ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Job Estimate

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).

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

What is your labor cost?

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).]

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

...Total espense less profit $39.75 per hr. Add 15% profit $45.71 per hr.

15%? 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!

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).]

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.

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.

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.