Mattboyer

I am a newly licsensed flooring installer. I am am ready to create my price list but don't know where to begin. I need current going rates to present to shops and what specific things to charge for (ie; fridge removal, $per sqaure foot, moldings, tear out and other items I may be forgetting.) Pleeeeese Help!!

R&D Tile

What type of flooring, where do you live, what are your expenses, only you can decide what you need to make a profit, all jobs are different, prep work, type of install, materials needed, no one can tell you what to charge, just give a ball park on it, you should know what all materials cost by now, including licensing, insurance, gas for your truck, tools, lunch and beer, etc., add it all up, all your expenses and devide by how many hrs. you want to work in a year, that's your hourly cost to break even, scary, isn't it.then add what you want for profit, that's what you need to charge an hr. minimum to survive.

Mattboyer

I live in California and do Laminate, Wood and tile. I want to contact shops to begin with. I want the shops to look at my price list and I dont know what installers are charging these days for the various duties involved with a job. For instance, If people are charging 25 for fridge removal then I don't want to charge 50. I just need to see a price list that one would submit to these shops. I understand that no-one from my area would let me see their price list but maybe someone from out of the area can. I would greatly appreciate a lead in the right direction.

R&D Tile

Go to HD and ask them for there installation prices for floors, they will give you a price chart of it and all add ons, now go and charge a few $ more, I'm sure your better than those they use.

Mattboyer

You are the best!!! Thanks for your help. I can tell I will be using this sight alot!!

Bud Cline

Matt,

Go to just one of the shops that you intend to approach and get their price list that they pay their subs. Any shop should be willing to give you that information. Be up-front and tell them what you are doing. Their price list will be within pennies of everyone in your area. THEN adjust your prices accordingly, try a few jobs at those rates and make any necessary adjustments as you go if the prices don't work for you.

Since you live in California you'd be crazy to structure your prices around an out-of-area price list. California is different than anywhere else in the country.

I can't understand why if you know enough to do this type of work why you don't know what to charge.

Mattboyer

Yeah, I know its kind of crazy but the shop I worked at only paid hourly or salary to have total control over everything that had to do with installation. In fact if you happened to have a contractor license they forced you to drop it. We never saw the cost of anything. I learned a lot about proper installation from some of the best installers who were very content with their mediocer salaries. I didn't want to get stuck under that and I wanted to be able to chase my dream. So here I am with enough knowledge and skills for the trade but no clue of how to take this on with the piece work approach .

adams,b

How ling have you been in floor covering?

Mattboyer

I've been in the trade for about four years and also did flooring and tile for my dad who is a general con. for about eight years. I ended up getting all the price info I need though because I went to all the shops in my area today. I'm just psyching myself out about going on my own. I just need to nut up and go for it I think I'm going to take a little different approach though and advertise at the same time locally. I'm rushing in to this and I need to sit down and delve into planning this whole thing out a little more. I'm sure most whom have been reading this thread probably are thinking that I'm probably lack of expierinced because of my inquiry about pricing but trust me I'm just psyching myself. The skills the brains and the drive is there. Launching this is only a matter of time and money and the alignment of all the planets. I just want to add that I really appreciate the input so far and hopefully in the near future I'll be too busy to be doing this much typing.

Artisanmike

Go get em' Matt! kick sum arse and make em' pay fer it! weee haw!
haha...I recently started on my own after 18 years of servitude as a tilesetter for a company that I helped build. I was scurred poopless, but i shut my eyes and jumped off that cliff. It is one of the best things I have ever done, on a mental and financial level. I live and work in Santa Barbara county Ca. I'd be happy to help out with any advice you might need and vice versa I'm sure. My name is Mike

Artisan Tile
Only thing we cant fix is a broken heart and the crack of dawn

PrecisionFloors

Good luck Matt, I hope it all works out for you. Do what you say you're going to do, when you say you're going to do it. Do it right or don't do it at all, and charge accordingly. Keep those in mind and you'll be just fine.

Mattboyer

Thanks for the support!!! Another Cali guy. Right on!

Donedat

Matt, you only have work experience. That is all good but now you need to get some business sense about you. Take a few small business classes from you local community college, ask your Dad, heck, ask us. You really need to know more about business than just the labor end.

I work 10 to 12 hours a day on the job and then come home to a mountain of paperwork most every night. I do my own taxes, payroll, bills, budgets, and even deal with all advertisers. I wrote my own business plan. You need to write a detailed business plan for yourself. This will give your business direction and purpose and answer all the questions you might have about stuff like prices, customer base, goals, budget, incorporated, LLC, partnerships, banks, target market area, suppliers, vehicles and a whole lot more.

A business plan will give you direction and purpose. And when you have those you also have the courage to sell your products to anyone who inquires.

Sample business plans can be obtained from your bank and also from the QuickBooks web-site.

__________________
I admit...I don't know everything...but don't tell my kids I told you.

PrecisionFloors

Excellent advice Donedat I think that is probably the biggest reason for failure amongst those in the trades. Alot of guys will work under someone else or as an employee for a shop for years and feel like because they have mastered the install/labor side of things then they are ready to open up shop on their own. Labor is only about 25-30% of the equation. You can do outstanding work but if you don't manage the other aspects of running a business failure is sure to follow.

Donedat

Yep. It's not just about "nutting up". All the bravery in the world can't protect against us against failure.

__________________
I admit...I don't know everything...but don't tell my kids I told you.

Mattboyer

Thanks you guys , great advice. I am going to look at enrolling into some buisness classes at my local college. Also I am fortunate enough to have a beautiful wife who has a strong background in buisness with real estate, marketing, and office management, payroll, ect. She is going to help me with that end of the spectrum. Its also nice to know that there are other contractors out there(on this site) that have been through this stage of getting up and running that are willing to share their insight on getting over the hurdles starting new. It really helps with building ones confidence. I know that it won't be easy and that its going to take time but I know that it will be worth it for me and my family. Plus I am also excited to make this happen because I will then be a third generation business owner/contractor in my family. Again, thanks.

jmejio

Matt, visit the small business administration web site sba.gov and start right there. I found it very helpful.