profit margin a tad.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Mother gets it free,
Father pays, a small protuin of what it would normally run him. Example: Footings, foundation, framing, roofing, siding, tile, and mudding drywall for his new house I charged him 5k plus materials.
Brother has earned chimney duty at my place to pay for the work I have done at his house. I need mine removed, perfect job for his unskilled butt.
Woods favorite carpenter
Edited 1/6/2008 2:31 pm ET by MattSwanger
Family rate?
Parents free.
All the rest get charged DOUBLE my normal rates..................
Let's just say you live and learn!
Edited 1/6/2008 3:01 pm ET by Ace
Mom, grandparents, free but they always insist on giving me something. Ya know, Grandma slips you a 20 and says don't tell Grandpa.
Last summer my sister mentioned finishing the basement in March/April of 08'. Only price mentioned was her husband said can it be done for less than 10,000. I said yes. In November my mother said she's having it done by a friend since my price was to high. I never even took out a tape measure for a price. I can't wait for next family gathering a her house to say "why didn't you ask me for a price" in front of everybody and watch her squirm.
So watch siblings. Maybe I should have said 20,000.
Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!
As much as I would love to work for free for family (by family, I mean parents and brothers/sisters), anything more than helping them out is taking me away from a paying job. In my mind, that's worse than free.
If I can help them out on a weekend or a few hours in the evening, it's free. Otherwise, I can't afford to to lose the paid time.
Thanks for all the input as this is always makes me feel like a jerk when you have to ask for money from family. Funny thing is my parents always insist on full price its the others that comment. Mike
It can be a very sticky situation.In some cases, I think some relatives don't realize (not sure how this is possible) that you might have to take time off a fully paid job to do their side job. Couple that with the "discount".... I can't afford that. Personally I say... "hey..get all the stuff you need...this weekend... Friday night and/or Saturday and/or Sunday...I'll come over help you out and we'll get it done. YOU provide something to eat and drink (which is a given...lol). When they day's over a bbq and some drinks make it all worth it. I mean hey, we are family and those family bbq's are good.On another note, I have this cousin. She and her husband want to do a major kitchen/living room/deck remodel job. She has asked countless times for me to do it (all or parts if I want) for them. I keep telling her NO. She asks why (repeatedly). I tell her up front...I don't want to get involved in this with you nickel and dime'ing me to death. Ha ha. She says..."oh that won't happen". Well I know better from having been related to her for a LONG time. Just a couple weeks ago when a lot of the family was together for the holidays. She happened to mention my "reluctance" to do the work for them in front of a few family members. I kept quiet, not wanting to come out and tell everyone what I told her. An uncle of mine spoke up and said "he's smart....never do business with family". Even though I don't really like that particular uncle....I had to chuckle a bit.Pricewise though, mom/dad/sister... if it's on my free time, or even if I take a day off once in a great while...it's FREE. That's how that works. My parents did a LOT for me when I was growing up, I owe it back..simple as that. Besides, it's usually something that can be done on the weekend, so it's no big deal.
I always did things for mom free and gave everyone else a 10% family discount.
Families often don't want to ask for something done if they think you will do it free.
Put yourself in their shoes, if they are normal caring human beings and not greedy people. If they want something done that might take a week, how could they ask that of you if you were going to do it free? They would feel like they would have to reciprocate and do something for you for a week free.
By simply giving a small discount, they get to reap the benefits of having a carpenter in the family and getting a small price break.
The more interesting dynamics is whether you are qualified for what they want. If you are a trim carpenter and they want custom built cabinets, they might feel guilty for not using your services.
The entire concept of working for family should be simple but it is complicated.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
I find it is very unhealthy policy to work for relatives. Friends too in most instances. Alot of customers have become good friends and those seem to be able to keep it buisness.
That being said my approach has been to set them up with the best people I can find to do the work and then just keep an eye on things. I also set them up with my pricing which my supliers seem to have no problem with. They can puchase cash sale on my accounts.
Once I even gave a job to my Head Carp for my brother in law that I went and worked for my head carp just to keep me out of the line of fire. The job went great and my Head Carp got lots more work out of it to cover our slow period. Win Win
On a hill by the harbour
I keep it pretty simple, two prices, full and free.
My mom gets the free and one or two siblings but the rest pay full price, no discounts. I will give em advice for nothing but that's all its really worth!
Doug
Mom===FREE....big stuff, made me take money when I first started, I think I probably needed it then anyway and she is kind.
Sister=====FREE just for tiny stuff
Everybody Else====Can't get to it, been there and would not want to go back
Do it for free or full price, no "discount"
Offer advice as convenient.
------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Parents are free, time and materials, even travel costs for widowed Mom.
Kids and grandkids get anything free (the'll get it all someday anyhow), even took time off work to buy and replace their water heater Wednesday as son had hurt his back.
Brother and sister are 2000 mi away, so not a frequent problem to have to consider. When there, brother often has a project going <G>
Depending on the quality of the neighbor (only 2 fit the category), it is either free (cost of materials only) or somebody else does the job. The neighbors never ask for anything that is other than a 2-3 hr job, always something past their skill or equipment level, and repay in kind with other effort.
I've done work for both my brother and sister. Both insisted upfront they wanted to pay full price.
Sister is great. She wants to pay me MORE than what I bill her. She insists my work and service is worth more compared to other contractors who have worked on her house, and that she doesn't mind paying that premium.
For all the grief it's gonna cause, you should charge a 10% premium.
My mom is moving back to Memphis where I live.
She bought a house over the internet ,that when she came down to look at she hated.
So I have gutted and redid the ceilings expanded the kitchen, remodeled the bathrooms ,replaced all fixtures, and flooring etc..................................................
I have been charging her my lowest rate and giving her as many free hours as possible.
I also have been bartering with her she had a nice riding mower she was going to sell ,I am trading out alot more work than its worth but we both feel good about it.
She has to be the most particular client I have ever had and the most naive at times with her own set of ways. But it still is fun and I am building up some business from the neighbors so it works.
ANDYSZ2
WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST