Hi,

If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you charge.

I am not going to start charging, as I am putting it down to experience,
just getting them to pay materials, but just wondering!

Cheers,

Sam

"Sam Berlyn" wrote in message
...
Hi,

If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you charge.

I am not going to start charging, as I am putting it down to experience,
just getting them to pay materials, but just wondering!

Cheers,

Sam

IMHO, the answer is "whatever the market will bear". How long it takes you
doesn't enter into the price, AFAIC. You can use that to decide whether
it's worth your time to do it, but shouldn't have an impact on the price.
So, it comes down to what would a handcrafted bookcase made of similar
materials and of a similar quality go for on the open market?

todd

"Todd Fatheree" wrote in message ...
snip
How long it takes you doesn't enter into the price, AFAIC.
You can use that to decide whether it's worth your time to do it,
but shouldn't have an impact on the price.

Inarguably Tom Plamann is a very sucessful woodworker who obviously has a
good grasp on pricing woodworking projects. Here's what he said on abpw
about pricing and "how long it takes" with regard to his awesome stairway
project:

"I figured the price so that if it takes twice as long to make as I think it
will, I still make something on it."

Interestingly, at Tom's level "time" is likely his biggest "cost" factor,
not materials, so the cost of the materials-multiplier-method mentioned
earlier in this thread wouldn't even get you in the ballpark like it might
for the rest of us weekly wooddorkers.

Nonetheless, time is money, and inarguably part of the "cost" of a project,
and at least one _very_ successful woodworker gives us a brief insight into
how he figures that price.

Take note.

BTW, anyone who hasn't been to abpw to see the "prototype" ... "go and be
humbled".

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

Sam,

Here is my "general guidelines" for pricing.

Cost of materials + 20% for handling, example 10 bf oak @ 3.00/bd ft =
$30.00 X 1.2 = $36.00 USD

Time in shop X hourly rate for example 3 hours @ 40 USD/hr = $120 USD

Then I add the two together = $156 for my wholesale price and I double this
for my retail price = $312 USD.

You will get all sorts of suggestions about rent, cost of tools etc. but for
me this system will get you started.

--

Rumpty

Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


"Sam Berlyn" wrote in message
...
Hi,

If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you charge.

I am not going to start charging, as I am putting it down to experience,
just getting them to pay materials, but just wondering!

Cheers,

Sam

On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 19:41:56 -0000, "Sam Berlyn"
wrote:

Hi,

If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you charge.

I am not going to start charging, as I am putting it down to experience,
just getting them to pay materials, but just wondering!

Cheers,

Sam



what are your skills worth, per hour?
it may sound like a smartass question, but it's not- the answer varies
a lot by location.

"Sam Berlyn" wrote in message
...
Hi,

If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you charge.


How much do you want to earn? Is the customer willing to pay that?

Very simplified, it is material cost plus labor. So lets step through it a
bit.

Material cost is the cost of wood, of course. You must also factor in glue,
screws, dowells, and things you may already have on hand. You may use only
a portion of a bottle, but it is still a cost you paid. Experience often
tells you how much to factor in. You must also account for waste. You can't
ask the customer for extra if you screw up a piece and have to buy more
wood, but yoiu will damage some. An allowance is usually factored on all
jobs, even those where there is no waste due to your error.

Labor will vary. For a business, you must pay either yourself or your worker
a wage per hour. Since you are a beginning woodworker, you will earn less
per hour. Work it backward. A bookcase is frth $100. Of that, $30 is
material, $70 is labor and it takes a skilled experienced craftsman 5 hours.
That works out to $14 per hour. Since you are new at this, it may take you
10 hours to complete the project. Your customer may only be willing to pay
that same $70, so you can only earn $7 per hour. In a business, you must
also factor in time to go get the wood, insurance cost, unilities, sales
commissions, supplies, taxes and many other little items

how much would you charge?

1. Know your bottom price based on your own determination. This can vary
depending circumstances. Sometimes it pays to do something that will lead
to other things.

2. Know what you want to get for the job, again based on what it's worth to
you.

3. Most importantly, never underestimate what someone is willing to pay.
Before you answer the question,"how much do you charge?" Ask,"what are you
willing to pay?" Followed with," let me get back to you with a price."

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 00:16:49 GMT, "mel"
wrote:

how much would you charge?

1. Know your bottom price based on your own determination. This can vary
depending circumstances. Sometimes it pays to do something that will lead
to other things.

