Poll..Service Rates

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Mule said:
I realize its more than 1 hr, but 3hrs would be a stretch for me as I use service calls to finish out the day.

Population?
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That finish out the day thing is great but most service calls for a service contractor will not wait until the end of the day. Residential customers will take off from work and want to schedule a time. Commercial customers want the lights back on as soon as possible. Half the jobs that you get ( new customers ) is because you can be there in an hour or less to start solving the problem. A restaurant can't have the lights off come lunch time. A business can't have the computers down.

If you only do end of the day jobs that's not really a service contractor ( I know it's service work but not the same thing).That's the way things were done years ago when ECs would do contruction as a primary business and catch service calls as a side line.

Service contractors that do service calls are ready to roll as a primary business.

This may be why you are seeing such a disparity in rates. Service rates will tend to be higher to cover the added expenses. If it's just a side line of work I guess you can charge the normal construction rates. You may not even have any service contractors in your area to compare rates with.

I think the reason people are upset by your rates is the fact that they are comparing apples to oranges here. You are not really set up as a service contractor but they are and when the rates are compared then you will come up short because you are not in the same business. You are doing small jobs with service as a side line of work.

Service contractors do service work and that's it. They charge for the added value of being on call to get there and do the job when needed.
That's why the rates are higher, it's to cover the non-billable hours to cover the cost of this service.

Population doesn't really matter because as the population increases so does the competition.
 
Growler makes a good point that may be common with new construction contractors. They do service as a sideline which keeps their production rate much higher than a service contractor. IMO most service-sideline companies are losing money on the service side w/o knowing it.
 
celtic said:
Growler and Sparky555l, both make good valid points.
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I agree I'm starting my 35th year in business and service contractors are set up to respond quickly. I've talked to several contractors in my area about service work and am finding that people are calling 2,3,4 different contractors and whoever gets there first gets the job. They don't even call back to cancel.
 
My suggestion would be to PM some the guys in your area or similar about their rates. You are going to get a wide gammut of responses here. We charge $85 and up depending on the job description. But we do a rather large array, from basic electrical to sewage and motor controls. Our location is on the NC coast.
 
360Youth said:
My suggestion would be to PM some the guys in your area or similar about their rates. You are going to get a wide gammut of responses here.
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Come see the sister thread #76
post_old.gif
Today, 03:20 PM :)
 
360Youth said:
My suggestion would be to PM some the guys in your area or similar about their rates. You are going to get a wide gammut of responses here. We charge $85 and up depending on the job description. But we do a rather large array, from basic electrical to sewage and motor controls. Our location is on the NC coast.
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If I had that issue I wouldnt even roll a truck until I had Charged their credit card for the trip in Advance :D
 
electricguy said:
If I had that issue I wouldnt even roll a truck until I had Charged their credit card for the trip in Advance :D
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That is the only way to avoid "They don't even call back to cancel."

Just about every service in this area both big and small guys, want a credit card payment up front, before they roll a service truck.
 
growler said:
That finish out the day thing is great Yes it isbut most service calls for a service contractor will not wait until the end of the dayMine do. Residential customers will take off from work and want to schedule a timeYep between 3 and 5 Commercial customers want the lights back on as soon as possible. We call that an emergency or priority callHalf the jobs that you get ( new customers ) is because you can be there in an hour or less to start solving the problem.Most of our customers are word of mouth, if they are that demanding, well A restaurant can't have the lights off come lunch time. A business can't have the computers down. Emergency work

If you only do end of the day jobs that's not really a service contractor ( I know it's service work but not the same thing).We are not a service contractor as you define itThat's the way things were done years ago when ECs would do contruction as a primary business and catch service calls as a side line. We do mostly jobs that are 1-6 hrs and occassional 2-3 day jobs or maybe a week

Service contractors that do service calls are ready to roll as a primary business. Not around here, sounds like the maytag man

This may be why you are seeing such a disparity in rates. Could be the plumber I mentioned IS a service contractor as you define itService rates will tend to be higher to cover the added expenses. makes sense to meIf it's just a side line of work I guess you can charge the normal construction rates. We dont do construction but I understand what your sayingYou may not even have any service contractors in your area to compare rates with. Only one a union shop and they are big enough to do it all with good response time, I loose a few service calls to them but not many

I think the reason people are upset by your rates is the fact that they are comparing apples to oranges here. You are not really set up as a service contractor but they are and when the rates are compared then you will come up short because you are not in the same business. You are doing small jobs with service as a side line of work. THANK YOU

Service contractors do service work and that's it. They charge for the added value of being on call to get there and do the job when needed. We charge a extra $10 bucks for priority calls and sometimes they will wait untill the end of the day
That's why the rates are higher, it's to cover the non-billable hours to cover the cost of this service.

Population doesn't really matter because as the population increases so does the competition.
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This is great information, thanks very much, our town has gained a few new EC"S in the last five years but for the most part they are the same old timers like myself that have been around town since we rode plow horses !!! :smile:
 
$75/hr one man, $115/hr Jrnymn + helper. Am trying to get my head around "flat rate" pricing. Plumber friend switched over to it and swears by it, not at it.
 
sparkyjim said:
$75/hr one man, $115/hr Jrnymn + helper. Am trying to get my head around "flat rate" pricing. Plumber friend switched over to it and swears by it, not at it.
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WARNING....disclosing lower rates on this forum, particularly when you live in a larger city, could be hazzardous to your health, when you recieve replies, especially from the "chigger emailer"

Im laughing so hard, I cant type......thanks for the reply...its great info....keep it up...sounds like alot of folks are going to "flat rate Pricing"
 
celtic said:
As far as State goes...it'd be real nice if we all just used the forums software and entered our location....this not being a perfect world, responders could just add that to their post.
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Amen! ...

Your'll find that there is major information here, thats be stated,
Its just that in most cases a party will not devulge a price in this manner.

Can I have another ... Amen! ...
 
cadpoint said:
Amen! ...

Your'll find that there is major information here, thats be stated,
Its just that in most cases a party will not devulge a price in this manner.

Can I have another ... Amen! ...
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For me, theres a few folks that Im not sure Id trust if I dislosed my town or location? Im way to out spoken I guess :smile:
 
Mule said:
For me, theres a few folks that Im not sure Id trust if I dislosed my town or location? Im way to out spoken I guess :smile:
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I'm happy with a State.

It does no good for me to try and understand a $1200 service upgrade from someone posting from ???? might as well be the moon :grin:
 
celtic said:
I'm happy with a State.

It does no good for me to try and understand a $1200 service upgrade from someone posting from ???? might as well be the moon :grin:
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Thats why I suggested State and Population

haha My last service upgrade cost me $440 in parts....I installed a HOM30cir/150 R/T panel new meter base....7ft riser...converted old panel to sub panel ie ground bus kit....new ground rod....even tiddy'd up their sat and phone grounds....$875 took me about 4-5 hours then we went inside and pulled two new circuits into the kitchen the next day....4hrsx 2 men plus parts......mmmm...cant remember I think $425
 
Mule said:
My last service upgrade cost me $440 in parts....I installed a HOM30cir/150 R/T panel new meter base....7ft riser...converted old panel to sub panel ie ground bus kit....new ground rod....even tiddy'd up their sat and phone grounds....$875 took me about 4-5 hours then we went inside and pulled two new circuits into the kitchen the next day....4hrsx 2 men plus parts......mmmm...cant remember I think $425
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Is this the right thread?
LOL

How much time was devoted to obtaining permits, waiting for inspector, creating the panel schedule, purchasing material, bookkeeping, etc etc etc.
 
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