Estimates & Invoices

[Notarealsignguy]

Be careful with hourly rates vs. "per job". My son learned this over the weekend. He has a landscape business and gave a estimate for moving stone and putting fabric under it, then moving the stone back. Once done, it was close to the hours he calculated and priced the fabric per square foot. Job ended up right where he expected. Well, the customer timed the worker. She timed how many minutes he was on his phone. And she counted how many rolls he used. They came back with all the data and demanded a line-by-line invoice minus the time the worker was on his phone. And wanted a "refund" for the "extra roll" on the ground that wasn't used (which was just an extra). This is why pricing "per job" is better than hourly or by materials and I try to do it as often as I can.

Some people are real assholes. If it wasn't this she would have found some other reason to short change him. Your son will learn how to spot these types and avoid them, I am pretty sure we have all been there at the beginning of our business ventures.

 

[Stacey K]

Some people are real assholes. If it wasn't this she would have found some other reason to short change him. Your son will learn how to spot these types and avoid them, I am pretty sure we have all been there at the beginning of our business ventures.

100%! I told that exact same thing. He's been learning a few lessons this summer LOL

 

[Sidney]

Be careful with hourly rates vs. "per job". My son learned this over the weekend. He has a landscape business and gave a estimate for moving stone and putting fabric under it, then moving the stone back. Once done, it was close to the hours he calculated and priced the fabric per square foot. Job ended up right wher

Be careful with hourly rates vs. "per job". My son learned this over the weekend. He has a landscape business and gave a estimate for moving stone and putting fabric under it, then moving the stone back. Once done, it was close to the hours he calculated and priced the fabric per square foot. Job ended up right where he expected. Well, the customer timed the worker. She timed how many minutes he was on his phone. And she counted how many rolls he used. They came back with all the data and demanded a line-by-line invoice minus the time the worker was on his phone. And wanted a "refund" for the "extra roll" on the ground that wasn't used (which was just an extra). This is why pricing "per job" is better than hourly or by materials and I try to do it as often as I can.

Yeah, I have had afew customers try to play that game. I put an end to customers wanting creidt for left over materials or a balance adjustment. I double my expenses and add an additional 3 to 4 hours to my pricing/estimates. I do not enter hours and if a customer asks me "how long will it take", I explain the job will probably take (x to y time), but the job is not priced hourly. This method has worked for me for over 30 years

e he expected. Well, the customer timed the worker. She timed how many minutes he was on his phone. And she counted how many rolls he used. They came back with all the data and demanded a line-by-line invoice minus the time the worker was on his phone. And wanted a "refund" for the "extra roll" on the ground that wasn't used (which was just an extra). This is why pricing "per job" is better than hourly or by materials and I try to do it as often as I can.

 

[Megagrafix]

Don’t price hourly. Take a course in negotiations. The value of the job may far outpace your hourly rate. Itemize nothing, don’t let them see the sausage being made with all the components.
GET HALF DOWN!

 

[netsol]

I lump everything together for the most part. When you line item, client feels they can on their own they can start removing things. They question specific charges. No, it's one price and that's it. I can't give you a break down because we price the entire job together as a whole.

There are some exceptions, like when a location is far I might detail out a trip charge so they know what's a stake if they have return visits.

For my large repeat clients, I line item everything as requested but they know if quantities change or things are dropped, that will change cost as a whole.

Don’t you think your client can tell that your estimate is not a chinese restaurant menu?