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Home > Archive > Hardware > July 2004 > How much to charge?
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How much to charge?
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| suchanoob 2004-07-01, 9:11 am |
| I am a PC/LAN Technician for my "day job." I've never had to charge anyone privately for a job before, but I have been asked how much it would cost for a home visit on some of my users' home machines.
Usually it's something like installing CD/RW or hooking up cable or DSL connections. What is best, an hourly rate or flat fee?
How much should I charge? | |
| PoorboyTech 2004-07-01, 10:17 am |
| First off, I recommend not to help your friends out with their PCs. The minute you fix something for them, you'll end up supporting them for everything and then it becomes uncomfortable whether you charge a friend or not.
If its not a friend or relative, I recommend an initial flat fee, because if you go over the fix someone's monitor by helping them "plug it in", you've wasted your time. I'd set up a general fee based on if its hardware software netowrking related and go from there...estimate man hours of how long something will take to provide estimates before even going over there. In regards of fees, I couldnt really give you a specific rate because I think each region is different. I'd call around to some of the PC places in your area, pretend your PC is broke and ask for pricing=)
Hope this helps | |
| freak 2004-07-01, 10:45 am |
| it's a market-driven fee, so it's hard for us to say. I charge $100-$150 / hour for companies, and home rate is $75/hour with a minimum $50 fee. | |
| Deja-vue 2004-07-01, 10:49 am |
| Let me give you some ideas, of what i charge:
Homeusers: $45/hr
Homebased Business: $65/hr
Small/medium sized Business with more than 10 Computers: $85/hr
Large Businesses with Lan/Wan/VPN/multiple Servers: $125/hr
But:
For a first time customer, i charge nothing for the first visit.I set up an appointment, visit the Customer, evaluate his system and give him/her some ideas how to improve or fix it. Remember, it could be a potential future customer that you want to add to your Customer database.
After that, i give him a written Estimate, which he/she can review.
For my regular Customers:
minimum charge is $45/hr for home-users, minimum one hour, if i have to drive more than 15 miles, it is another $30 just for driving there. (it is your time and gas).
Always have spare parts in the car that you might need. I can pretty much assemble a entire computer from scratch in my Car.
You never know, what you are going to see, when you are at the customers house, believe me, i been doing it for some 2 years now full time.
Clean, professional appearance is another thing that many techs forget to watch.
You want to dress appropriately when visiting a new customer, you never get another chance to make a first impression, remember that.
I have talked to many clients, and the first thing they tell me about their previous Techs is " He was never on time", or "He was a flake" or " Sometimes he simply didn't show up".
They never tell me that the previous tech couldn't get the job done, but that they were unreliable...
Unlike Poorboytech, i do help out my Friend and never charge them, because they are my Friends.
I will always help out my Friends, that is just me.
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| PoorboyTech 2004-07-01, 11:24 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by Deja-vue
Unlike Poorboytech, i do help out my Friend and never charge them, because they are my Friends.
I will always help out my Friends, that is just me.
Sorry lemme rephrase, beacause I did say something incorrectly. Friends, yes I do help and would never think to charge..although coworkers, passerbys and occasional acquaintances who think you are "buddy buddy" with them makes for an uncomfrtable situation.
Perfect example...I went out for a beer the other night to a place I use to work at. One of the regulars at the bar saw me and knew what I do for a living and said something to the effect of...
"I can't connect to AOL for some reason, what do you think is wrong?" And after explaining in layman terms that it could be a number of things, he asked if I had some free time to stop by and "look at it" for him. | |
| freak 2004-07-01, 11:33 am |
| that's the kind of question I *always* refer to AOL tech support  | |
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| freak 2004-07-01, 11:59 am |
| I have gotten quite opiniated on this one, but I gotta tell you: if a box has AOL on it, I don't service it unless the user agrees to have it removed. I have no time to spend on that proprietary crappy software. | |
| PoorboyTech 2004-07-01, 12:11 pm |
| I totally agree..we call is arses on line
But that was just an example...its that grey area where i wouldnt consider them a friend but i know them that the "should i charge or not" issue would arise | |
| azimuth40 2004-07-01, 12:39 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by Deja-vue
For a fist time customer, i charge nothing for the first visit.
Gee Deja I knew that you were a brave sort going to homes and all but you should give up the fist time customers because you could get hurt. We will have to call you the Jackie Chan of IT | |
| Deja-vue 2004-07-01, 12:55 pm |
| azimuth40, old friend...
I "raked in" some pretty good Customers by showing up the first time and just looking at the Network, Routers, Wiring and so on, then giving them a free Estimate.
I pulled in Car-Dealers, Real Estate Offices and even a School. Some of these Customers now spend an average of $12.000/year with me.If it comes to new customers, i go the extra mile.
These customers have many choices here in my Area. ( from Irvine to Ventura, from Pomona to Manhattan Beach)
I have got to be better than others,give 'em a deal here and there, whatever it takes.
Once i got 'em on my side, they don't mind if they get charged extra for this or that little favor...so the "free" first visit always pays off.
just my 2 cents. | |
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| Deja, you missed his point - although yours is not falling on deaf ears. He wrote *fist*, not *first*, hence the Jackie Chan joke  | |
| PoorboyTech 2004-07-01, 1:33 pm |
| I hope you wear gloves | |
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| NASTY! | |
| Deja-vue 2004-07-01, 3:24 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by freak
Deja, you missed his point - although yours is not falling on deaf ears. He wrote *fist*, not *first*, hence the Jackie Chan joke
oops.
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| well, to be perfectly honest, I missed it the first time around too
WHen I got to the Jackie Chan part, I was wondering what the heck he was smoking | |
| Deja-vue 2004-07-01, 3:36 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by azimuth40
Gee Deja I knew that you were a brave sort going to homes and all but you should give up the fist time customers because you could get hurt. We will have to call you the Jackie Chan of IT
you are not making fun of me because English is my second language, are you?
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| now that would be rough
Though as a fellow English as a second language - ir third in my case - guy, I gotta tell you that your English is pretty darn good!!! | |
| PoorboyTech 2004-07-01, 3:39 pm |
| I would never make fun of someone like that..I was just teasin on my part..
And I'll have to admit, I had to reread it too once i saw the Jackie Chan statement (I collect his movies) | |
| azimuth40 2004-07-01, 7:49 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by Deja-vue
oops.
Nope I thought you were serious, I am an equal opportunity punster. There are a few places where that computer would just stay broken even in downtown L.A. Although I guess the beach areas down your way are not that bad. | |
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| Deja-vue 2004-07-01, 10:50 pm |
| azimuth40
I got some customers in Pomona,next week i will service a VPN over there, lets meet!
You are in Pomona or surroundings, are you?
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| azimuth40 2004-07-02, 1:11 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by Deja-vue
azimuth40
I got some customers in Pomona,next week i will service a VPN over there, lets meet!
You are in Pomona or surroundings, are you?
I would love to but it is vacation time for me. I'm heading out tomorrow and I'll be off the boards for a while | |
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| You'll be missed... but enjoy the vacation time, I would if I could |
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