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Posted by Rick Barter (rvb) on May 19, 2008, 7:42 pm
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How do you all determine what to charge someone for welding work?
I have someone that wants me to weld some new floor pans into their
Jeep.
I will have to cut the old ones out, fit the new ones, and weld them
up. He will bring the Jeep to my shop.
Where does a newbie start?
Any help is appreciated.
rvb
--
As Iron Sharpens Iron,
So One Man Sharpens Another.
Proverbs 27:17
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Posted by Grant Erwin on May 19, 2008, 9:39 pm
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Rick Barter (rvb) wrote:
> How do you all determine what to charge someone for welding work?
>
> I have someone that wants me to weld some new floor pans into their
> Jeep.
>
> I will have to cut the old ones out, fit the new ones, and weld them
> up. He will bring the Jeep to my shop.
>
> Where does a newbie start?
>
> Any help is appreciated.
Start with an hourly rate for your labor. Don't be afraid to simply charge
straight time + materials. I do fabrication for a living now and I tell
prospective clients I don't bid jobs, I give estimates.
If he wants to know ahead of time how much it will cost then tell him
it will probably take most of 2 days at $50/hour (or whatever your rate is).
Grant
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Posted by SteveB on May 24, 2008, 6:06 pm
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> Rick Barter (rvb) wrote:
>> How do you all determine what to charge someone for welding work?
>>
>> I have someone that wants me to weld some new floor pans into their
>> Jeep.
>>
>> I will have to cut the old ones out, fit the new ones, and weld them
>> up. He will bring the Jeep to my shop.
>>
>> Where does a newbie start?
>>
>> Any help is appreciated.
This was a tough one for me when I first had my business. Then one day, I
started looking at it like, "What's that worth?" Both parties has to ask
themselves this. Ferinstance, it might not be good for you to bid low
thinking it won't take that much time, then spend a week on it. For him, it
might not be good to take it to a shop and pay $50-$80 an hour for a few
days, as the Jeep may not be worth it. What's it worth?
After you have spent literally thousands on equipment, rental space, etc,
etc, etc, is it fair and equitable for someone to come to you and say, "It's
only going to take you ten minutes, what will you charge?" Most shops I
have been in just have a sign with one hour minimum and a hourly or minimum
charge after that. Then they say leave it.
If a man brings in a problem that you know will take ten minutes to fix, but
you have to stop what you are doing, or pull someone off what they're
working on so you can get this guy on the road in ten minutes, what's it
worth?
Always remember that you're there to make money, and people who want you to
work free or cheap either do or don't have a clue.
Know whut uh mean, Vern?
Steve
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Posted by Rick Barter (rvb) on May 25, 2008, 9:16 am
Please log in for more thread options On Sat, 24 May 2008 14:06:22 -0800, "SteveB"
>
>
>> Rick Barter (rvb) wrote:
>>> How do you all determine what to charge someone for welding work?
>>>
>>> I have someone that wants me to weld some new floor pans into their
>>> Jeep.
>>>
>>> I will have to cut the old ones out, fit the new ones, and weld them
>>> up. He will bring the Jeep to my shop.
>>>
>>> Where does a newbie start?
>>>
>>> Any help is appreciated.
>
>This was a tough one for me when I first had my business. Then one day, I
>started looking at it like, "What's that worth?" Both parties has to ask
>themselves this. Ferinstance, it might not be good for you to bid low
>thinking it won't take that much time, then spend a week on it. For him, it
>might not be good to take it to a shop and pay $50-$80 an hour for a few
>days, as the Jeep may not be worth it. What's it worth?
>
>After you have spent literally thousands on equipment, rental space, etc,
>etc, etc, is it fair and equitable for someone to come to you and say, "It's
>only going to take you ten minutes, what will you charge?" Most shops I
>have been in just have a sign with one hour minimum and a hourly or minimum
>charge after that. Then they say leave it.
>
>If a man brings in a problem that you know will take ten minutes to fix, but
>you have to stop what you are doing, or pull someone off what they're
>working on so you can get this guy on the road in ten minutes, what's it
>worth?
>
>Always remember that you're there to make money, and people who want you to
>work free or cheap either do or don't have a clue.
>
>Know whut uh mean, Vern?
>
>Steve
>
You know, you bring up a great point. At the welding school, the
owner/instructor would take jobs at cost of materials for us students
to weld on. Now, if the customer didn't want students to weld on
their stuff, he'd do it, but charge them more. Most of the time they
were fine with the students welding it. :)
But, you reminded me of something he said too. If someone came in and
was pissed about him wanting to charge them $40 for something that
would take him 10 minutes (usually prefaced with 'I've done some
welding, but don't have machines, blah blah blah), he'd offer them the
use of his equipment and say if they'd like to weld it up themselves
he'd give it to them free.
Right about that time they would stutter and mumble and say, 'naw, but
$40 is too much'. Then he'd make a judgement call and either come
down a bit or send them on their way. He always said to remember that
there are some people who will complain about anything and always want
something for nothing. Think about how much time and effort you put
into developing your skill/art. What's that worth? If a guy wants it
for "nothing", let him go to school and learn how to do it.
Anyway, I'm rambling.
--
As Iron Sharpens Iron,
So One Man Sharpens Another.
Proverbs 27:17
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Posted by John L. Weatherly on May 29, 2008, 9:10 am
Please log in for more thread options SteveB wrote:
>
> After you have spent literally thousands on equipment, rental space, etc,
> etc, etc, is it fair and equitable for someone to come to you and say,
> "It's
> only going to take you ten minutes, what will you charge?" Most shops I
> have been in just have a sign with one hour minimum and a hourly or
> minimum
> charge after that. Then they say leave it.
>
My shop is one hour minimum. The only exception is if I am doing a job &
their part needs a tack or two. Then its $20-30. I won't fire the machine
up from cold for less than an hour's pay. You have to have a thick skin
about that stuff. Some folks will have a slick line of shit about how they
can buy a new widget or get it done elsewhere for less. I politely tell
them to pound sand.
Don't feel you have to tell them about overhead, as its really none of their
business. The bulk of your customers will be those who appreciate your
time & craftsmanship. Anyone else is wasting your time.
--
John L. Weatherly
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>
> I have someone that wants me to weld some new floor pans into their
> Jeep.
>
> I will have to cut the old ones out, fit the new ones, and weld them
> up. He will bring the Jeep to my shop.
>
> Where does a newbie start?
>
> Any help is appreciated.