Hey From Upstate NY!

kasey

I'm just starting a renovation business in the upstate NY area and looking for general information on getting started. I want to focus on insulation at this point but will get into other forms of renovations. I've never had my own business before and was wondering if anyone who is a contractor in my area uses this forum and can give me a ballpark figure to charge for an hourly rate. Thanks!

SLSTech

Well first off welcome to CT
2nd - you need to put your location in your profile
3rd - no one can give you a price for what you should charge
There are plenty of markup calculators on the web to determine what your hourly rate should be based off of Overhead, Profit, wasted time, etc... You might also want to look into the business section & the Pricing & Estimating Success Thread

Good Luck

__________________
Alabama Full Service Remodeling, Renovation, and Preservation by SLS Construction
Certified Energy Efficiency Audits, Ratings, Modeling, Verifications, & Consulting
Residential, Commercial, & Industrial Infrared Thermography Scans

woodchuck2

Where are you from? Are you working on any of the lakes where the money is at?

genecarp

Hi, welcome

__________________

Ralphw

Where upstate? I was born in Binghamton,NY

shanekw1

Welcome to the site.

__________________

Duane1982

I'm smack dab between Rochester and Syracuse but primarily service the Syracuse areas.

__________________

http://www.pooleconstruction.net

kasey

I'm in the Rochester area which is roughly mid-point on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. As far as if there is money here, yeah, but it depends on what you're comparing it to.

kasey

Ra cha cha (Rochester, the flour city, now flower city, ie the lilacs at Highland Park).

woodchuck2

Well, around here folks who live on the lakes obviously have more money so i tend to charge accordingly. I have my set base rate but for locals i give them a bit of a break because they survive off a different economy. The average person here makes $19-$30k a year so charging my $45 an hour labor rate puts a hurting on them. But someone who retires early from the city making $500k a year, moves here with their Mercedes and BMW's, buys a $300k home and decides to gut it and have it customized then i guess you can say i am going to charge them for everything i can and as much as i can. By golly if your flashing money then i am going to help you spend it yah know what i mean? I have customers who are contractors in New York city and some from Long Island who feel $45 is very cheap and dont mind paying for extra's but some of these locals hear you charge $45 an hour and they think your rich yourself.

wolffhomerepair

Welcome to the forum.

__________________
http://www.wolffhomerepair.com


" Of course I don't look busy, I did it right the first time "

DavidC

Welcome from Watertown. Read "Markup & Profit, A Contractors Guide" by Michael Stone and search Jerrald Hayes for 2 opposing views on how to determine your rate. Personally I thank M. Stone for pointing me in the right direction and J. Hayes for defining my target.

Good Luck
Dave

__________________
www.CookContractingLLC.com