2. Know what you want to get for the job, again based on what it's worth to
you.

3. Most importantly, never underestimate what someone is willing to pay.
Before you answer the question,"how much do you charge?" Ask,"what are you
willing to pay?" Followed with," let me get back to you with a price."

Figure out what you think it's worth to you, knowing how it's made,
then double that. It's really bad business practice to start with a
low price- face it, you're not going to compete with WalMart
price-wise, so you may as well go for snob appeal. If you can't sell
what you've got at the price you've set, it's always easier to drop
the price than it is to raise it- and you've got the added advantage
of being able to mark it "xx% off" so people think they're getting a
deal.

Most people undervalue their work. People go nuts for anything
handmade- go check out some Amish furniture stores if you doubt that!
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

In article ,
Prometheus wrote:

how much would you charge?

A lady was browsing in a craftsman's shop when she saw a side chair she
liked.

"How much is the chair?" she asked.

"Oh, about $200", the carpenter said, scratching his head.

"That's great!", the woman replied. "What would you charge for a set of
eight?"

"Well, lessee", the carpenter thought some more. "That would be about
$3000."

"Three thousand! But eight times $200 is only $1600!"

"Well... that's right, but the first one was fun!"



:=)

merle

"Merle" wrote in message


"Well... that's right, but the first one was fun!"

And this is why woodworking will never gat past the hobby stage for me. I
already have a job, thank you very much.

On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 19:41:56 -0000, "Sam Berlyn"
wrote:

how much would you charge?

They usual answer is "not enough"

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

If you don't want to starve, you charge hourly, and you choose work
where you can do this.

Installing junk MDF shelves pays better than veneering and french
polishing. The reason is simple - one of them is done "on site" and
the client sees you there, sees you working for a few hours, then pays
you for your _time_ at a reasonable rate. Skilled benchwork however
is unseen, and unseen work isn't valuable. Spend a couple of days
making a table and their first response is "It's just like the one I
saw for £25 in Ikea".

I was recently offered a job by a local kitchen fitting company -
fairly well known, reasonably high-end. They saw some work I'd done
with inch thick solid oak tops - low budget, but we had the materials
for free and it was a good piece of work. Then the guy offered me the
same as the rest of his crew - £6/hour. I politely pointed out that
shelf stacking in Lidl's supermarket was paying £7, and I'm proud to
say I chased him from the workshop with something sharp.

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you charge.

There's a saying in the craft market of "three times materials" as a
rough rule of thumb. Now obviously this is crazy - woodturning might
begin with green local timber for free and just your skill, some
simple jewellery work might be an hour setting a £500 stone into a
£100 factory-made ring mount. But it's not bad when you can't think
of anything better.

As a comparison figure, try asking a plumber or electrician how much
to change a tap. Even allowing for the callout / workshop difference,
you will get a huge hourly rate from them. Why should woodworking be
any less ?

Unless it's tiny, your materials are more than £15 too. Don't forget
the finishes (and the rest of the tin that you waste), the consumables
(glasspaper) and the electricity of heating. Ikea's cheapest bookcase
is something like £45, and that's just chipboard (I have several, as I
can't buy timber for that little)

--
Smert' spamionam

If you want to lose money on the job, charge 3x the material cost.
ie. is it for a family member where profit doesn't matter?

If you want to break even on the job, charge 4x the material cost.
ie. is it for a friend that asked you to build it as a favor?

If you want to make a living doing the job, charge 5x the material cost.
ie. is it for a customer?

In the case of a 13 yr old, perhaps ask them to help
and don't charge them anything...maybe it will stir
their inner woodworker.

mikey.


Sam Berlyn wrote:
Hi,

If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you charge.

I am not going to start charging, as I am putting it down to experience,
just getting them to pay materials, but just wondering!

Cheers,

Sam

"mikey" wrote in message

If you want to lose money on the job, charge 3x the material cost.
ie. is it for a family member where profit doesn't matter?

If you want to break even on the job, charge 4x the material cost.
ie. is it for a friend that asked you to build it as a favor?

If you want to make a living doing the job, charge 5x the material cost.
ie. is it for a customer?

In the case of a 13 yr old, perhaps ask them to help
and don't charge them anything...maybe it will stir
their inner woodworker.


Actually, and IME, this is pretty close to the truth ... if there is such a
thing in this regard.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

Swingman wrote:
"mikey" wrote in message

If you want to lose money on the job, charge 3x the material cost.
ie. is it for a family member where profit doesn't matter?

