Flat rate pricing is the only way to go! Very simply, when you tell someone $70 an hour plus %110 on material cost, they go nuts. I hear customers respond with "Boy, I'm in the wrong business" and the like. I love the book idea! I could definitly see how customers would appreciate the fact that you have a menu of services with prices as opposed to feeling like you just whipped a price out of your a^&. How do you handle phone quotes with a book? My guess would be that you would ask very pointed questions, give them a bid that is based on the information that the customer gives you and modify the bid if need be once you get to the site. Further you would let the customer know ahead of time that a phone quote may be less than complete, but that you will be able to use a price book and some diagnostics up front to sharpen the quote upon arrival if need be. Am I on the right track?
