I have been woodworking as a hobby for over 40 years. I have made a
lot of different items for my friends. with payment being a tool,
etc. I have sense retired and looking at doing partime work but have
no idea how to cost and price a job. Can any of you give me some
direction?

"wolffen" wrote in message
news:1126354169.6164bee0c3e30ea8386fc4d322ec3c01@m eganetnews2...
I have been woodworking as a hobby for over 40 years. I have made a
lot of different items for my friends. with payment being a tool,
etc. I have sense retired and looking at doing partime work but have
no idea how to cost and price a job. Can any of you give me some
direction?

Tough question to answer with out knowing your needs.

How ever I too am in that position, retired at 40, 10 years ago. I work
around two pricing methods. Either I charge approximately $200-$250 per
day for my time + materials marked up 140% or if for a friend or relative,
$75-$100 per day + the cost of my expenses.

"Leon" wrote in message

How ever I too am in that position, retired at 40, 10 years ago. I work
around two pricing methods. Either I charge approximately $200-$250 per
day for my time + materials marked up 140% or if for a friend or relative,
$75-$100 per day + the cost of my expenses.

Damn, you're cheap! ;)

Just starting another house, about six blocks from the last one you saw ...
it'll be a few months, but you got time to team up on the kitchen?

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/29/05

"wolffen" wrote in message
news:1126354169.6164bee0c3e30ea8386fc4d322ec3c01@m eganetnews2...
I have been woodworking as a hobby for over 40 years. I have made a
lot of different items for my friends. with payment being a tool,
etc. I have sense retired and looking at doing partime work but have
no idea how to cost and price a job. Can any of you give me some
direction?

Well, one thing you want to do to avoid criticism is acquire and maintain a
large distribution infrastructure and inventory for the convenience of your
customer, and sell based on acquisition cost. That way you won't be accused
of avarice like the oil companies.

Seriously, let them pay for the current cost of materials and pay yourself a
wage. Costs say 25 a day to insure, repair and run the machines, 25 an hour
for me to be present. My structure.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Leon" wrote in message

How ever I too am in that position, retired at 40, 10 years ago. I work
around two pricing methods. Either I charge approximately $200-$250 per
day for my time + materials marked up 140% or if for a friend or
relative,
$75-$100 per day + the cost of my expenses.

Damn, you're cheap! ;)

You remember I am semi-retired and do this for fun, except for when I helped
you out in the Spring. LOL.


Just starting another house, about six blocks from the last one you saw
...
it'll be a few months, but you got time to team up on the kitchen?

Right now I am twiddling my thumbs. Gimme a call when/if you need help.
I'll be happy to help out any time.

I posted pics on a.b.p.w. of the kitchen job that I did at the end of
Spring. I had been waiting for the customer to have the tile back splash
installed to take final pictures. But here it is September and still not
tile.





--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/29/05

"Leon" wrote in message

Right now I am twiddling my thumbs. Gimme a call when/if you need help.
I'll be happy to help out any time.

It'll be about 45 days before I start the foundation. Once that's underway
and the framing starts, I'll start planning the kitchen. Plus is that it's
almost 'layout identical' to the last and therefore I've got most of the
designing done, but I may want some of those corners you're famous for just
to throw in something different.

These kitchens, and the master baths, is what is selling the houses in this
area. But the short story is the thought of doing another entire kitchen by
myself makes me tired ... the older you get, the quicker you get older.

Unless I suddenly get younger, I'll definitely want to team up on this one,
and I know the quality of your work ... I'll give you a call when I'm ready
to see if you're still available.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/29/05

If you are retired and do not need the extra income you could do select
projects that have some interest for you and charge the cost of
materials, expenses for getting materials and running your tools and a
small charge for labor.

If you want to run it as a business then you need to look at product
liability insurance and detail all of your costs, then calculate a
reasonable wage and profit margin.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Leon" wrote in message

Right now I am twiddling my thumbs. Gimme a call when/if you need help.
I'll be happy to help out any time.

