First project

[edanielvijay]

Hi All,
I just built this cabinet for a colleague of mine. This is my first project that I am building for someone else . Built with melamine particle board. Had some tough time with the melamine chipping but somehow able to manage by rip cut etc,. Given a chance again, I might not choose melamine particle board

I am not sure how to price this though since this is my first external project. I spent around $$$ for the materials. It would be great if someone can advise on the $$$ to give me some idea.  

Here are some specs. It got sliding doors at the middle.
Width - 7 feet
Depth - 1 feet
Height - 2.5 feet

Here are some pics.

 

[galwaydude18@gmail.com]

Nice job! How many hours did you spend making it?

 

[edanielvijay]

Thanks! I spent like few weekends/week nights on this, as this is not my main stream of work....let me think... may be around 40 hrs

 

[erock]

Danny,
   

      Looks top notch buddy!  What's the application?  Office?  Living room?

I could see putting legs on it for a flat screen television .

I may need to borrow this idea for you!

Keep up the good work!

Eric

 

[edanielvijay]

Thanks Eric! This is going to be installed in his loft. I m planning to build a toe kick and put this on.
Sure, will send you the plan/other stuff if you are interested in building one.

-Danny

 

[erock]

Hey Danny,

I noticed in the 4th picture that the edges are not edge banded or finished.  What are your plans for that?

Sure would like the plans/ other stuff.  That would help a lot.  Thanks

Eric

 

[edanielvijay]

oh yeah...this is going to be sitting between 2 walls, so the sides wont be visible at all. Thats the other reason, I made the top a little wider than the bottom so that I can measure exactly the width at the site and cut the top panel so that it can fit seamless. Then I might need to scribe and put some side pieces.

 

[jmbfestool]

Well 200 - 250$  is a little far apart   if its 200  and you charge X amount and you then work out its actually 250  then you will be 50$ down you need to know what it is exactly THEN you can add your hours onto it.    

I have done it in the past when I was being lazy and I thought £300 materials ish cus I just worked out in my head then I charged £450  got the cheque then when I was sorting my book work out it actually cost me £360 on materials so that day I worked on that job for peanuts.  Only got £90  that sucked big time!

Looking at that unit I looks like a good days work to me but might be wrong at most 2 days so I would charge 2 days labour.

JMB

 

[Jalvis]

JMB:
2 days Build time plus 1 day install and Delivery?

Be sure to charge a rate to include the use of consumables and Tools.  Its not just a rate for Time.

 

[jmbfestool]

JMB:
2 days Build time plus 1 day install and Delivery?

Be sure to charge a rate to include the use of consumables and Tools.  Its not just a rate for Time.

Yeah well depends on the install cud be just drop and run lol  or a full fix install with fixing and scribing etc  that would add to the total time of install.  

Its hard for some one else to tell you what you should charge.    I work two ways!   If some one wants a price I price it to make money and most time I shy away from price jobs unless I need the work.

if some one wants day/hour rate I give them the exact cost per hour no more no less so the client is more likely to get it cheaper and I dont have spend time costing everything up to price and I dont have to take a risk if I dont do it in the time frame I have calculated.  
about 90% of my jobs are hour rate which is how I like it dont have to worry and dont have to spend hours pricing up and might not get the job.

but the OP said 40hours spent on this unit  well I couldnt charge the client 40hours for that unit seems way to much.  The unit would be running at £1000  not including install  which seems a very expensive unit then lol

JMB

 

[Jalvis]

JMB:

Theres a lot of value in your comments. 

My future goal is to be doing more hourly but its extremely hard to make money in my area at an hourly rate.  No one is willing to pay a wage to justify the risk, skill, equipment, and overhead if they know what your making an hour.  Its best to hide the numbers and fluctuate price on Materials and quality to satisfy the Customer.  If I worked by the Hour I would be busy and make a living but not a Future.  I think of it as a long term goal to build a clientele who will pay hourly.

One consideration for pricing is to charge a lower rate per hour for Work your Learning on......that way you will be satisfied with the compensation for education, not feel rushed when things take longer, and satisfy the client with a reasonable number.  This works for me if done in Bid Form so the client wont expect a low hourly on a future project.

Your correct....telling someone else what they should charge is hard.  My experience is that most under value there time and expenses.

 

[jmbfestool]

JMB:

Theres a lot of value in your comments. 

My future goal is to be doing more hourly but its extremely hard to make money in my area at an hourly rate.  No one is willing to pay a wage to justify the risk, skill, equipment, and overhead if they know what your making an hour.  Its best to hide the numbers and fluctuate price on Materials and quality to satisfy the Customer.  If I worked by the Hour I would be busy and make a living but not a Future.  I think of it as a long term goal to build a clientele who will pay hourly.

One consideration for pricing is to charge a lower rate per hour for Work your Learning on......that way you will be satisfied with the compensation for education, not feel rushed when things take longer, and satisfy the client with a reasonable number.  This works for me if done in Bid Form so the client wont expect a low hourly on a future project.

Your correct....telling someone else what they should charge is hard.  My experience is that most under value there time and expenses.

Yes I totally agree,

I am planning on pricing more in the future when I have my workshop  like you mentioned with all your overheads cost etc. 
I wanna be making money not just earning a wage but for site work I find this hourly rate I normally work on works well for site jobs.

but for workshop work I think price is what is best as its easier to estimate how long things can take because you have more control on what happens in your workshop  as on site work things like  weather, other tradesmen, client alterations, travel time etc  all can affect your job time and can end up costing you money if you have not priced these factors into your job I just think their is more risk on pricing site work then workshop work.

JMB