How much is your time worth?

[Don Rideout]

A friend/coworker of mine wants me to build a built-in bookcase for her and I'm trying to figure out what the going price of time in the workshop is worth. The material is easy to figure out but I've never been in the position where I have had to tally up my labor and charge for it.

Any thoughts or help?

Don

[final_t]

The first rule is to never do any work for a friend and esp. not for a co-worker, because whatever you charge, it will be percieved as "too much". The only thing you can do is give her a list of materials showing how much they cost and get her to pay for that.
In other words, your time is free.

[Warren]

My friends have never had a problem paying me for work performed. If someone asks me to build something I've never built before, I charge less as it is a learning experience for me. I charge by adding the costs of materials, with 15% for wear and tear on tools (sand paper, screws, nails, etc. are in this figure), and then add a $50.00 flat chrage for my time. If it's new, with techniques I've never tried before I usually drop the $50 but still include the 15%. I've got a ROS in the tool hospital right now, it's going to cost me to have it repaired, $45.00. It quit while I building an item for the local Ace Hardware store owner. He's a friend but, he's still paying for material, wear and tear etc. and the $50.00. Although this time he's paying with gift certificate so he's still getting a deal. He'll ring the items on the certificate at full value so he's actually only paying around $25.00. Still, we're both happy.

If I botch it the first time. I start over, writing off the costs of the first try, but add the $50.00 to the final tally on the finished project. The $50.00 charge is so the customer, and that is what the friend has become, will understand that they purchased the item, it's not a gift, and that my time has value, same as theirs.

My time is too valuable to give it away. While I make items for gifts, I have no problem covering all of my costs for requested items. This is particularly true when I could have been doing something else with my time than building a requested item. Plus, I drop everything else to build and finish such a request.

I also make items which are sold at the local botanical garden, a nonprofit organization. For them I total the materials and add $25.00 and they then sell them for what the market will stand, using the profits to underwrite their costs. I figure the $25.00 covers sand paper, paint, wear and tear, and etc. plus a little something for the shop refrigerator.

[just4funsies]

I usually just tell people that all they'll have to do for me is buy me dinner. Most of them have seen me eat, and they just say "Thanks anyway!"...

[Otter]

I have stopped all work for friends and co-workers, it is just too much hassel. I have turned down cash offers that are way out of line for a box, and am happy for it.

[Wood_workur]

It depends...

If you are taking away shop time that you would use if they didn't have a project for you, then you charge them. (As for prices, find a similar piece on the net, then take about 30% off)

If you are using shop time that would have been spent in front of the tv, then dn't chrge them, but just have them take you to dinner.

[Tom Slick]

I charge a minimum 1 beer per hour ;-) plus materials.

[cwsmith]

Doing work for family and friends is tough. As was mentioned earlier, the perception of your labor "charge" is often quite negative. Of course every situation may be different. If you are already in a business, family and friends always expect a big discount, which frankly is almost like stealing from you, because they think you make big $ (isn't every self-employed person rich?) and they deserve a price break and after all, they have little or no perception of the drain on your livelyhood.

I would probably have a tendency to ask them to pay for the materials and then perhaps "tip" you for the labor. Or, you could cost the materials and then check the price of something similar at a furniture store and price from there. Personally, such work is often a labor of love and if I can get back the material cost, I feel I'm even. Just be aware that if you truly add up your labor at a decent labor rate, you'll most likely get looked at in a negative way. Single unit, craft work is quite likely to be much more expensive than the equivalent piece made in mass at a factory.

CWS

[SteveJ]

If someone likes my work (furniture) enough to have it in their home then that's payment enough for me and I'll do it for the cost of materials. On the other hand, I probably wouldn't agree to do something which can't be done in my shop, like cabinets or shelving. I don't however, mind lending a helping hand to a friend, as long as we both understand that it's his project and not mine (and he doesn't ask too often). I've found that the ownership of a project is a line that's easily blurred if it isn't made clear right at the very start. .......Steve

p/s notice I said "his project". my wife has never been too understanding about my efforts to help the pretty lady down the street so I've learned those projects are best left to the next guy.

[onedash]

Although I havent sold anything I always kinda figured a good estimate would be double the material cost. And that would probably be a bargain compared to what they could buy commercially either in quality or price.

[Pappy]

I did a couple of pet steps for 2 girls at work. The first one was pine and fir ply with a lot of trial and eror. The second one was birch/birch ply and a little nicer looking with the things I learned on the first one. Both were done with materials on hand and the second one went faster. $50 and $75, respectively.

[mater]

I usually just tell people that all they'll have to do for me is buy me dinner. Most of them have seen me eat, and they just say "Thanks anyway!"...

That was good.

[Don Rideout]

Thanks to all for the replies. I already made her a fireplace mantle and was prepared to ask for cost of material plus a nominal fee to cover tool time but she beat me to the punch and I told her it was far too much but she wouldn't take no for an answer. I don't do this as a business as it's just a hobby and that's why I'm having a hard time trying to figure this out. I really appreciate the comments. Looks like I have some pondering to do....

Don

[Black wallnut]

Although I havent sold anything I always kinda figured a good estimate would be double the material cost. And that would probably be a bargain compared to what they could buy commercially either in quality or price.

On some of my projects that is precisely what I charge!

Other projects requiring extra design time or complicated joinery cost more.

Custom designed pieces I charge minimum three times cost of material.

So far everyone has been happy. Projects out of my shop are of much higher quality in both materials and construction than what is available from a factory supplied retailer so my work is worth more.


IMHO making things without charging for your labor causes the person recieving the work feel that they "owe" you. That can lead to problems down the road if the person is a co-worker.

Sometimes I'll just make a gift for a family member if they ask.

[messmaker]

I think 3times cost of materials is a good place to start. I have bought a couple of pieces that friends have made and paid about that and felt like I got a heck of a deal. I bet some furniture stores charge double or triple that.You are also afraid to pick it up or stand on it after you buy it.