Not sure about charging!!

asiltam · 03-08-2008

I have been set up as a self-employed tiler for a couple of months now but only had one proper job. Just got another one recently which I will start shortly. I have quoted for 2 other jobs but didn't get them.

I am struggling to know whether to charge based on square metre or on a day rate. Sometimes it isn't worthwhile doing a job if it was accepted on a square metre rate but then if I quote for a day rate the chances are it will take me longer than other more experienced tilers so therefore would cost the customer more to have me and I would be unlikely to get the job that way too.

It is really bothering me because I don't get any feedback as to why I didn't get the 2 jobs I quoted for and it is knocking my confidence a bit. Plus it is fairly quiet anyway or at least for me (I haven't found the best place to advertise yet, tried local paper and I am on ratedpeople - got a few jobs texted to me off of there but they have ridiculous budgets for a lot of work or are miles out of the area I have said I will cover).

The customer on the job I start shortly said that the price I quoted was fair so I don't know what to think.

Any help or advice you can give me would be gratefully received.

Sorry if this is posted in wrong place!

**deanotile** · 03-08-2008

Do both if the m2 is good charge m2 if not charge day work.

**Dave** · 03-08-2008

Sorry if this is posted in wrong place!

It's fine..........some of the members will give you some idea of what prices to think about.......

**Oli** · 03-08-2008

Im guessing that what your getting at is that your speed means by quoting day rate your expensive because your not as quick as others, so why not go day rate, tell the customer it will take x days, and that if you run over there will be no extra charge then if the job takes 2 days average but because your a bit slower takes three, you charge 2, and are giving a competative price but letting the customer know you may take an extra day.

The more work you get - the more quicker you'll become - building your rep at the same time.

Its a bit of a vicous circle sometimes, your slower and need to get jobs to build up the speed, but you cant get jobs because your slower, and take extra day(s) making you more expensive. You'll be working for less but the long term is what you need to look at.

**CLAYS TILES** · 03-08-2008

all areas have different prices!
are you including materials in with quotes?
if you have say a small kitchen splashbacks (say 3m2) a m2 charge would be pointless as you can charge a day rate,as your still new to the trade you might be a little slower to start off,so if you look at the job & charge it by a day rate of £150 & you take 3 days to do it,don't be upset or put off as speed will come quite quickly!
just remember one thing if a job is worth doing, its worth doing right! 1st time,EVERYTIME! good luck m8

asiltam · 03-08-2008

Originally Posted by CLAYS TILES

all areas have different prices!
are you including materials in with quotes?
if you have say a small kitchen splashbacks (say 3m2) a m2 charge would be pointless as you can charge a day rate,as your still new to the trade you might be a little slower to start off,so if you look at the job & charge it by a day rate of £150 & you take 3 days to do it,don't be upset or put off as speed will come quite quickly!
just remember one thing if a job is worth doing, its worth doing right! 1st time,EVERYTIME! good luck m8

Thanks for your response.

I usually quote the materials as a separate cost to be paid for before the job starts and I charge it at cost. Do you think that could put people off?

asiltam · 03-08-2008

Thanks for all your responses it is very reassuring to hear your comments.

**Saltire69** · 03-08-2008

What u need to do asiltam is get a price that your happy with and customer is happy with. What i mean by that is, if the tilers in your area are charging £20m2 u charge the same.Even if it will take u longer to do(which it will)Don't think u can really charge a day rate if just starting up,cause as u know it will take longer than an experianced tiler.

**whitebeam** · 03-08-2008

I don,t charge the customer up front for any materials, Most jobs I do are referals and thru plumbers and other trades so don,t have trouble with payment. Sometimes with customers it can be hit and miss, As long as I live I still won,t understand them sometimes

**poynton phil** · 03-08-2008

I always price a job by looking how long it will take, and times that by my day rate plus mats.If i take longer i dont charge any extra, unless there is a good reason for it, and then i make sure the customer knows this straight away, then theres no misunderstandings when you hand over your invoice. Cant see anyone doin a 3m or 4 job for £20m2, even if they are brand new at tiling. good luck for the future

**charlie1** · 03-08-2008

I now allway price a job then and there, I never go away from a job and send the estimate back. This way you have a better feel for the customers reaction to your price and you can then discus reasons why.

In terms of how much to charge for a certain job then that is totally up to the individual. For ceramics I charge 25m2 plus matts. but some charge 30 and some charge 15.

**grumpygrouter** · 03-08-2008

Originally Posted by charlie1

I now allway price a job then and there, I never go away from a job and send the estimate back. This way you have a better feel for the customers reaction to your price and you can then discus reasons why.

In terms of how much to charge for a certain job then that is totally up to the individual. For ceramics I charge 25m2 plus matts. but some charge 30 and some charge 15.

Even for a 2m2 splashback Charlie?

**Daz** · 03-08-2008

Hmmm, intersesting post and interesting replies.
I've only been fulltime for 7 months so speed is stilll developing.

I quote a job based on the number of days that I think an experienced tiler will take multiplied by my desired day rate plus materials.

Talk to the customer and give them reasons why they should select you, without being pushy or aggressive.

You take a hit initially, but get plently of work and opportunity to improve your speed.

Good luck

**Spirit** · 03-08-2008

Assuming that 3 people quote for each job, you should expect to win 1 in 3. If you win more, you are too cheap, if you win less, you are too expensive.

You also have to look at where you aim to be in the marketplace and what type of area that you are in. I try to do high quality work and aim for the clients who are willing and able to pay for the extra time that this takes, I therefore do not try to compete on price with tradesmen who are happy to do slightly rougher jobs. Most jobs that I do are on daywork but my metre rate starts at £50. Many locations will not support such a rate and will not have enough customers who want this quality of work. Finding you local market can be one of the biggest challenges when starting out.

**davy_G** · 04-08-2008

Its a tricky one.
When i started out i needed £80 quid a day to make it worth my while getting out of bed in the morning. So that is what my dayrate was for small jobs. Ive upped this as my speed and knowledge has increased. I now work off £150 a day.
I always charged £20m2 for bigger jobs. Dont make a difference between ceramic or porcelain. If the job is really big i drop to £15m2 as i wont have to lug the tool in and out of the van after a few days as this does eat up time.

Follow quotes up, give a quick call a week later and just make sure they have got someone and you can clear it from your diary. If they went with someone else ask was it purely on price etc etc. Wish them a good job and no harm done. Then work out what the other sod charged per m2 and see where you go from there.

Good luck.