How much do i charge

Joined
7 Oct 2008
Messages
281
Reaction score
3
Location
Cardiff
Country
United Kingdom
Hi all

I have passed my NVQ and level 2 certificates and am now begining to pick up jobs. The problem i have is what do i charge, my work is of a very good standard and have had plenty of complements to date. I am a honest guy and wouldnt dream of ripping people off but what is the going rate. i live in S WALES bridgend area.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
Sponsored Links
Different jobs have different rates but a day rate of £100-£150 might be appropriate. If you are new then you will not be very fast and that would reduce the day rate appropriately. Those figures are for an experienced fast worker.

Customers prefer fixed price quotes and you should try to aim for that.

There are too many plumbers in most parts of the UK and the East Europeans have most of the work for builders and quite a lot of direct jobs too. They usually like £80-£120 a day and many of them are very highly skilled and neat and tidy workers.

Tony
 
Sponsored Links
Hi all

I have passed my NVQ and level 2 certificates

In what?

in starting internet threads! :LOL:

erm serously, charge what you feel your work is worth.

I've recently started also, dont the C&G but can;t be arsed with the NVQ 2 at the moment. I charge 25-30 for fitting a bath/kitchen tap.

£30 for outside tap.

£10-20 to service/change a washer. £10 for a personal callout. £20 if its via a housing lettings company.

I charge £250 labour for installing a bathroom suite.

£30 for plumbing up a dishwasher/washing machine. £50 if they want both doing.

And thats my going rates at the moment :)
 
I've recently started also, dont the C&G but can;t be a***d with the NVQ 2 at the moment. I charge 25-30 for fitting a bath/kitchen tap.

£30 for outside tap.

£10-20 to service/change a washer. £10 for a personal callout. £20 if its via a housing lettings company.

I charge £250 labour for installing a bathroom suite.

£30 for plumbing up a dishwasher/washing machine. £50 if they want both doing.

And thats my going rates at the moment :)

how you making any profit ?
 
I've recently started also, dont the C&G but can;t be a***d with the NVQ 2 at the moment. I charge 25-30 for fitting a bath/kitchen tap.

£30 for outside tap.

£10-20 to service/change a washer. £10 for a personal callout. £20 if its via a housing lettings company.

I charge £250 labour for installing a bathroom suite.

£30 for plumbing up a dishwasher/washing machine. £50 if they want both doing.

And thats my going rates at the moment :)

how you making any profit ?

I dunno to be honest. I suppose i'm ot really making much profit. My rates are just labopur, i dont include parts in that. However considering i've only just started. Give it a few months and my rates will be bumped up. But keep prices low to bring in the customers, then, once they have sen my honest and good quality work, they will be more willing to pay the slightly higher rates. Thats my theory anyway.
 
It doesn't quite work like that.

When you put your prices up you will get a load of complaints.

Your current punters will say to their mates, 'this bloke's really cheap' and when you quote them more they will get the hump and ask why the cost has gone up.

Realistically you need to start charging viable rates from the outset or you will find it very hard to make the next step. Start as you mean to go on.
 
Hi all

I have passed my NVQ and level 2 certificates

In what?

in starting internet threads! :LOL:

erm serously, charge what you feel your work is worth.

I've recently started also, dont the C&G but can;t be a***d with the NVQ 2 at the moment. I charge 25-30 for fitting a bath/kitchen tap.

£30 for outside tap.

£10-20 to service/change a washer. £10 for a personal callout. £20 if its via a housing lettings company.

I charge £250 labour for installing a bathroom suite.

£30 for plumbing up a dishwasher/washing machine. £50 if they want both doing.

And thats my going rates at the moment :)

The trouble is, that there are/have been lots of new entrants to the plumbing trade, with the ink barely dry on their certificates.

You may find that after you have put your prices up, the the next new IronNaz will come along, and make you look expensive. As Simond said, your customers may think your a great cheap plumber, but may well melt away when you start asking the going rate.

Its easy to be really busy, when you are virtually giving your skills away. The trick is to build a viable long-term business, with regular customers who will pay enough to give you a living. Don't forget that you need to invest in a pension, new tools and update your van, etc, etc. You need to cover these costs too.
 
Those that have replied (i started this conversation)

Would me charging £400 be a good start the work involves mixer shower there is not existing pipe work, Bath, WHB the pipe work has to be cut out and moved, Toilet.

I agree with the person that says start as you mean to go one.
 
You will quickly find builders nick all the work as they are first on the scene.
Mrs Brown needs a new bathroom so calls in a builder because walls need altering/ plastering.
" Ahh, no problem Mrs Brown WE do plumbing and heating work as well!" Said Mr Builder.

Builders only call a plumber in when they cock up or find it too complicated to work out! :mad:

Money. If you are good charge on the edge of upper limit. If everyone sucks their teeth drop down a touch!

If you are cheap you will be popular only for that reason. Customers are NOT faithful and don't mind ditching a plumber "mate" to save a few quid.
 
Customers are NOT faithful and don't mind ditching a plumber "mate" to save a few quid.

All customers?

Customers are all different and behave in different and strange ways. Some pick the cheapest; some get recommendation and pay whatever is asked within reason; some pick the most expensive hoping or believing it will be the best; some pick the one in the middle (price); some pick the plumber cos they like his logo or his van or his smile.... and so on.

Just the same as some customers buy X at Y price for a thousand different reasons. It's called marketing.

I have had customers get five different quotes whilst others have just said "£X per hour is fine, just take as long as is required" and everything in between. Just as one customer pays £150 for a shower enclosure and another pays £2,000.
 
Customers are NOT faithful and don't mind ditching a plumber "mate" to save a few quid.

All customers?

Customers are all different and behave in different and strange ways. Some pick the cheapest; some get recommendation and pay whatever is asked within reason; some pick the most expensive hoping or believing it will be the best; some pick the one in the middle (price); some pick the plumber cos they like his logo or his van or his smile.... and so on.

Just the same as some customers buy X at Y price for a thousand different reasons. It's called marketing.

I have had customers get five different quotes whilst others have just said "£X per hour is fine, just take as long as is required" and everything in between. Just as one customer pays £150 for a shower enclosure and another pays £2,000.

Fair dinkum!
Still think builders rip us off!
 
Fair dinkum!
Still think builders rip us off!

you only get ripped of by builders cause they useally f*k the job up
so you have to pay twice to get a proper job.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind them doing groundworks (with advice if needed).
Its all gone very wrong now, with one trade nicking business off everyone else!!
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Sponsored Links
Back
Top