If you want to break even on the job, charge 4x the material cost.
ie. is it for a friend that asked you to build it as a favor?

If you want to make a living doing the job, charge 5x the material
cost. ie. is it for a customer?

In the case of a 13 yr old, perhaps ask them to help
and don't charge them anything...maybe it will stir
their inner woodworker.


Actually, and IME, this is pretty close to the truth ... if there is
such a thing in this regard.

Even when charging 3X the material cost somebody always comes along and
underbids me.........

I just have to say to myself..."they are getting what they are paying for"
but it sure makes it difficult to earn a living as a wood dorker.

Gary

"GeeDubb" wrote in message
...
Even when charging 3X the material cost somebody always comes along and
underbids me.........

I just have to say to myself..."they are getting what they are paying for"
but it sure makes it difficult to earn a living as a wood dorker.

Gary

This is why I shake my head wondering after reading all of these responses
of cost-based pricing if anyone has been exposed to manufacturing. Prior to
embarking on my current career of playing with computers, I worked for 7
years as a design engineer for a manufacturing company in a highly
competitive marketplace. I can tell you that the whole concept of pricing
your product based on your costs is wrong. The only consideration (as
you're seeing) when pricing your product is what the the market bears. As I
said in an earlier post in this thread, the only way that relates to your
cost is that after subtracting your costs from that price, are you willing
to work for that much money? Using a 3X or 5X rule of thumb is OK when
you're either unsure of the market or no market has been established, but
once you get some market experience, it's pretty meaningless.

todd

Todd Fatheree wrote:
"GeeDubb" wrote in message
...
Even when charging 3X the material cost somebody always comes along
and underbids me.........

I just have to say to myself..."they are getting what they are
paying for" but it sure makes it difficult to earn a living as a
wood dorker.

Gary

This is why I shake my head wondering after reading all of these
responses of cost-based pricing if anyone has been exposed to
manufacturing. Prior to embarking on my current career of playing
with computers, I worked for 7 years as a design engineer for a
manufacturing company in a highly competitive marketplace. I can
tell you that the whole concept of pricing your product based on your
costs is wrong. The only consideration (as you're seeing) when
pricing your product is what the the market bears. As I said in an
earlier post in this thread, the only way that relates to your cost
is that after subtracting your costs from that price, are you willing
to work for that much money? Using a 3X or 5X rule of thumb is OK
when you're either unsure of the market or no market has been
established, but once you get some market experience, it's pretty
meaningless.

todd

I agree. I did say that when I charged an amount equivalent to the 3x
material cost I often get underbid and they customer gets what they pay for.
I can't count the number of times I've been called back to fix the work of
the lower bidder. At this point I charge t/m to fix the job with a 50%
estimate up front. All of my work is referrel but even with that I'm
usually not the chosen contractor but often the one that fixes the work
later.

The guy that stated that 3x material cost will result in losing money is
still correct in the market I'm in (and most any other market) and I'm not
willing to work for that little. It doesn't pay the bills. The past 15
years has seen labor costs drop (Phx, AZ), material prices rise and
competition escalate but quality is gone. Unfortunately the economy has
become one of disposable products and quality seems to be much less
important than cost (i.e., electronics/other from China).

Guess this is why I'm currently working two jobs......to pay the bills.

Gary

"Todd Fatheree" wrote in message

This is why I shake my head wondering after reading all of these responses
of cost-based pricing

Keep shaking your head because you missed the point completely. I did not
say that was THE way to price, but just how often it turns out to be the
case when you go back an figure it up.

I can tell you that the whole concept of pricing your product based on your
costs is wrong.

LOL ... IME, there is as much "wrong" with that statement as there is in
using it solely for a business philosophy.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

In the case of a 13 yr old, perhaps ask them to help
and don't charge them anything...maybe it will stir
their inner woodworker.

for a 13 year old? i would require that the kid actually do the work
and supply the materials...i would then supervise him using your tools
so he learns, the job gets done, and your tools aren't
destroyed...hopefully!
if you don't have the time; then point him/her to someone that you think
might
have the time, etc. guilty conscience bothering you? help the kid anyway.
but make sure the kid learns.
rich

I would definitely WORRY about letting a 13yo use my power tools. If
he was injured, you can pretty much count on being held liable for the
injury.

