Price rates etc £££

[JackSparky]

Evening all

What does everyone charge for a callout per hour, fitting sockets (int/ext), new fuse board etc. Just intriged to get everyones opinions!

 

[mattg4321]

This should be in the Arms really

 

[Octopus]

Not sure many people will answer in the open forum and location matters a LOT.

 

[Joshua]

Deleted double post

 

[telectrix]

up here, north of the Severn we tend to charge what we think is a fair price to ourselves and to the customer. down south, just charge what you think you can get away with, they're all loaded down there.

 

[Octopus]

^^ er no. There are a few rip off merchants but they don't get much repeat and referral business

 

[Joshua]

My rates are
2 cups of tea for the first hour and then 1 cup for every hour after.
or they can pay for the whole day at 1 magnum bottle of grey goose.

Materials charged at 1 sugar per cup.

 

[ED17]

My rates are
2 cups of tea for the first hour and then 1 cup for every hour after.
or they can pay for the whole day at 1 magnum bottle of grey goose.

Materials charged at 1 sugar per cup.

You're selling yourself too cheap! What about the biscuits to go with the tea?

 

[telectrix]

My rates are
2 cups of tea for the first hour and then 1 cup for every hour after.
or they can pay for the whole day at 1 magnum bottle of grey goose.

Materials charged at 1 sugar per cup.

now you're talking sense.

Grey Goose Vodka - http://www.31dover.com/spirits/vodka/grey-goose-vodka.html?utm_source=shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=Grey+Goose+Vodka+70cl&utm_campaign=Shopping&mkwid=%5Buniq_id%5D_d%5Bdevice%5D&fo_c=580&fo_k=fddd775ca4ad815012c680ea9dbe26b6&fo_s=gplauk&gclid=CjwKCAjw47bLBRBkEiwABh-PkWIDyjHOAdy0rd1LZBLVO7rNLlGg0v0LKhDrPkJDDeasnqUPyPcnlxoCHCgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#agegate=1

 

[Cadgey123]

I thought about this before and the real answer lies with how much you need to earn/ how much you value your time.

If you are a one man/woman sole trader and plod along doing minor works you will definetely be able to charge a less than someone that has 6 vans on the road and has to factor everything else in to the equation.

Also I am not saying small outfits can't make good money, the turnovers will be different but profit may be the same percentage.

I added all my costs which I consider necessary to running a business, i.e. Van, insurances , diesel ,scams, a wage then + profit margin on top of that to give me an hourly figure.

If you ain't walking away with profit you need to rethink the figures.

 

[JackSparky]

I thought about this before and the real answer lies with how much you need to earn/ how much you value your time.

If you are a one man/woman sole trader and plod along doing minor works you will definetely be able to charge a less than someone that has 6 vans on the road and has to factor everything else in to the equation.

Also I am not saying small outfits can't make good money, the turnovers will be different but profit may be the same percentage.

I added all my costs which I consider necessary to running a business, i.e. Van, insurances , diesel ,scams, a wage then + profit margin on top of that to give me an hourly figure.

If you ain't walking away with profit you need to rethink the figures.

Thanks mate, finally a reply that was helpful.

 

[Rpa07]

It went off @JackSparky because it is a subject that can't be discussed in the public forum for all sorts of reasons. The Arms is a private area where details can be shared. This has been discussed before and the same answer as was given by cadgey123 was given. We are all different traders and a good sit down and an honest add up and divide of your expenses (factor in the wife!) will give you the 1st answer but the other answers come from the repeat business, word of mouth, type of client etc etc.
Don't undersell yourself and give a quality service always.

 

[JK-Electrical]

I would like to post on this topic in the Electricians Arms, but can't do so as I have insufficient privileges. How is access gained to this part of the forum?

 

[static zap]

I would like to post on this topic in the Electricians Arms, but can't do so as I have insufficient privileges. How is access gained to this part of the forum?

Get to 100 posts , and be qualified + business and ask ?

 

[JK-Electrical]

Thanks SZ.

I'm a qualified electrician and have my own business.

I guess I'll need to make another 33 posts pretty quickly!

 

[static zap]

Thanks SZ.

I'm a qualified electrician and have my own business.

I guess I'll need to make another 33 posts pretty quickly!

Somewhere there is a Topic how do I get in the arms .
I have no idea if quality control is done on posts ,
but think it more about joining in ,welcome a few newcomers etc.

 

[static zap]

Thanks SZ.

I'm a qualified electrician and have my own business.

I guess I'll need to make another 33 posts pretty quickly!

Somewhere I think there is a post , How do I join the arms.
Just post some more (Don't think its quality controlled)
Welcome a few newbies ,of your choice / random .

 

[static zap]

Double/delay/deleted

 

[JK-Electrical]

Understood SZ.

I'm particularly interested in discovering what kind of rates are being commanded up and down the country to see how they compare with the rates that I'm currently charging.

 

[static zap]

The issue is about ,playing one against the other for a discount
the motor insurance industry , said was a good thing , then some left in a mess (the money was not there/milked by scams !)
(..Some times you can find the lads ,talking, but maybe a bit late now )

 

[JK-Electrical]

My main concern at the moment is the amount of jobs I'm losing to young trainees who are barely out of the classroom. I just can't compete with the pocket-money prices these jokers are prepared to work for. Glasgow is absolutely teeming with them at the moment.

