I seem to be having a brain cramp. I just hired an apprentice (green but with out of trade school)and I can't figure how to charge out for us on a service call. I was talking to a guy that does flat rate and it sounded great to me but how do you come up with prices for everything. I know that it has been posted here before so if someone can please post the formula for calculating the hourly rate. I have been doing this for a few years already and now that I have the apprentice it feels as if I am starting all over again as far as coming up with rates. For example, I had a guy call me up for 3 ballast changes (he has the ballasts,basement lights) change a switch, and run a new phone line (1st floor,open basement). It is a 45 minute drive 1 way,so I told him $305.00 and I got "Whoa, I'll have to think about it". That's fine but the flat raters and up front price guys seem to knock these out of the park. How?