Personally, I would quote him a price based on mateirals and TIME, and
then decide how much to charge for your labor (or not charge as the
case may be)

John

On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 08:33:33 GMT, "res055a5" wrote:

In the case of a 13 yr old, perhaps ask them to help
and don't charge them anything...maybe it will stir
their inner woodworker.

for a 13 year old? i would require that the kid actually do the work
and supply the materials...i would then supervise him using your tools
so he learns, the job gets done, and your tools aren't
destroyed...hopefully!
if you don't have the time; then point him/her to someone that you think
might
have the time, etc. guilty conscience bothering you? help the kid anyway.
but make sure the kid learns.
rich

Sat, Dec 4, 2004, 7:41pm (EST+5) (Sam=A0Berlyn)
waves and wants to know:
Hi,
If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?
It would depend.

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

It would depend.

Say the materials cost =A315 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you
charge.

It would depend.

I am not going to start charging, as I am putting it down to experience,
just getting them to pay materials, but just wondering!

What to charge is very rarely a black and white thing. Usually more
gray. Materials cost, certainly. Unless you're making something for a
close relative, or friend, as a gift. Then it could be optional.
Everything else is not engraved in stone.
I'll use the US $ sign rather than the pound sign (not on my keyboard).

Someone wants a bookcase. Your materials cost $15. Takes 5 hours
to make a bookcase. You want to make $5 pe hours, for a total of $40.
The customer is happy, you're happy.

OK, someone else wants a bookcase. Materials will cost $15 this
time too. You tell him/her $40. However, this time the client wants a
different design - and this one takes 10 hours to make. You still want
your $5 hours labor, but you've already quoted $40. Hmmm, that didn't
work out quite right.

You get another client, who wants a bookcase, first design. Ah,
you say, I know this one. And quote $40. Except this time, you have
experience with the design, and cut your work time down to 3 hours
rather than 5. Ah, now your're cookin'.

But, then no one wants bookcases anymore. Drat.

Then you decide to make little boxes (or whatever), and sell all
you can make, at $15 each - which covers the $5 materials, and take 3
hours to make. You still want to make your $5 per hour, but if you
charge $20, they don't sell well. Then you fid out, if you take them 40
miles down the road, you call sell them at $20, with no problem; but
then you've got gas, the time it takes, etc. And, if you go down the
road 40 miles in the oppositie direction, they will only sell at $7.50
each.
It partly depends on what you make, what materials you are using,
where you are selling, what price you are asking.

Bottom line, there're just too many variables involved for there to
be any hard and fast answers.



JOAT
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind dont
matter, and those who matter dont mind.
- Dr Seuss

What to charge is why everyperson is not in Business selling a product. It
takes a keen eye and particular know-how to understand what the market will
bear and how far to push it. This what makes a good business. Not everyone
can do it.
Many wannabes come along and cheapen it for everyone.
I am neither of the above. I just like to make sawdust.
In the case of the 13 year old, I would explain the cost of materials, the
cost of time and discuss his budget. I would then offer to let him pay in
cleaning my yard, weeding raking leaves etc and some minor shop time. A
thirteen year old offering to pay you to make him a bookcase has a good jump
on the life he will be facing soon. Give him all the guidance he will take.
Very interesting thread.
Wayne K
Columbia MD

"J T" wrote in message
...
Sat, Dec 4, 2004, 7:41pm (EST+5) (Sam Berlyn)
waves and wants to know:
Hi,
If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?
It would depend.

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

It would depend.

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you
charge.

It would depend.

I am not going to start charging, as I am putting it down to experience,
just getting them to pay materials, but just wondering!

What to charge is very rarely a black and white thing. Usually more
gray. Materials cost, certainly. Unless you're making something for a
close relative, or friend, as a gift. Then it could be optional.
Everything else is not engraved in stone.
I'll use the US $ sign rather than the pound sign (not on my keyboard).

Someone wants a bookcase. Your materials cost $15. Takes 5 hours
to make a bookcase. You want to make $5 pe hours, for a total of $40.
The customer is happy, you're happy.

OK, someone else wants a bookcase. Materials will cost $15 this
time too. You tell him/her $40. However, this time the client wants a
different design - and this one takes 10 hours to make. You still want
your $5 hours labor, but you've already quoted $40. Hmmm, that didn't
work out quite right.

You get another client, who wants a bookcase, first design. Ah,
you say, I know this one. And quote $40. Except this time, you have
experience with the design, and cut your work time down to 3 hours
rather than 5. Ah, now your're cookin'.

But, then no one wants bookcases anymore. Drat.

