Jerseydaze
Senior Member
HI I just got my licence and am looking for some ideas on how to write up contracts how to estimate and how much to charge, Anyone know a book with examples that would mostly apply to residental type work?
Contracts?
- Thread starter Jerseydaze
- Start date
- Status
Jerseydaze
Senior Member
Re: Contracts?
OH and i'm in New Jersey
OH and i'm in New Jersey
bdarnell
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis, IN
- Occupation
- Retired Engineer
Re: Contracts?
Here's a link that was posted in an earlier thread on this topic:
http://www.ablegroup.net/info-electrical.html
They are kind of in your area. Congrats on the NJ license.
Here's a link that was posted in an earlier thread on this topic:
http://www.ablegroup.net/info-electrical.html
They are kind of in your area. Congrats on the NJ license.
Oakey
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
Re: Contracts?
Im in NJ and congrats. As far as contracts go I had the same question,I have several friends in the business and asked them for examples of theres and made up my own from them. One thing about starting up tho...find a good accountant that will help you weekly instead of quarterly...I learned that the hard way
Im in NJ and congrats. As far as contracts go I had the same question,I have several friends in the business and asked them for examples of theres and made up my own from them. One thing about starting up tho...find a good accountant that will help you weekly instead of quarterly...I learned that the hard way
larryl
Senior Member
- Location
- wrentham ma.
Re: Contracts?
here's a thought,,hire a professional,,it might be worth it someday,,
lawyers do this stuff for a living,,,
here's a thought,,hire a professional,,it might be worth it someday,,
lawyers do this stuff for a living,,,
hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
Re: Contracts?
If you need a lawyer to enforce a contract, you've already lost. You will learn who you can trust and can't. Go with your gut.
Basically, I just have the name of my company, the name of the customer/company, date, scope of work and payment terms, a place for both parties to sign and date the agreement. I call it a proposal and not a quote. Include a "Does not include" section. Put in something like "work not specified in this proposal".
Trust yourself, you'll be fine.
[ January 31, 2006, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: hardworkingstiff ]
If you need a lawyer to enforce a contract, you've already lost. You will learn who you can trust and can't. Go with your gut.
Basically, I just have the name of my company, the name of the customer/company, date, scope of work and payment terms, a place for both parties to sign and date the agreement. I call it a proposal and not a quote. Include a "Does not include" section. Put in something like "work not specified in this proposal".
Trust yourself, you'll be fine.
[ January 31, 2006, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: hardworkingstiff ]
Re: Contracts?
When I started in business my contract was 1 or 2 pages long if I used one at all. Now days they are averaging 8 pages some 12 to 15. I specify every little detail. I even have a section concerning hazardous materials to we may come across. Now I do more then the electrical work on most jobs. Sometimes we start with a clean sheet of paper and build from there.
Paul
When I started in business my contract was 1 or 2 pages long if I used one at all. Now days they are averaging 8 pages some 12 to 15. I specify every little detail. I even have a section concerning hazardous materials to we may come across. Now I do more then the electrical work on most jobs. Sometimes we start with a clean sheet of paper and build from there.
Paul
hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
Re: Contracts?
Paul,
My electrical "proposals" are usually about 2 pages. My fuel proposals are usually 3-4 pages (a lot more details).
I think you can be detailed without sounding lawyerly. I believe if you don't sound lawyerly you will have a better chance getting a signature on a document that will hold up in court without getting your customer alarmed to take it to his lawyer and winding up with a 25 page "contract" that is intimidating to both sides.
Most people are generally honest. If it is spelled out in writing, things go much smother. It is when the agreement is vague and not in writing (or vague and in writing) that problems arise. Customer perceives you were doing more than you thought you were going to do.
Like I said, if you wind up in court, both sides have lost and the lawyers win.
Paul,
My electrical "proposals" are usually about 2 pages. My fuel proposals are usually 3-4 pages (a lot more details).
I think you can be detailed without sounding lawyerly. I believe if you don't sound lawyerly you will have a better chance getting a signature on a document that will hold up in court without getting your customer alarmed to take it to his lawyer and winding up with a 25 page "contract" that is intimidating to both sides.
Most people are generally honest. If it is spelled out in writing, things go much smother. It is when the agreement is vague and not in writing (or vague and in writing) that problems arise. Customer perceives you were doing more than you thought you were going to do.
Like I said, if you wind up in court, both sides have lost and the lawyers win.
charlie tuna
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: Contracts?
i always used a standard document --two pages from like nebbs forms. a good friend who went into business about the same time i did showed me his method and it worked good for him. he kept a "problem list". and always incorporated these issues into his contract. the list quickly had thirty items or more! things like "the customer is responsible for secure parking for his trucks" or "the customer is responsible for access to and from the building" his men worked in. it saved him many arguments and reduced alot of wasted labor over the years. as i read his list i thought of the problems i had encountered and many would have been solved if i had his list. it kind of puts the customer "on notice" and then there is no hard feelings --hey, it's in the contract!!!
i always used a standard document --two pages from like nebbs forms. a good friend who went into business about the same time i did showed me his method and it worked good for him. he kept a "problem list". and always incorporated these issues into his contract. the list quickly had thirty items or more! things like "the customer is responsible for secure parking for his trucks" or "the customer is responsible for access to and from the building" his men worked in. it saved him many arguments and reduced alot of wasted labor over the years. as i read his list i thought of the problems i had encountered and many would have been solved if i had his list. it kind of puts the customer "on notice" and then there is no hard feelings --hey, it's in the contract!!!
Jerseydaze
Senior Member
Re: Contracts?
Thank you so much for all the advice.The nebs forms thing is great.
Thank you so much for all the advice.The nebs forms thing is great.
- Status