It'll be about 45 days before I start the foundation. Once that's underway
and the framing starts, I'll start planning the kitchen. Plus is that it's
almost 'layout identical' to the last and therefore I've got most of the
designing done, but I may want some of those corners you're famous for
just
to throw in something different.

These kitchens, and the master baths, is what is selling the houses in
this
area. But the short story is the thought of doing another entire kitchen
by
myself makes me tired ... the older you get, the quicker you get older.

Unless I suddenly get younger, I'll definitely want to team up on this
one,
and I know the quality of your work ... I'll give you a call when I'm
ready
to see if you're still available.

That sound great. IIRC you had your raised panel doors done out side for
the last house. Those are not too tuff.
Did you see my pictures on a.b.p.w.?

"Leon" wrote in message

That sound great. IIRC you had your raised panel doors done out side for
the last house. Those are not too tuff.

Depends ... it's too easy not to use a friend with a door company who will
cut the joints and panels for me on his equipment if I furnish the rails,
stiles and panels roughed out ... also one of his "experienced" hands for
help with assembly and sh*t work is hard to turn down these days

Did you see my pictures on a.b.p.w.?

I haven't been subscribed for a few months, I''ll do so and go check 'em
out. I far back do I have to go?

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/29/05

"Swingman" wrote in message
Did you see my pictures on a.b.p.w.?

I haven't been subscribed for a few months, I''ll do so and go check 'em
out. I far back do I have to go?

He posted some kitchen pitchers today.

wolffen wrote:
I have been woodworking as a hobby for over 40 years. I have made a
lot of different items for my friends. with payment being a tool,
etc. I have sense retired and looking at doing partime work but have
no idea how to cost and price a job. Can any of you give me some
direction?

There have been books written on this subject and you might want to
check that out. "The Woodworker's Guide to Pricing Your Work" is one
that springs to mind. If you don't want to buy it you could probably
find one at the library or sit in a Barnes & Noble all day and read it
there. After all you are retired, you've got the time now right?

wrote in message
oups.com...
If you are retired and do not need the extra income you could do select
projects that have some interest for you and charge the cost of
materials, expenses for getting materials and running your tools and a
small charge for labor.


This is basically the plan that I follow and produces what I consider a fair
return. I'm a diy'r woodworker who is retired from unrelated fields and
took up woodworking and carving after age 50.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Leon" wrote in message

That sound great. IIRC you had your raised panel doors done out side for
the last house. Those are not too tuff.

Depends ... it's too easy not to use a friend with a door company who will
cut the joints and panels for me on his equipment if I furnish the rails,
stiles and panels roughed out ... also one of his "experienced" hands for
help with assembly and sh*t work is hard to turn down these days

Ahhh. You already have a pretty goo source it apears. I was not sure if
you had a good source.



Did you see my pictures on a.b.p.w.?

I haven't been subscribed for a few months, I''ll do so and go check 'em
out. I far back do I have to go?

I posted the pics this morning.



--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/29/05

"Leon" wrote in message

I was not sure if
you had a good source.

Always ... hell, it's the only way to survive with a kid in college and
property taxes you need to weigh instead of count.

I posted the pics this morning.

I got'em ... well done, as usual!

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/29/05

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"Leon" wrote in message

I was not sure if
you had a good source.

Always ... hell, it's the only way to survive with a kid in college and
property taxes you need to weigh instead of count.


LOL... Yeeeeeah... My son Bryan started college a few weeks ago. Thank
goodness his scholarships are covering 75% of all expenses.

Thanks to all. Very good suggestions. What I am trying to do is a
self-sustaining hobby.

Oh Brian..... I have more free time when I was working than now. My
wife seems to thing that if I relax for a minute I might die so she
keeps me busy.

Thanks again for the helpful comments.

Ken