Then you decide to make little boxes (or whatever), and sell all
you can make, at $15 each - which covers the $5 materials, and take 3
hours to make. You still want to make your $5 per hour, but if you
charge $20, they don't sell well. Then you fid out, if you take them 40
miles down the road, you call sell them at $20, with no problem; but
then you've got gas, the time it takes, etc. And, if you go down the
road 40 miles in the oppositie direction, they will only sell at $7.50
each.
It partly depends on what you make, what materials you are using,
where you are selling, what price you are asking.

Bottom line, there're just too many variables involved for there to
be any hard and fast answers.



JOAT
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind dont
matter, and those who matter dont mind.
- Dr Seuss

No Wayne, wronge end of the stick!

I (Sam Berlyn) am 13. I am asking how much to charge. I have got my own
tools and workshed. I am NOT going round weeding and sweeping. and I am NOT
going to break other people's tools.. I have my own!

Thanks,

Sam


"Wayne K." wrote in message
...
What to charge is why everyperson is not in Business selling a product.
It
takes a keen eye and particular know-how to understand what the market
will
bear and how far to push it. This what makes a good business. Not
everyone
can do it.
Many wannabes come along and cheapen it for everyone.
I am neither of the above. I just like to make sawdust.
In the case of the 13 year old, I would explain the cost of materials, the
cost of time and discuss his budget. I would then offer to let him pay in
cleaning my yard, weeding raking leaves etc and some minor shop time. A
thirteen year old offering to pay you to make him a bookcase has a good
jump
on the life he will be facing soon. Give him all the guidance he will
take.
Very interesting thread.
Wayne K
Columbia MD

"J T" wrote in message
...
Sat, Dec 4, 2004, 7:41pm (EST+5) (Sam Berlyn)
waves and wants to know:
Hi,
If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?
It would depend.

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

It would depend.

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you
charge.

It would depend.

I am not going to start charging, as I am putting it down to experience,
just getting them to pay materials, but just wondering!

What to charge is very rarely a black and white thing. Usually more
gray. Materials cost, certainly. Unless you're making something for a
close relative, or friend, as a gift. Then it could be optional.
Everything else is not engraved in stone.
I'll use the US $ sign rather than the pound sign (not on my keyboard).

Someone wants a bookcase. Your materials cost $15. Takes 5 hours
to make a bookcase. You want to make $5 pe hours, for a total of $40.
The customer is happy, you're happy.

OK, someone else wants a bookcase. Materials will cost $15 this
time too. You tell him/her $40. However, this time the client wants a
different design - and this one takes 10 hours to make. You still want
your $5 hours labor, but you've already quoted $40. Hmmm, that didn't
work out quite right.

You get another client, who wants a bookcase, first design. Ah,
you say, I know this one. And quote $40. Except this time, you have
experience with the design, and cut your work time down to 3 hours
rather than 5. Ah, now your're cookin'.

But, then no one wants bookcases anymore. Drat.

Then you decide to make little boxes (or whatever), and sell all
you can make, at $15 each - which covers the $5 materials, and take 3
hours to make. You still want to make your $5 per hour, but if you
charge $20, they don't sell well. Then you fid out, if you take them 40
miles down the road, you call sell them at $20, with no problem; but
then you've got gas, the time it takes, etc. And, if you go down the
road 40 miles in the oppositie direction, they will only sell at $7.50
each.
It partly depends on what you make, what materials you are using,
where you are selling, what price you are asking.

Bottom line, there're just too many variables involved for there to
be any hard and fast answers.



JOAT
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind dont
matter, and those who matter dont mind.
- Dr Seuss

On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 23:41:04 -0500, "Wayne K."
wrote:

What to charge is why everyperson is not in Business selling a product. It
takes a keen eye and particular know-how to understand what the market will
bear and how far to push it. This what makes a good business. Not everyone
can do it.
Many wannabes come along and cheapen it for everyone.
I am neither of the above. I just like to make sawdust.
In the case of the 13 year old, I would explain the cost of materials, the
cost of time and discuss his budget. I would then offer to let him pay in
cleaning my yard, weeding raking leaves etc and some minor shop time. A
thirteen year old offering to pay you to make him a bookcase has a good jump
on the life he will be facing soon. Give him all the guidance he will take.

LMAO! No, it is the 13 yr old *building* the bookcase, not buying it.