 

[static zap]

Many schemes to help out , seem to have hidden costs.
Then there are companies willing to "Repurpose "people into a new career - 10 /8 week wonders , some make it -all their redundency money invested .

 

[JK-Electrical]

There are no Part P type schemes up here in Scotland ..... yet. But my understanding is that legislation from the Scottish Government will be forthcoming. I'm not sure if something like Part P is the answer, but we need something done, that's for sure. Below is an excerpt from a SELECT document calling for the electrical installation industry to be recognised as a profession and for all electricians to be registered. I strongly support the call. I'm sure the spark who wrote this except does too:

I am concerned about the electrical industry on our island.

Main contractors are securing contracts involving electrical work but the work is not being certified or even tested. I have come across some awful installations. At this point I am not naming anyone but it is very clear there are no qualified people at these companies.

The organisations awarding the contracts seem happy to ignore the need for testing and certification. I have not attempted to get any of these contracts and don’t particularly want them but I am concerned about the state these jobs are being left in.

When we price work we allow for testing and certification but are usually told we are too expensive. It is impossible to compete against this.

It’s reaching the point where I feel the only option left to me is to slowly pay off my staff, become a “one man band” and just work on my own.

http://www.select.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Report-Electrician-As-A-Profession-Final.pdf

 

[Specialist]

My main concern at the moment is the amount of jobs I'm losing to young trainees who are barely out of the classroom. I just can't compete with the pocket-money prices these jokers are prepared to work for. Glasgow is absolutely teeming with them at the moment.

Trust me your not alone in that, it's the same up and down the country. That's along with all the foreigners doing carp work for peanuts & We're getting a hiding.
Things like a CU installation for £275.00 including the board. Or at done by certain Chinese "Sparks" around here £50.00 plus materials.

 

[Rpa07]

If you are losing out to them @JK-Electrical, as it has been mentioned before you could include in your quotes the things that you will provide as should be expected such as certification MWC or an EIC with notification to the LABC if it is required. Word it in a way that makes the customer realise that with you they get a professional job that is warrantied and mention any other ideals that you possess that the chancers do not.
Customers don't think into the work as much as we do they just see price one higher and one lower. I give my customers 5 business cards when I finish the job, people chat, people find out about things that go on and EVERYONE has small electrical jobs they need doing (I do!) then word of mouth . . . . Yadda yadda.

 

[JK-Electrical]

Trust me your not alone in that, it's the same up and down the country. That's along with all the foreigners doing carp work for peanuts & We're getting a hiding.
Things like a CU installation for £275.00 including the board.

Bloody hell ..... £275.00 for a CU changeover ..... that's daylight robbery!

There are boys ..... and I do mean boys ..... who do them for £200.00 and under up here! Seriously. But of course, that price doesn't include any pre-installation inspection and testing or post-installation certification.

 

[Specialist]

Testing & certification ?. Don't worry about that stuff, it's only for wimps
Seriously though, I'm glad I'm not in the installation game any more. It's always been competitive, Which was good & kept us on our toes. Nowadays though, it's got beyond a joke.

 

[static zap]

Polarity test why worry !

(Just wear your wellies if its wet)

 

[Specialist]

Same with testing for dead, no need for test equipment. If your dead, you'll know you didn't carry out safe isolation

 

[JK-Electrical]

If you are losing out to them @JK-Electrical, as it has been mentioned before you could include in your quotes the things that you will provide as should be expected such as certification MWC or an EIC with notification to the LABC if it is required. Word it in a way that makes the customer realise that with you they get a professional job that is warrantied and mention any other ideals that you possess that the chancers do not.
Customers don't think into the work as much as we do they just see price one higher and one lower. I give my customers 5 business cards when I finish the job, people chat, people find out about things that go on and EVERYONE has small electrical jobs they need doing (I do!) then word of mouth . . . . Yadda yadda.

I take your points, but up here in Scotland, a consumer unit changeover is not notifiable to the LABC. Seeing is believing:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/Building/Building-standards/publications/glf2

Last week I submitted a written quotation for a CU changeover pretty much along the lines of what you have suggested. I even included a copy of Electrical Safety's Consumer Unit Changeover guidance. Imagine my surprise when the customer told me that he had obtained a quotation from a young guy that was almost half of what I was asking. He then proceeded to tell me that I was much too expensive and even insinuated that I was overcharging!

This is how things are up here ..... the good guy - the professional, experienced electrician who plays by the rules becomes the villain of the piece while the bad guy - the rogue electrician who cuts corners and chooses which regulations he'll conveniently ignore so to win jobs becomes the good guy. I despair.

 

[Specialist]

Don't take this the wrong way buddy, but Welcome to life in the modern Electrical Industry.

Anyway why are you so expensive ?, Are you wanting to make a decent living or something ?

 

[static zap]

Sadly the good guy gets the back lash , when regs get even stricter.
More earthing ,are we expecting more earth tremmors , cable damage ?