Hi everyone,
I would appreciate any info from contractors, builders, cabinetmakers, handymen(women), and repairmen, about how you price jobs, and how you bill clients. I am interested in the business end, and would appreciate hearing from all, whether you are a large or small operation.
I am interested in someday doing something in the construction industry, i.e. developing a cabinetmaking, or construction business. Or doing something creative with building materials being my medium.
Thanks in advance for replies.
Cwebb
Replies
Working as a handy man and not getting enough of various kinds of work to really know how long it will take, I almost always price my jobs too low. So I try to always price higher than I did before (but I know I still have not been aggressive enough in doing so). I never give an hourly charge, I give a price for a job.
I expect payment in full upon completion and I almost always get it.
Rich Beckman
I am going to try and say this as politely as I can, and hope it is taken the right way. We are doing business exactly opposite and ending up in the same place! I am also a handyman, doing a pretty good variety of things, and charge almost exclusively by the hour. I don't mark up materials, or charge for travel, but do charge for shopping time for parts and materials. If they can find a way to do the jobs for less than 35 an hour, then good luck to them, who is next? Seem to have plenty of takers, now I have to figure out if 35 is enough to live on here in Paradise. Insurance, tools, truck expenses and taxes all add up, and a dollar does not go all that far anymore, I don't care what Terrry Bradshaw says. Good luck
DAN
Dan,
I`m with you. I occasionally take on smaller projects as filler in between the larger ones. I charge an hourly rate so i don`t get hurt. The only thing tougher to price than a big job, is a little one. They are rarely as straightforward as first expected. Besides, you try adding a 25% protection buffer to a "three hour job".
As far as advice to the original poster... if you want to be involved in the construction trades, my advice is to start at the ground floor and work your way up. Choose a particular feild that interests you and start humping. To run the financial end of a business you need to understand the labor end of it. The only thing more agravating than working with a contractor who hasn`t put on a tool belt recently is working with one who NEVER has!
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Edited 4/16/2002 10:08:12 PM ET by JAYBIRD