Very interesting thread.
Wayne K
Columbia MD

"J T" wrote in message
...
Sat, Dec 4, 2004, 7:41pm (EST+5) (Sam Berlyn)
waves and wants to know:
Hi,
If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?
It would depend.

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

It would depend.

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you
charge.

It would depend.

I am not going to start charging, as I am putting it down to experience,
just getting them to pay materials, but just wondering!

What to charge is very rarely a black and white thing. Usually more
gray. Materials cost, certainly. Unless you're making something for a
close relative, or friend, as a gift. Then it could be optional.
Everything else is not engraved in stone.
I'll use the US $ sign rather than the pound sign (not on my keyboard).

Someone wants a bookcase. Your materials cost $15. Takes 5 hours
to make a bookcase. You want to make $5 pe hours, for a total of $40.
The customer is happy, you're happy.

OK, someone else wants a bookcase. Materials will cost $15 this
time too. You tell him/her $40. However, this time the client wants a
different design - and this one takes 10 hours to make. You still want
your $5 hours labor, but you've already quoted $40. Hmmm, that didn't
work out quite right.

You get another client, who wants a bookcase, first design. Ah,
you say, I know this one. And quote $40. Except this time, you have
experience with the design, and cut your work time down to 3 hours
rather than 5. Ah, now your're cookin'.

But, then no one wants bookcases anymore. Drat.

Then you decide to make little boxes (or whatever), and sell all
you can make, at $15 each - which covers the $5 materials, and take 3
hours to make. You still want to make your $5 per hour, but if you
charge $20, they don't sell well. Then you fid out, if you take them 40
miles down the road, you call sell them at $20, with no problem; but
then you've got gas, the time it takes, etc. And, if you go down the
road 40 miles in the oppositie direction, they will only sell at $7.50
each.
It partly depends on what you make, what materials you are using,
where you are selling, what price you are asking.

Bottom line, there're just too many variables involved for there to
be any hard and fast answers.



JOAT
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind dont
matter, and those who matter dont mind.
- Dr Seuss


Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

Thanks JT for the infomative response, I see what you mean!



Sam


"J T" wrote in message
...
Sat, Dec 4, 2004, 7:41pm (EST+5) (Sam Berlyn)
waves and wants to know:
Hi,
If someone asked me (a 13yr old) to build a bookcase, how much would you
charge?
It would depend.

I would think you charge on a per job rate, or is it hourly?

It would depend.

Say the materials cost £15 and it took 5 hrs, how much would you
charge.

It would depend.

I am not going to start charging, as I am putting it down to experience,
just getting them to pay materials, but just wondering!

What to charge is very rarely a black and white thing. Usually more
gray. Materials cost, certainly. Unless you're making something for a
close relative, or friend, as a gift. Then it could be optional.
Everything else is not engraved in stone.
I'll use the US $ sign rather than the pound sign (not on my keyboard).

Someone wants a bookcase. Your materials cost $15. Takes 5 hours
to make a bookcase. You want to make $5 pe hours, for a total of $40.
The customer is happy, you're happy.

OK, someone else wants a bookcase. Materials will cost $15 this
time too. You tell him/her $40. However, this time the client wants a
different design - and this one takes 10 hours to make. You still want
your $5 hours labor, but you've already quoted $40. Hmmm, that didn't
work out quite right.

You get another client, who wants a bookcase, first design. Ah,
you say, I know this one. And quote $40. Except this time, you have
experience with the design, and cut your work time down to 3 hours
rather than 5. Ah, now your're cookin'.

But, then no one wants bookcases anymore. Drat.

Then you decide to make little boxes (or whatever), and sell all
you can make, at $15 each - which covers the $5 materials, and take 3
hours to make. You still want to make your $5 per hour, but if you
charge $20, they don't sell well. Then you fid out, if you take them 40
miles down the road, you call sell them at $20, with no problem; but
then you've got gas, the time it takes, etc. And, if you go down the
road 40 miles in the oppositie direction, they will only sell at $7.50
each.
It partly depends on what you make, what materials you are using,
where you are selling, what price you are asking.

Bottom line, there're just too many variables involved for there to
be any hard and fast answers.



JOAT
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind dont
matter, and those who matter dont mind.
- Dr Seuss

Tue, Dec 7, 2004, 6:48am (EST+5) (Sam=A0Berlyn)
says:
Thanks JT for the infomative response, I see what you mean!

If you ever figure out a formula that'll work every time, don't
tell anyone but me.



JOAT
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind dont
matter, and those who matter dont mind.
- Dr Seuss