*HOW Do I PRICE Paintjobs*

A place for professionals to network and discuss the business and technology inside the shop.



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PostPosted: Thu Mar 03, 2022 4:51 am
bigrondae wrote:I’m wondering can I just estimate the hrs as a shop would do but at a lower rate because of fewer overhead cost?

youre overhead costs shouldnt be much less.

heres what happens when cuttting my costs and lowering my rates. this comes from my carpentry and woodworking experience:

quote out jobs at lower rates than the established companies. im making money but in the end im making less than if im working for someone else. i also get the cheap arse people that want me to cut corners and/or want more for free. im not happy doing what im doing.

quote out jobs as if i was a business. add in all expenditures plus profit.the cheap arse people stay away. the clients that know the value of my time and experience show up. they tell me what they want, we agree on what that is and on the estimate of how much that will cost, i get working, they see the final product, they are happy.they pay me. im happy. they tell others. i get more work from the right client base.

there is a client base out there that wants a person/company to focus on their vehicle and their vehicle only. not juggling 3-10 different jobs at once- just their vehicle.

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PostPosted: Thu Mar 03, 2022 5:06 pm
Depends a lot on the quality of work you can put out as well.

I charge 100/130 hour plus material marked up 30%

thats just a average price, sometimes higher but never lower.
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 22, 2022 9:38 am
NFT5 wrote:
bigrondae wrote:But what are the estimated labor hrs for an overall?


If you join the site then you can work up a quote for painting by doing panel by panel. You can also include your estimates for R&R and Repair. Note also that there are automatic calculations of materials, depending on how you calculate, plus provision for Parts and Sublets.

Hours to do each task vary according to the way the quote is calculated but are generally based on insurance company approved times so they will give you a good starting point. Obviously you may need to adjust according to each vehicle. Rates are customisable and you can add your logo and business details as well as comments for a professional result to give to your customer.

Following is one that I did recently, that I now have and about to start.

Screenshot_20220303_163034.jpg


Screenshot_20220303_163341.jpg


Screenshot_20220303_163450.jpg



Love the Bill BUT where is the Shop clean up time?
It should be billed for
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 22, 2022 10:45 am
It is. Environmental Levy - $8.25 :happy:

Seriously, that kind of thing is an overhead and should be covered in your "shop rate".
Chris



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PostPosted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 8:32 am
NFT5 wrote:It is. Environmental Levy - $8.25 :happy:

Seriously, that kind of thing is an overhead and should be covered in your "shop rate".

I disagree all My employers Pay for prep and clean up time. It takes time to get set up get Tools out and set up to do a Job then it takes time to clean them and put them away and clean up mess from using them.
In today's economy its not something a small business can afford to give away and eat any more its getting harder and harder to stay competitive.

Think about it a 15 min here Half hour their every day on every job it adds up and takes away from bottom line.
I don't clock out for these things or work my 8 then stop and do clean up, I get paid for it!
I stop at 7.5 and clean up my employer still pays me for 8 and as such a small business should charge for it.
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

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PostPosted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 1:24 pm
Doright wrote:I disagree all My employers Pay for prep and clean up time.


Ah! Sorry, I thought you meant general clean-up, not specific to the job.

General I include as an overhead and it's built into the shop rate.

Specific, as in set-up, tools etc. I include in the repair and R&R times. There is a separate item for paint setup.

Good point though. The hours spent on stuff like this can make the difference between profit and loss.
Chris



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PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:13 am
Rank amateur here!! But have been doing work for decades in my home shop after starting out doing it in my garage. Pay attention to all of the above!

These are experienced guys that know what they are talking about. I have been burned in so many ways over the years I wonder why I even deal with people I don't know anymore!! After all this time I really would rather just do my projects and sell the entire car after it's done. But that's up to you.

Yes get a spread sheet started immediately. The closer you operate this as a commercial business the better it will turn out. Include ALL costs! Note the shipping cost and tax posted above.

I also shop for used parts as the stuff I work on usually does NOT have anything repo available. So I go to junk yards and pull parts if I can find them. That cost has to be captured. Same when I go to swap meets. I still don't charge for my time when searching for stuff on the computer even though that is usually several hours a day. Maybe I should?

What I want to add that has NOT been mentioned is this; When I start a project and before we shake hands to seal the deal. Yes I STILL do that!

I tell them that I understand that car repair/restoration is very expensive. (Note; You should really decide which way you want to go here? If just repair then your competing with the commercial shops in your area. Do you WANT to do that??) BUT I am a working shop and NOT a storage facility!! So the bill needs to be kept current. Decide how much money you can afford to spend and how bad it would be if the guy just stopped paying? (Yes that WILL happen!). Then give them your requirements.

I demand that the bill be less than 30 days of parts/labor. If you don't keep me current. The project stops and after a week or so will be piled up and pushed outside waiting for you to pick it up or start paying again. This normally happens one or two times before they get the picture. Now I am flexible too depending on their history of payment as these long projects tend to make me friends with the car owner. Some of my projects have been as long as 16 months. So you will see a LOT of these people!

Otherwise you will end up with piles of junk around with them owing you money! Can't emphasize this enough. Got to stay current on the bill or ALL work stops!

One other thing not mentioned? If your doing this at home like all of us are. Please be aware of your surroundings/neighbors and how you are impacting them. Note on this forum how many of us are out in the country on several or more acres. There is a reason for this. If you have a bad neighbor they can cause tons of problems.

So watch how much noise your making and at what time of day too. When your painting is over spray getting blown all over the neighborhood? How loud is your compressor? Just put yourself in your neighbors position and respect their space too. Are you in Lefty Loony land like california? Are there regulations in your area you need to be aware of?

Technically you can't run a business out of your home in most area's anymore. People still do it but think what would happen if a neighbor got mad for some reason (See above!) and started calling all the government agencies in your town? Do you have a business license? Do you declare the income from these side jobs on your federal tax return?

Yea I didn't think so.
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 12:30 pm
clubairth wrote: I have been burned in so many ways over the years I wonder why I even deal with people I don't know anymore!! After all this time I really would rather just do my projects and sell the entire car after it's done. But that's up to you.



You made some really good points! especially the neighbor thing!

I only do my own cars my self, no one telling me what to fix what to replace or changing their mind and directions mid way thru project or waiting for payments.
Then sell it when I am done.

I don't mind taking on the occasional rust repair if that's all I have to do BUT I am not interested in doing full restorations for people anymore or full complete paint jobs.
Way too many people want Earl Scheib / Maco prices but a concourse show car restoration when done.
I too have been burned too many times.
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

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PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 2:10 pm
Doright wrote:You made some really good points!


Agree 100%. :goodpost:
Chris
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