How much should I charge?

[wpod]

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 $$$ and the customer is happy getting the job done right and saving a few $$$

 

[USask2000]

$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.

 

[bdcardinal]

Charge as high as you want to have the workflow you want.

 

[wpod]

Why does any of that matter? He has the experience/knowledge & the tools to do the job.

There is not the over head of the business has to pay for , nor the cost of employment the shop owner pays for.

 

[Chris142]

Dpe

$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.

 

[Lyman]

I can see charging a little less for a friend but you need to be covering the cost of your gases and wear and tear on equipment.

 

[Wolf359]

$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.

 

[Snowflake White]

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.

 

[clinebarger]

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.

 

[02SE]

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.

 

[Snowflake White]

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.

 

[Zee09]

You know what your service is worth. When you ask here it gets stupid fast...

 

[RooflessVW]

Minimum $150 for a vac and recharge. More for additional diagnoses, parts, etc.

 

[wpod]

I still don't get your point?

Basically. I made $18/hr

What would the shop charge for the job?

 

[Chris142]

What would the shop charge for the job?

Whole job depending on the amount of refrigerant. $150-$250

 

[wpod]

Chris go from there and decide.