Doing work for your friends

[Short.Circuit]

I'm thinking, sometimes this isn't the best idea in the world.
Have had a few turn out badly, nutty expectations, problem
paying, hard feelings, etc. Friends becoming not-friends.
Anyone have any experiences ??

 

[TOOL_5150]

I have done work for my friends, but all were real close friends and never had any issues I could think of. My friends dad still thanks me for helping him out on a "lights are out" issue that needed to be resolved quick.

~Matt

 

[electricmanscott]

I'm thinking, sometimes this isn't the best idea in the world.
Have had a few turn out badly, nutty expectations, problem
paying, hard feelings, etc. Friends becoming not-friends.
Anyone have any experiences ??

All of the above.

My view is pretty much do the small jobs, change a light, install a fan, etc for friends and family on the cheap or even as freebies.

Anything larger should be treated as strictly business. If they can't understand that you need to make a living and you do it by performing this work then there is no way it will work.

The abosolute best option is to avoid it altogether but I know that is easier said than done.

 

[ITO]

Here is some free advice, take it or leave it I don't really care:

If you want to keep your friends then if you do any work for them, don't charge them, and do it for free. Your friends are not throwing you a bone, they are looking for a good deal and if you don't deliver then it will cause problems.

If you can't or aren't willing to do it for free then don't do it at all. What friends I still have left and still do work for will help me paint, do plumbing, pour concrete, and roof houses and we help each other with no money exchanged, that's why we are still friends.

This may not be your lesson but it has been a hard one for me to learn.

 

[ElectricianJeff]

All of the above.

Anything larger should be treated as strictly business. If they can't understand that you need to make a living and you do it by performing this work then there is no way it will work.

The abosolute best option is to avoid it altogether but I know that is easier said than done.

I finally did a job for my ironing lady of the past 20+ years that I had been avoiding for awhile. Three days of removing K & T in the attic and a few other small things. She doesn't have much money but her son who lives with her was paying. He's an over the road driver who wasn't there when I was doing the work.

I felt bad because it took longer than I thought it would. I went ahead and billed at my usual rate but gave them a 25% discount on the invoice. I was relieved when I got the check a few days later and he had even included a 20.00 tip.

 

[emahler]

i'm like ITO...what few friends i have left know that I'll supervise and apprentice for a meal and beer....but if i gotta break out my handtools and be a journeyman, it's gonna cost them...

 

[ptonsparky]

I will help with small projects for beer, pop, kisses & hugs, when done at my leisure. If I have to go now or bring help, they pay.

 

[bpk]

I work in a rural area where its hard not to do work for your friends, a parent that has a kid in the same class as your kid, somebody your wife works with, and on and on. I have found that giveing them a price up front is by far the best way to go, I have done a few T and M but its always has turned out to me explaining to them why things cost so much. If they are informed up front they will be ready for the bill and you can make a little money too. I think its better to have a problem working for friends than to have no friends at all.

 

[mengelman]

All my customers are my friends.
Cant make a living giving discounts and most understand that. Thats why we are friends.

 

[wbalsam1]

All my customers are my friends.
Cant make a living giving discounts and most understand that. Thats why we are friends.

I agree! My banker told me once "Nice guys finish last, Fred."
When I'd work for the lonesome old spinster lady I'd feel like I needed to give her a break.....then the next job would be for some mentally-challenged low-income folks and I'd just automatically give 'em a break......and the next job would be for............ad infinitum....This all led to a "scolding" from the banker. I do not envy anyone working for the poor. Keeping focused on business costs is paramount to a successful enterprise.

 

[satcom]

I work in a rural area where its hard not to do work for your friends, a parent that has a kid in the same class as your kid, somebody your wife works with, and on and on. I have found that giveing them a price up front is by far the best way to go, I have done a few T and M but its always has turned out to me explaining to them why things cost so much. If they are informed up front they will be ready for the bill and you can make a little money too. I think its better to have a problem working for friends than to have no friends at all.

You have a good view of the situation, but some guys find it had to ask to be paid for their work, that may not be secure in themself of the work they are doing, if your feed you family on the money , it is easy to ask your worth and not let it bother you, If the guy doing the work is an employee working for someone else, he will usually never see the real cost of running a bussiness, and usually not know what to charge.

 

[Fulthrotl]

I'm thinking, sometimes this isn't the best idea in the world.
Have had a few turn out badly, nutty expectations, problem
paying, hard feelings, etc. Friends becoming not-friends.
Anyone have any experiences ??

i've learned something valuable in this area.... i have friends i do
work for, and i have friends who i have work for me on occasion.

when dealing with friends, my business interactions with them must
be impeccable. so, we discuss this beforehand, clearly define what is
going to be done, and what it is going to cost. if i am giving them a
buddy deal, i explain what the work is worth, and the amount i charge
in a straight business transaction. i also explain what the material cost
is. complete transparency.

i also explain that if they give my name as a referral, not to tell
what price they paid, as that price is not a general public price.

now, here is what i've learned: my true friends will pay what the work
is worth, and the rest are aquaintences who are just looking to get
something for nothing.

the friends that i hire to work for me, i pay at their normal rate, and
i pay daily, and i pay in cash.

it works for me.

randy

 

[Greg Swartz]

All of the above.

My view is pretty much do the small jobs, change a light, install a fan, etc for friends and family on the cheap or even as freebies.

Anything larger should be treated as strictly business. If they can't understand that you need to make a living and you do it by performing this work then there is no way it will work.

The abosolute best option is to avoid it altogether but I know that is easier said than done.

I was going to completely agree with this, until I read the other posts...
I really like some of your ideas...

 

[SEO]

I don't like to work for friends or relatives. I worked for a cousin who paid me with a basket of vegetables and another cousin after a service call to his house asked if he owed me anything. I stay clear of relatives.

 

[nyerinfl]

Friends pay for material, labor is free, they buy/cook dinner. Lucky for me I don't have too many friends.

 

[peter d]

Not surprisingly I have no friends so this isn't a problem for me.

 

[cschmid]

Ahh friends are a commodity..You never do business with relatives unless they are not immediate..I just did some work for a friends father on their deer camp when ask what they owed me..I told them the price of materials and said what ever they thought it was worth to them..they actually were very generous..other wise it is for food and beverages and they buy the materials..

 

[Mr.Sparkle]

Small stuff I either do free or at cost depending on the scope of work, on the larger scale stuff I have to admit...... I have told the friend to get a price from another electrician before I even state a ballpark figure, sorry but this was the only feasible way I could "prove" how expensive a certain job can be.......c'mon we all have that friend who thinks moving the panel across the house can't be that expensive....

 

[480sparky]

..c'mon we all have that friend who thinks moving the panel across the house can't be that expensive....

Jeez, I've got a lot of friends.....

 

[resistance]

I agree! My banker told me once "Nice guys finish last, Fred."
When I'd work for the lonesome old spinster lady I'd feel like I needed to give her a break.....then the next job would be for some mentally-challenged low-income folks and I'd just automatically give 'em a break......and the next job would be for............ad infinitum....This all led to a "scolding" from the banker. I do not envy anyone working for the poor. Keeping focused on business costs is paramount to a successful enterprise.

Banker???? When you say banker---- Please explain?

Not surprisingly I have no friends so this isn't a problem for me.

Same here, if we ignore my list on this site!!