"George" wrote in message
. ..
Toller wrote:
There is a lot to consider when taking on side jobs. Obviously you want
to
make it worth your while. Assuming that you have a truck, tools, and
insurance you need to calculate your overhead cost on an hourly basis.
Then
throw in your labor costs for yourself which should include social
security
payments. Figure out how many hours it will take to do the job and the
time
spent picking up materials and traveling to the job site. Figure out
your
material cost. Add all of this up and you should be able to come up
with a
price that is profitable for you.

This is being done in his free time. My sense is that if he wasn't doing
this job he would be watching television.
Therefor it is based entirely on marginal cost. His insurance will cost
the same wether he is working or watching TV, so it is irrelevent.
His price should be something that is low enough to get the work, but
high enough to be a better use of his time than the TV.
You only figure in overhead when you are pretty well booked and only want
the best jobs. And even then you have to be very careful about it, for
it will lead to errors.
Probably the #1 one reason why startup businesses fail. It is either a
business or it isn't. If he is working it isn't "free" time.

Didn't you read the OP? He isn't a business; he works for an electrician.
He is looking to do some work in his free time. He has no overhead.