How much to charge?

[Iron man]

I have been welding for about 15 years and I have been doing a little blacksmithing for about 6 years. I have a small business on the side, just starting dont have alot of customers yet. But my question is How much should I charge for my work? do you guys charge by the hour or by the job
and if by the hour what is a fair price? I want to be paid for what the work is worth but on the otherhand I dont wont somebody to feel ripped off and never come back. Thanks for any response.

[garth]

Well it all depends on the area you are in and what the economy is like. some times I charge buy thr HR and on the jobs I know I can Quote and get them rigth. Ill charge buy the job I would call around and see what the other shops in your area are charging and if you are able to go a little less to get your name out there. good luck take care. Garth

[fun4now]

i have herd many saying 3X the $ of matereals is a good way to charge but i have never tryed it. are you trying to decide what to charge for welding or blacksmithing or both ??
i could ask a fella on another site that sose smith work if thats what you are trying to find out what to charge for>?

[Danny]

Not only does location matter, but whats your overhead ? I just did a prototype with the expectation to do 12 more of an item. The guy took my prototype (my design too) to another machinest and he under bid me by 30%, he works out of his pole barn,no heat, no employees,no insurance, and most of all no way I can compete with him when he is at $20.00 an hour. I charge $50.00 an hour and can hardly pull $20 if I am lucky. So if you want jobs and have no overhead, under bid your local fab shop and you should get work. take a job to the others in your area and see what they charge, it will give you an idea. Jeeze, I hope your not too close to me, we were pretty slow the last couple weeks.

[Iron man]

Thanks for the info guys, I would like to set different rates for smithing and welding so yes If you could ask the other guy I would appreciate it. Thanks
by the way Dan where are you located?

[Danny]

South central Wi. Rather be in south Florida this time of year.

[FusionKing]

In my field I charge $100 an hr for mobile aluminum repair with a 1 hr minimum.
and $75 an hr for shop on aluminum with no minimum except what I feel is fair enuff. I pretty much weld 95% aluminum all the time and it keeps me busy most all the time (the other 5% is welding the stuff nobody else will touch like cast iron and gas tanks and all that other crap) That way other shops don't mind sending me the work 'cause they know I'm not competing with them. I don't cut my price for steel 'cause I could be welding aluminum for somebody else....at least that's how I see it. I don't charge drive time either...just start charging when I hit the property.
It might sound sorta high but I've been the highest guy around for ten years now and really it'll bring you more business than you could ever imagine. You only have to work half as much and if you lose you your shirt on a job it only hurts half as bad. A lot of customers like to brag on how much they spend...sorta makes them feel better.
I raised my 2 older boys helping me, now they have moved on and my 12 yr old helps in the summer. I get sorta lonesome so I tried a coupla regular jobs before I found one I liked and with my reputation didn't need to take a welding test, just picked up the tig and started welding. I work 4 ten hr shifts so keep my business alive while I'm recharging in the off season.
I have found 2 guys now that I believe I could stand to work with and I think one is getting real interested. They both bring some things to the table that I would rather not prefer to do as much so I would pay them like kings and still make a few bucks extra. One guy even worked for my arch rival....and we are become best friends to boot....sweet!
Just remember you have to make enuff $$$$$ to pay for the time when you ain't got no work because of bad weather or off season etc... the bills never quit!!
Iron Man just remember If you charge a high price you are cut loose to do the very best work no holds barred and everyone will believe in you. If they come to you expecting to pay a ton and you know pretty much what the thing you just fixed is worth then you can charge less and they will think you are generous and speak well of you. I have been in business all my life and was the lowest price guy forever and always gave a break to the other guy untill one day I woke up and asked ....hey where the heck is my lake house with the 40ft boat and all that!
It took me from a trailer house to a 4 bedroom home in 1 1/2 yrs. Plus 2 shop buildings on a seperate piece of property.
If you are too cheap everyone takes advantage of you and you can turn your dream job into a nitemare....BTDT

[wireburner]

If I was you I would charge by the Job

[fun4now]

Dan
thats a bummer on getting cut out after you did the hard part. the same thing happend to the company my wife worked for for a little wile here in tow. the comp. makes historical clothing. they wre asked to make clothing for the pirates of the carabean movie. so they made up several diferent outfits for the movie peoples aproval and were to make like 25 of each after the outfits were aproved for use. so after she made them and sbmitted the first ones to the movie people they just took her outfits and took them to some one local and had them coppy them for less $$ cutting the wife's company out of the deal after they did the hard part of comming up with the outfits. i supose a better contract might have solved the problem but what can you do ??? some people are just cheap like that.

[Darmik]

I charge$85. hr mig Aluminum
steel $63. hr
stainless $74.
stainless tig $90.
Aluminum tig $90.
If you quote by the job if it will take 3hrs add 30% to your time
Note to dan i'm sorry to hear that it hasn't happened to me yet and I do say yet(dont get me wrong I have been Screwd. and to add to what fun4now said Ask for 30% material cost right out of the gate and O ya NO REFUNDS so they stick with you
FusionKing you have no Idea just how so right you are on your last two lines and as the wife adds a nitemare it can be.