first hour labour cost? - Hourly rate work

[spud1]

Hi All,

Does anybody else charge more for their first hours labour than the successive hours?
Im thinking of implementing this, as our work recently has been lots of smaller jobs and callouts (Sometimes less than an hour on site) , lots more travelling between, so I kind of feel like we are not fulfilling our earning potential as much as if we were on bigger, longer lasting contracts.

We do charge a short notice callout charge on same day callouts, seperate to that of onsite labour, and always charge a minimum of an hours labour, but Im talking about charging say 50% more for the first hour and then after that reverting back to our standard hourly rate

Is charging more for the first hours labour a common practice?

 

[Zerax]

I do... it contributes towards travel costs, both van miles and my time.

 

[SparkyChick]

I do... as @Zerax says it helps cover the additional costs of moving from one job to another and other associated costs.

 

[JBW175]

Most definitely, for reasons stated above.

Also have an emergency call out rate too.

 

[suffolkspark]

I dont but I charge from the time I sit my arse on my van seat to drive there

 

[Dustydazzler]

Depends on you hourly rate I suppose , if you are already charging a top dollar rate then perhaps having a flat rate work out over the week.

if you are on the cheaper hourly side then I would up my first 2 hours of the rate for sure

wet pants in my area have no qualms charging £95-105 per hour in my locality so why should sparks be any cheaper

 

[spud1]

Depends on you hourly rate I suppose , if you are already charging a top dollar rate then perhaps having a flat rate work out over the week.

if you are on the cheaper hourly side then I would up my first 2 hours of the rate for sure

wet pants in my area have no qualms charging £95-105 per hour in my locality so why should sparks be any cheaper

Im gunna lay it on the line... We charge a flat rate of £33.00+VAT per hour currently (Somerset based)

 

[Dustydazzler]

Im gunna lay it on the line... We charge a flat rate of £33.00+VAT per hour currently (Somerset based)

that’s quite cheap if I’m honest if you are a legit all schemed up registered contractors.
you won’t get a fully vetted sparks in my area of Surrey for less that £50p/h

 

[spud1]

that’s quite cheap if I’m honest if you are a legit all schemed up registered contractors.
you won’t get a fully vetted sparks in my area of Surrey for less that £50p/h

Yeah all legit. NICEIC Approved Contractors & Domestic installers. 20 Years in the trade, employ another sparky too. I think it comes down to the part of the country your in half the time.

 

[DefyG]

Yes for smaller jobs, not if I'm going to be on same job all day!

 

[telectrix]

£45 call-out inc. up to 1 hour on site. £30/hour thereafter. unless it's more than 10 miles, then £1/mile (there and back) on top. the £1/mile covers travel costs and give me £15/hour travel time.

 

[Wilko]

I also do the first hour at 1.5 times standard. OoH would be 2x if I was in a fit state ...

 

[mattg4321]

£60 first, £40 thereafter. Works to around £250-300 a day if not charging for breaks - which is roughly my day rate give or take

 

[Dustydazzler]

Pricing / rates can also be subjective imo

job round the corner might just do flat rate regardless if it takes 1hr or 3hrs

job 45-50 minutes in the car will do double time the first hour to cover fuel

ive never really had a hard and fast hourly rate , only fixed price I ever had was day rate for builders

 

[Phil L]

Based in Somerset we are £95.00ph first hour, £38.00ph after that

 

[Zerax]

Based in Somerset we are £95.00ph first hour, £38.00ph after that

Is that + VAT ?

 

[Phil L]

Is that + VAT ?

Yes + VAT

 

[Dustydazzler]

I think for too long back in the past sparks have been afraid to charge a proper rate.
roll back 10 years and I would regularly blurt out ‘oh just give me £20 an hour’ without really giving my time as a proper consideration.
I just wanted lots of work at any price really, rushing round like a made man trying to do 3 or 4 jobs some days.
roll forwards to now and i now know my main assets is my time and charge accordingly.
if people want it done Cheaper that’s absolutely fine but I won’t be doing it on the cheap anymore...

 

[LukeD]

Check out Pimlico Plumbers "charges lists " !!!!!!!!!

 

[telectrix]

it's not just your time that you need to charge for. it's knowledge. this is where we fall down. wet pants charge up to £100.hour for just knowing that pi$$ flows downhill. with the knowledge we have, should be double that. e.g. £10 for hitting it with a hammer. £60 for knowing where to hit it.

 

[Dustydazzler]

People panic when they see water , hence wet pants can charge £100 per hour

 

[LukeD]

People panic when they see water , hence wet pants can charge £100 per hour

Our Trade Rates | Find Tradesmen | Pimlico

Find rates for building, bathroom, heating, plumbing, electrical, and drainage services and find tradesmen in your area

www.pimlicoplumbers.com

 

[Dustydazzler]

Pimlico aren’t alone in their heavy pricing , I rang a local plumber recently to do a small job at my house. He wanted £152 per hour. The job still needs fixing...

 

[i=p/u]

Water needs sorted in everyone's eyes quick.

Your paying for experience and todo it right.

Window cleaners brag about 150 a day, alcoholics are looking 70 + social.
Grass cutters are charging 15-20 per garden
Good Joiners are well payed.
List goes on

 

[Dustydazzler]

Just seen a guy on Facebook (Derby area) offering his services £150 per hour

 

[loz2754]

Just seen a guy on Facebook (Derby area) offering his services £150 per hour

Wow. And we thought you were expensive! ?

 

[i=p/u]

That's what his time is worth...

 

[Dustydazzler]

Wow. And we thought you were expensive! ?

I also thought I was expensive, time to raise my rates if they are charging £150ph in Derby

i thought artisan baker was expensive charging £90 per hour in Cambridge or where ever he is now

 

[LukeD]

£60 first hour if "booked" /£100 if urgent or after 6pm . Sundays the same . £40 per hour after that . BUT ....... Parking aint coming out of that .Its too bloody expensive in London and time consuming to arrange .Anything between 10 pm and 6am is £250 . And will include 2 hours