Service Call Rates in NJ.

[Fordean]

Can anyone list their hourly rates for service work. I am at $85 per hour and just cutting it. I dont know how some of you bill only in the mid $ 50.00's Can you please give me some examples.?

 

[bradleyelectric]

Can anyone list their hourly rates for service work. I am at $85 per hour and just cutting it. I dont know how some of you bill only in the mid $ 50.00's Can you please give me some examples.?

What is your break even point? Have you figured it? http://freelanceswitch.com/rates/ If someones is $57 dollars and they are just looking to cover expenses that is on them. Mine is much higher. Than again there is a way to price service work other than hourly.

 

[goldstar]

You'll find that rates differ from county to county. If you're working in Bergen County the rates electricians charge are probably some of the highest in the state. Move one or two counties over and rates drop. 200 amp services in BC range from $2200-2600. Move 1 or 2 counties over and you drop down to $1800-2200. One of the EC's in my contractors association brought in a flyer from a licensed EC claiming that he will upgrade a service to 200 amps for $1300. Material costs are the same, labor and time and the same, expenses (van, insurance, etc.) are (hopefully) close to being the same. Go figure

I'm not sure where you're at in terms of $$ in your area but if you belong to a contractors association ask around and find out where you should be. Otherwise, keep bumping your service call prices up and see what happens. Personally speaking, I would take the high road and work the upper end of the trade. There used to be plenty of work around but due to current economic conditions bottom feeders seem to be coming out of the wood work. Service prices in my EC association range from $85/hr to $175/hr depending on the scope of work to be done.

BTW, there's a handyman in my area that charges $95/rh

 

[satcom]

BTW, there's a handyman in my area that charges $95/rh

I notice the handymen in Middlesex County get from $90 to 150 an hour, and they don't have 1/2 the overhead or operating costs we have, just yesterday a handyman removed walkway bricks from a yard up the street, it took 1 1/2 hours to do, and he charged form the time he left the shop till he got back, total cost neighbor paid was $250 and they were more then pleased with the work, yet an electrician would have sat there thinking how little he could charge, makes you wonder.

 

[bradleyelectric]

makes you wonder.

Na, I quit wandering. Most electricians think they have to work for as little as possible. If someone is working for cheaper they want to know how, without thinking that person isn't profitable. Next they want to think they should be able to do it for cheaper. Most don't want to think they can make good money by charging what it takes and satisfying customers desires. If you act scared with your price customers will pick up on that. If you act confident with your price customers will pick up on that.