What to charge ?

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Hello all I am currently a hobbyist fabricator/welder I recently purchased a tube bender and some other new fab tools I am now trying to get a  little side business going out of my garage. But first would really like to get my name out there so I have a couple jobs lined up for building tube bumpers what do you guys charge per job On the cheap say for a bumper like this.
Reply:Hey ck,First, where are you located? Each geographical area will have varying labor rates. There are quite a few posts on the forum regarding starting up a small business & all the associated parameters to be legal & insured. It's not going to be an easy undertaking if you plan on producing "cheap" & maintaining a PROFIT that will make any business survive. Have any business savvy? Have the experience to produce QUALITY work? "Cheap" generally indicates poor quality. Crappy work reputation will spread like a wildfire & your intentions & goals will also go up in smoke. Go to a welding/fab shop & get an estimate of your project as posted to see what they would charge to make one. Bear in mind that they have a business & their price will reflect their costs to operate PROFITABLY. Gotta do some homework......DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:I agree with Yorkie.Also, you don't want to enter business as the "cheapest" guy.  You won't be very happy with the work you'll attract, & you definitely won't make as much $$ as you should.When someone comes to me with a "can you make this cheaper than this catalog"  I always respond with: " Come to me when you want it to be better than a catalog unit.  Not a cheaper one"..The good customers are the ones that want the best.  All you need to do at that point is to provide the best.  They'll be back, and so will their friends Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Don't forget liability insurance on anything you do for a car.  It would suck to lose whatever assets you own (or your future income) because something cracked and came loose and the person driving behind the guy with your work sues you.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:not knowing what the materials are? and how detailed the mounting backets are.  I would bid no less than 16 hours labor + materials x 20%Daye
Reply:Im from ramey pa yes I know what materials im using I Just want to know that the going rate is for labor only.Thermal Arc Fabricator 210Thermal Dynamics cutmaster 42
Reply:Hey ck,Labor rates will vary quite a bit from the part-timers, garage hobbyists, to a pro shop. Also, labor rates vary with the experience level & quality of work produced. Since you're also from PA., labor rates will be a bit lower than other parts of the country & another factor will be demand. You gotta put a value on your work as to what you feel you are worth. Again, go to a fab shop & get a quote to get a basis of rates.DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Who do I turn to for insurance I recently got house with a 30x40 garage it was my grandparents and  right now till I get the thing wired for my 220 outlets and I get the house in livable condition.  Im working out of a small 12x20 shed/garage where I rent at till spring and I get the bigger shop going I went to school for welding and fabrication to get certification and finished but I got involved in a bad car accident that crippled me a bit before my weld career got going I am currently going back to school for computer science and have limited income from unemployment. So im looking to get side work on off road vehicle fab such as bumpers sliders and other things.I plan on just keeping a side business going and working with computers for my main source of income.Thermal Arc Fabricator 210Thermal Dynamics cutmaster 42
Reply:I quoted the guy for $350 to do that bumper shown in the picture I lucked into a 100ft of 120wall 1.5 dom for 2.15 aft. I charged the guy the normal price I got quoted for which is 6.60 from the local steel supplier then I am going to use 3/16 for the light tabs and such and a scrap piece of 3/16 alum for the front filler plate I told him 180 for materials when in reality i got around 120at the most so i figured being a hobbyist fab guy I figured that's a decent price considering he could buy from a big offroad fab place like trail gear of all pro offrad for the bumper for around 550 shipped .Thermal Arc Fabricator 210Thermal Dynamics cutmaster 42
Reply:cklanish if your insurance company finds out your running a business from your house your insurance will skyrocket. Insurance companies do not like welding in houses or garages especially when its a residential unit.  Just weld something set the place on fire and try making a claim on your residential policy especially when the fire dept files a report that welding was the cause of the fire damage.Be sure that you cost per item sold includes not only labor and materials! You have to cover your costs such as shop equipment, consumables, your experience level, etc etc. For a "hobby welder" is your area I can only assume $10-$15 per hour would be fair may shops in my area of upstate NY are only getting $18-26 per hr labor not including benefits   (ps beer is not a chargeable benefit ) But much will depend on the market for the item examble you may thing the item is worth $500 but if customer can buy it elsewhere for $300 you'll have a hard time selling your item.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:In Arkansas, I charge 65$ per hour on site and $60 per in shop. Aluminum or other exotics, i charge more. I also keep checking around with other welding/ fab shops in the state to make sure that I am "keeping with the jonses"migweld 250parcmate 205weldall 250piforcecut 80i plasma'07 pro 300 miller'08 trailblazer 302mm350pdynasty 700dynasty 200deltaweld 452xr-a 50ft push pull feeders and gooseneck
Reply:Originally Posted by specter For a "hobby welder" is your area I can only assume $10-$15 per hour would be fair may shops in my area of upstate NY are only getting $18-26 per hr labor not including benefits  .
Reply:Yep the shop guys get that rate not the shop. Since he doesn't own I shop I quoted the labor rates only and as said that does not include benefits, materials, consumables, overhead, insurance,  etc etc and beer on Fridays. My cnc worker wages and based on experience, certifications, machine worked on, etc lowest paid cnc guy in my shop is $26 phr not including full benefitsMy cnc shop rates are $85 per hr, road rates $109 per hour (more if outside 50 mile radius from shop. and more if we bring out portable cnc shop and testing unit.  My farm shop is $65 per hr and road rate is $85 per hr for heavy equipment & farm equipment. If I have to haul an item on the heavy equipment hauler its  $45  per hr for the driver,  $5.00 per mile and a loading and unloading charge. If I have to get a permit for overweight&wide loads the cost of the permit comes into play as well.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.