[pitbull]

For as little a time that I have been on this forum I am supprised at how many people ask how much they should be charging, wether it be for an hourly rate or a contract. I know its not nice too loose out on a job, but how will people learn without doing. I gather theres alot of newly self employed people out there.

Charge what you are happy with, and not what others say. If your good at what you do and your fingers are bitten off at every quote that you give, then ask yourself if you can get away with raising your price, Or have to raise your price because you are not making on it. And vice versa if you are not getting anywork, ask yourself are you too expensive.

We are all out there to compete with someone else, thats why prices are different, unless you have a group of companies together with the net market price fixing.

[fez-head]

Originally Posted by pitbull

For as little a time that I have been on this forum I am supprised at how many people ask how much they should be charging, wether it be for an hourly rate or a contract. I know its not nice too loose out on a job, but how will people learn without doing. I gather theres alot of newly self employed people out there.

Charge what you are happy with, and not what others say. If your good at what you do and your fingers are bitten off at every quote that you give, then ask yourself if you can get away with raising your price, Or have to raise your price because you are not making on it. And vice versa if you are not getting anywork, ask yourself are you too expensive.

We are all out there to compete with someone else, thats why prices are different, unless you have a group of companies together with the net market price fixing.

I used to be a low baller and was miserable and broke before I started reading the forums. Once I learned what others were charging it gave me the confidence to raise my prices to where I could make a living wage and justify it in my own head. I had the Wal-Mart mentality like many others and just didn't know any better.

Now life is good - and getting better - and I am a happy man.

These forums and others like them saved my ass - and continue to do so.

[dougchips]

Pitbull,prices comparison provides great entertainment. When I see someone post that they do a job for 1/2 of my price my eyes roll as I laugh. When I see someone post a price that is more than me, my stomach turns and I wonder what I am doing wrong.

[PressurePros]

Its also meaningless to a certain extent because areas are different that what seems like ridiculously low rates to me are standard to high for differing regions.

[Mrmac204]

I got a call last saturday- my sister' cleaning lady needed a plate screwed to the outside of her apt. door- she offered 100 bucks... I didn't say a thing, rushed over there and installed it- holy crap, hour and a 1/2 from phone call to back home.... and got a free glass of juice! well I had no idea that handymen got 100 bucks an hour... I was gonna charge her 40 bucks, but when she offered 100.... she's been waiting for her super since Dec 1 to install it- she was almost broke into though I think that drove her urgency to have this done.... so I'm thinkin, maybe I should consider doing handyman stuff too....

Mac.

[copusbuilder]

We offer hanyman services to some of our customers. Sometimes the quick turn around is very profitable.

Especially when they can be tied into a trip on the way to or from

[Ed the Roofer]

Pit Bull,

Rather than "go ahead and charge what you are happy with" as you say, don't you feel that it would be wise to learn from such a vast amount of contracting knowledge as encompassed by this and other bulletin boards.

For a one man shop, it is probable that you can do things less expensively, but to be able to allow for room for growth, and not be impacted by the sudden surge in overhead, would it not be wiser to already procur as much business sense as possible.

No one who provides quality work should end up having "your fingers bitten off at every quote you give". Avoid this mentality, or at least allow for the realistic possibility, that there may be better and more proven methods of doing what you are doing, without having to endure all of the learning curve from the school of hardknocks.

As far as some contractors seeking out the rates that others charge, just chalk that up to building up the confidence in oneself to be able to feel confident to be able to learn to charge more, which actually is not more in the long run. Would your client best be served by a lower price, and you wind up out of business due to that company mantra? Or, would they be best served if you had prepared initially, to accept the fact that it takes many resources to remain a viable contractor over the long haul?

I look at other peoples rates as XX.xx instead of seeing $$ signs. Their overhead, desired profit, and other expenses have nothing to do with what I deem necessary for my own business to operate and continue to do so, in my own situation. As such, there is never a true and accurate "average" price for doing this or that. It is completely subjective upon each entities operational costs and desired profit.

Prepare for the inevitable downswings and also growth requirements, or else you will not survive. (Not you specifically, just generalizing)

Ed

[dayexco]

Originally Posted by Jesse Kirchhoff

I used to be a low baller and was miserable and broke before I started reading the forums. Once I learned what others were charging it gave me the confidence to raise my prices to where I could make a living wage and justify it in my own head. I had the Wal-Mart mentality like many others and just didn't know any better.

Now life is good - and getting better - and I am a happy man.

These forums and others like them saved my ass - and continue to do so.

with all the different faces....i'm sure your post was in jest LOL
forums are great, but before you take the risk of being self employed, it probably would be a good idea to know what your costs are going to be.......and bid accordingly.

[fez-head]

Originally Posted by dayexco

with all the different faces....i'm sure your post was in jest LOL
forums are great, but before you take the risk of being self employed, it probably would be a good idea to know what your costs are going to be.......and bid accordingly.

Yep...That sure would have been a good idea.

I also should have listened to my Mother and applied myself in school, took that typing/computer class and quit hanging out with those awful "Dopers"