I had a kitchen floor today, where the customer had new kitchen fitted, and i had to remove some floor tiles and replace to fit the new kitchen. I didn't look at the job just gave them a day rate, got there and there was ten tiles to remove and refit new ones to fit kitchen cabinets...First of all customer had got 450x450 tiles and the ones on the floor were 400x400 not a problem i explained about cut edge etc. My biggest nightmare was where the new tiles had to go there was quarry tiles which were 5mm higher than the other floor tiles and they run underneath the new units, and the old kitchen covered these and needed to be broken off to tile. So i phoned local hire company to hire sds drills £50 plus vat plus chisel sharpening, so off i went to topps to get some grout and popped into local diy shop and guess what...SDS drill £45 including chisel...RESULT as i told customer it was going to cost £50 to hire and they agreed...Done the job customer well happy and i charged them for my new drill....WILL I GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL My point is sometimes its cheaper to buy rather than hire so check

I think as so many tools are now so cheap, hire shops may struggle at their extortionate prices. The company I used to work for found it was often cheaper and far more convenient in the long run (i.e. lost time going to hire shops and returning equipment) to purchase tools and equipment where necessary.

But do you charge for using your own power tools on a job, Sooner or later there going to need replacing and start costing money.

If I need tools say a big cutter and I knew I would have a couple of jobs coming up I would build the cost into the two jobs or at least a percentage into them.

Highlander

dont knock hiring tools, its a great tax dodge!!!

grumpy may correct me but tools that are bought are 'fixed assets' but hired tools can be off set against your tax bill which can be more beneficial in the long run!!

in the same way as leasing your van can be more advantageous than buying (only if you pay tax tho ;0)

A good point my accountant told me that when a bought a hop up it was plant and would be taxed as such.