Pool/Spa wiring prices

[customelectric87]

Recently a dealer asked me to give him some prices for pool/spa wiring. Do you guys have set prices? Based on certain distance from home, size circuit, adding pool light, etc. I'm green when it comes to pools and spas, just didn't want to get in over my head. Whats a fair price? Thanks

 

[fridaymean]

How could you give a set price when you do not know what need to be accomplished. I would think you could price it when they make the sale. Then you take the specs / drawing and apply it to the current site conditions. Whala....you have a price.

It is not in your best interest to give an "idea" of a price. Then it becomes the expectation. Expectations cause problems.

Better to wait until there is an actual install to price it.

 

[GUNNING]

Noobie...

Noobie...

Customers like to find new electricians that dont know there costs and hungry for work. They are hungry for work because they don't know there costs.

You are going to run into services that are not large enough, or to old to accept standard breakers, or no attic space to run conduit or ....

Way to many variables to give a set price. Try giving them a range. More than $800 (spa near panel) and less than $5000 (spa under panel). Placement is important. You can get them to move the tub 6 inches and save them $300.
I had one customer wanted to set the tub under a nema 1 generator transfer panel. People like it when you can safely fit in there purchase and save them money at the same time. Don't forget to look up and down for the service lateral. You will get a feel for how much it is going to cost after you do a few.
I remind people of the Alfred Hitchcock films where the radio is tossed into the bath tub and thats why no TV receptacle over the tub.

 

[bradleyelectric]

You can give a base price for a pool with basic equipment at a specified not more than distance under normal conditions. If the conditions are different after the job is sold a it is presented to you anything additional is extra.

 

[customelectric87]

I've heard of EC charging around $2,000 for inground pools and $600 for above ground wiring. Is this a close estimate for VA? Thanks

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I would never give a price without knowing more info. Some pools are much easier than others depending on service location, size, space available, etc.

 

[Strife]

Yes.
It's xxx feet PVC conduit at xx/ft
xxx feet EMT conduit at xx/ft
xxx feet of #12/#10, #8 (for bonding) at xx/ft
xxx boxes at xx/box
I'm not being facetious.
I looked at so many jobs that I though: "OK, this, that, around 5K", and when I put the numbers together it came almost double that. That's why I never give numbers on the spot, no matter how small the job is.
Put your numbers together, allow for easy VS difficult, make sure you haven't missed anything. Then add another 20%. That is if you want to make money. If you just wanna work for free do it this way:"hmm? 30hrs = $ 1,800.00, material? hmm $ 600.00. YES SIR, I'll do it for $ 2,300.00

Recently a dealer asked me to give him some prices for pool/spa wiring. Do you guys have set prices? Based on certain distance from home, size circuit, adding pool light, etc. I'm green when it comes to pools and spas, just didn't want to get in over my head. Whats a fair price? Thanks

 

[flyboy]

You get the price from your budget...

You get the price from your budget...

What is your billable hour? To get this number you'll need to know your total yearly expenses then divide by your billable efficiency.
Do you know what your breakeven is? Your breakeven number is all your expenses. Which also includes your salary, medical benefits, vacation, etc. Don't forget those.
You do pay yourself a salary, right?
What is your billable efficiency? You'll need to know how many hours you can actually bill per year out of 2080 hrs. What is your desired net profit for being in business? 15%? 20%? 25%? BTW, profit is after all expenses, including your salary. Profit is what you get for the risk you take being in business. It's the most important reason for being in business. You do understand the difference between gross profit and net profit, right?
From these numbers you'll know what your daily nut is. You'll know how much work you have to sell and complete on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly.

You get this information from your budget. You do have a budget, don't you?
Your report card is your P&L.

Nobody here can tell you how much you need to charge. There is no such thing as a "fair price". There is only the price you have to charge based on expenses (direct costs and overhead) and desired profit.