How much should I charge?

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Basically. I made $18/hr
At least what you make at work plus materials and tool cost maintenance. clean up and shop supplies etc. Less than a shop would charge because you don't have the shop over head yet enough to make you say I did a great job and I am happy with the $$$ and the customer is happy getting the job done right and saving a few $$$
 
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$18/ hour for skilled labour in California? I thought California is one of the most expensive locations in North America. I’d expect wages like that in rural fly-over parts of the country.
 
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$18/ hour for skilled labour in California? I thought California is one of the most expensive locations in North America. I’d expect wages like that in rural fly-over parts of the country.
Depends on where you are. In Simi valley, Sacramento etc wages are high. Little 2 horse towns like Barstow,needles and even lancaster wages are low. We also have the folks from south of the border that will work for less than min wage.

Edit: there are people that drive hours,2-6+ a day to work making what I made or near.
 
$18/ hour for skilled labour in California? I thought California is one of the most expensive locations in North America. I’d expect wages like that in rural fly-over parts of the country.
My indy mechanic is basically do just side work which is why he's in the $50/hour rate. Every once in a while he just gets shop work and they only pay anywhere from $20-$25 an hour and he has to bring his own tools. He's happy with $50 and I'm also happy with it. Usually he quotes me in advance and once in a while he's faster which is fine by me and sometimes it takes longer and he ends up making a little less. Most full shops are at least $70/hour up to $120 and the dealer can be $150-$200. So I think as long as you charge less than the full indy shop, everyone should be happy.

The real answer is to charge whatever the market will bear.
 
Being an honest and competent mechanic charge a little more than the rest, people will pay it if you are "GOOD" and HONEST...

I only wish we had guys like you around here, I would say there isn't any within a hundred miles of here, it that.
 
There is not the over head of the business has to pay for , nor the cost of employment the shop owner pays for.

I still don't get your point?
Luckily....I made 1/2 of the door rate most of my career though it was a tough negotiation at the last few shops I worked for. There were always customers that tried to get me to work on their vehicles after hours/weekends, And would 100% of the time ask what I made an hour which is impossible to answer as I was paid on Flat Rate (Not that it's any of their business)
Let's use a Engine R&R on a GMT-800 as an example....I can beat the snot out of book time to the tune of 200% efficiency given I have ALL my tools & a 2-post lift......I'm actually making Door Rate because I can do the job in half the time.

Doing side work has never made me more money per hour than just working my 50% Flat Rate gig, I started working 7 days a week at the shop because this. Sure beats working in the dirt or on the side of the road saving some random stranger money.
 
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One lesson I recall a mechanic I apprenticed with telling me, was that if I performed a job for a cut rate or even free, in the customers mind that's all the job was worth...

You've described your technique for properly repairing AC systems. Most so-called mechanics are NOT that thorough.

Don't sell yourself short. It's not a sin to be adequately compensated for your time and expertise.
 
One lesson I recall a mechanic I apprenticed with telling me, was that if I performed a job for a cut rate or even free, in the customers mind that's all the job was worth...

You've described your technique for properly repairing AC systems. Most so-called mechanics are NOT that thorough.

Don't sell yourself short. It's not a sin to be adequately compensated for your time and expertise.
Well said, it's RARE to get a QUALITY mechanic which does a thorough job, correctly, is completely competent ,and honest. I'd gladly pay quite a bit more IF we had anyone like that in our area, but we do NOT.
 
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