How much would you charge?

[Dean Lofthouse]

Just to give you an idea.

 

I have kept all the costings of my chipper from new, it has done 350 hours and I have had it 3 years.

 

So far it has cost over £1 per minute to run.

[Matthew Storrs]

Any less then £300 I would say is a bit too cheap, quote to do a decent job!

[Jesse]

Hi people I need a little help I'm a free lance climber and I have just got a large job in my village doing various jobs, what day rate would be fair for me and a groundsman no chipper and truck needed. I want to earn money from this but I don't want tobe to dear and lose work in the village. Does £250 a day sound to cheap or fair?

 

£300 sounds better, it sort of roles of the tongue.

[18 stoner]

First point is I would avoid a day rate if at all possible.

 

Give them a price for the work they want doing now, and dont discuss how long it will take.

 

Going in on day rate for a new contract (hoping for more work) can kick you in the arse later. They will either want you slogging your guts out every minute and watching you 24-7, or in a year or two when you realise you need to put the rate up, they will see you as taking the micky.

 

Be careful mate, thats all Im saying. Been there and done that, and found the customers I first ever worked for that I priced cheap to get work, have fallen by the wayside.

[Jesse]

Just to give you an idea.

 

I have kept all the costings of my chipper from new, it has done 350 hours and I have had it 3 years.

 

So far it has cost over £1 per minute to run.

 

I cost all my stuff, tracked chipper, grinder ext at £100 per hr or thats how it works out on the hr clocks not far off. It needs to be around that much:thumbup1:

[felixthelogchopper]

I don't have employers liability just myself to look after as I'm a subby climber. I'm just trying to see what I can get away with without being expensive as the extra cash would be ideal rather than just earning day rate.

 

If you are employing a groundie then by law you need Employer's Liability.

[Brett]

First point is I would avoid a day rate if at all possible.

 

Give them a price for the work they want doing now, and dont discuss how long it will take.

 

Going in on day rate for a new contract (hoping for more work) can kick you in the arse later. They will either want you slogging your guts out every minute and watching you 24-7, or in a year or two when you realise you need to put the rate up, they will see you as taking the micky.

 

Be careful mate, thats all Im saying. Been there and done that, and found the customers I first ever worked for that I priced cheap to get work, have fallen by the wayside.

 

agree

[Pedroski]

since pricing some jobs on my own, I've adopted a formula - it's my break-even amount (to cover my pay, whatever the climber charges, consumable etc) multiplied by 2, or sometimes 3 First customer who I priced for I went in really high after giving a really detailed breakdown in writing of everything involved. He liked this, and asked me back for more, which was less involved so I reflected this in a slightly lower price which still tripled what I put into it. Now he has booked for a big one at the end of the year, and I am doing a cheapy for him during May just clearing a telephone line.

 

I could have gone in low to just break even to start with on the first really big one, but then no chance of raising the price. As it is, I'm happy, customer is happy, and the people who have done the work for me are happy.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Has as been said above, your overheads will be different to everyone else

 

If you are like me and employ your groundy and are paying employers liability then £250 is nowhere near enough etc etc

 

Deans right, would be nearer the 500-650 minimum + VAT

[Dean Lofthouse]

since pricing some jobs on my own, I've adopted a formula - it's my break-even amount (to cover my pay, whatever the climber charges, consumable etc) multiplied by 2, or sometimes 3 First customer who I priced for I went in really high after giving a really detailed breakdown in writing of everything involved. He liked this, and asked me back for more, which was less involved so I reflected this in a slightly lower price which still tripled what I put into it. Now he has booked for a big one at the end of the year, and I am doing a cheapy for him during May just clearing a telephone line.

 

I could have gone in low to just break even to start with on the first really big one, but then no chance of raising the price. As it is, I'm happy, customer is happy, and the people who have done the work for me are happy.

 

Good post