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#34571 02/15/04 06:27 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 545
A
aldav53 Offline OP
Member
Trying to come up with a better way to estimate jobs. When doing small repairs I usually charge a $40 trip charge + $55 an hour. But on bigger jobs like the church I am now working on, about a 2 week job, I try to estimate the total job ahead, at a less hourly rate. Example = I look at the job and figure it will take 1 man at $35 an hour, 2 weeks labor + materials and lift rental. ($35x80hrs = $2800 + materials & lift rental). This would be my charge doing the job myself and hiring a helper sometimes.
This job consist of adding stage lighting, screens and projectors to an exhisting church.
How would you estimate a week or 2 week job like this? (other than T&M).


The Golden Rule - "The man with the gold makes the rule"
#34572 02/15/04 12:10 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507
G
Member
Sounds like you've got it covered.

What we do is;

Detailed material take off + mark-up
Labor estimate at standard rate
Equipment rental
travel expenses if required

Good luck,
GJ

#34573 02/15/04 04:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 545
A
aldav53 Offline OP
Member
What is your labor cost?


The Golden Rule - "The man with the gold makes the rule"
#34574 02/15/04 06:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,429
L
LK Offline
Member
Aldav53,
Wage for worker $18.00
Plus WH,SS,ST.DIS,UI ETC. 9.75
Total Wage cost 27.75 per hr

Overhead:
Truck operating&Maint.Expense
Office Expense
Liability Insurance
Comp Insurance
Truck Insurance
Shop expense
Tools & Equipment
State Corp Tax
Business lic. Fees
Phone & Communications
State & Federal Tax
Banking Service Fees
Loan Service Fees
Advertizing
Postage
Accounting
Rent
Total OP Costs $14.00 per hr.

Total espense less profit $39.75 per hr.

Add 15% profit $45.71 per hr.

This is just a rough outline, your wages, overhead and profit may vary, depending on area or conditions, however the numbers you plug in must be real.


[This message has been edited by LK (edited 02-15-2004).]

#34575 02/16/04 12:43 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 545
A
aldav53 Offline OP
Member
LK, That is helpful, I'm assumming those cost are any size job, except maybe small repair jobs. Would you use that rate for an estimate and if it goes over or under in hours it would stay the same?
Thanks,
Al D


The Golden Rule - "The man with the gold makes the rule"
#34576 02/16/04 01:23 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 886
H
Member
...Total espense less profit $39.75 per hr. Add 15% profit $45.71 per hr.

15%? [Linked Image] You mean to tell me you only make $5.96 an hour which is $47.60 a day??? Don't think I would even bother to get out of bed for that! If I bought lunch and coffee for myself and my helper I would blow almost half my profit!

#34577 02/16/04 07:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,429
L
LK Offline
Member
hbiss,
That is an outline of how to include all your expenses, you plug in your actual costs and add your profit percent.
You would be suprised, to find a number contractors are working at this number.
And why would you take your profit money to by coffee, you have your wages to buy the coffee, $18.00 hr. that is $144 per day or $720 per week. Material mark-up would add profit to the job, and that mark-up would depend on the area market conditions and what support level would hold.

[This message has been edited by LK (edited 02-16-2004).]

#34578 02/16/04 08:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 886
H
Member
Ok, I see what you are saying if you pay yourself $18 an hour plus benefits as well as your workers. More usual is that the owners salary comes out of the profits. $720 per week before taxes still isn't much though. Around here (Westchester county, NY) if we (one man shop) don't average at least $500-600 A DAY in labor charges alone you might as well pack it in.

#34579 02/16/04 08:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,429
L
LK Offline
Member
hbiss
That's it around the NY, NJ Metro area it is 500 to 600 a day. As you head south it drops,
the central south NJ area is about 525 a day. that is the just stay alive amount.

#34580 02/16/04 08:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,429
L
LK Offline
Member
aldav53,
You have to put in your own numbers. to find your rate.
In the Metro area where we work, a 2 week job could be $2,500 a week or $5,000 for 2 weeeks plus material and mark-up. That would be minimum. Service work is usually more, you have to consider travel and down time.


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