Sheet Metal Fabrication

hvactech140

I am a HVAC contractor in Alabama, Where I live none of the other heating and air contractors have shops to fabricate ductwork. I offer this service to those that need it, I would like to know how I should price. ( By the pound, By the job, the fitting, etc. ) My shop has been open for a year and I have had no problem with prices, but one customer here lately has complained of my pricing. I think it was fair considering, but I need a more stable system for pricing anyway.

NickTech

i fabricate custom duct in NJ, i have different pricing for different fittings. pretty much the more intricate the peice the more the multiplier is. ranging from straight duct to somethng like a square to round fitting.
i first figure what i call an intricacy multiplier, like for sraight duct its 1.0, for a 45 deg el it's 2.5. then it's sheet metal by the sqare in, and then time/labor to fabricate. i standardize straight duct so my guys can figure out rough duct estimates. like a 4 ftr of 16x8 would be $20, but a 90 deg el that uses the same amount of metal and take the same time to make would have a multiplier of 2.0
ex. 48x96' sheet = $20
labor $75/hr
multiplier is 2.0
the job requires a quarter of a sheet of metal ($5), taking 15 min to make 25% of $75= $18.75, and its a 90 degree el.
($5+$18.75) x2.0 = $47.50
sheet metal pricing vary with gauge and availability, so stock up when prices are low, but price according to current metal prices. the trick is to kinda standardize the time aspect of the fabrication and to come up with multipliers. it's about supply and demand! hope this helps!!

hvactech140

great advise, thanks