Comments on: How to Price Projects

By: Dr Steve Taylor

Dr Steve Taylor — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 04:43:41 +0000

Excellent info! I try to judge what my time is worth and go from there. Materials can be very expensive, depending on what you use for parts. I also assure the customer that I want them to be very happy with the work I do, too…I will not be the cheapest guy, but I also won’t be the most expensive. I take my time and I do the job right! A good name in the carpentry business goes a LONG way in securing future jobs as well!

By: Marty Nell

Marty Nell — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 11:52:14 +0000

Everyone tells me my prices are too low. Thanks for the help.

By: John Goerlach

John Goerlach — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 05:32:15 +0000

Pricing. Sale items

By: John Goerlach

John Goerlach — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 01:44:04 +0000

Hobby now….extra cash later on to supplement SS.

By: Customer Service

Customer Service — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 20:50:21 +0000

In reply to DAVID.

Hi David. Your actual yield can vary a lot depending on the grade of material and the dimensions that you use, as well as the size of the project that you are making. If you are building small things with large pieces of defect-free material, you can get nearly perfect yield. If you are building large projects will smaller material that is loaded with defects, your yield will drop dramatically.
When I buy expensive material for a project, I will take my cut list with me to the lumber yard, and take the time to mark each plank with the corresponding part ID from my cut list. If you are working with sheet goods, spend the time up front to make a cutting diagram for each piece of plywood. Visualizing it can help you optimize for yield.
Paul
Woodworkers Guild of America

By: DAVID

DAVID — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:39:05 +0000

I have been a member for about 5 years now, and I find that I usually underestimate how much wood I need for a project, even though I add 20-25% overage from my board foot calculations. Why do I always seem to short myself and have to go buy more wood?

By: Martin Stein

Martin Stein — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 00:00:13 +0000

In reply to Ila m woodwyk. You are correct. When doing "craft" type projects your time is never appreciated. Stained glass, metal or wood projects are labor intensive and your time is not valued as it should be.

By: Rufus

Rufus — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 23:15:04 +0000

I had a friend that works for a cabinet door replacement company. Even though he didn't actually make and sell any products, he explained that carpenters are few and far between and the hourly rate just kept going up for him and his skillset. Thinking to switch over from my fab job to try this! Thanks for the article.

By: Graeme Harrison

Graeme Harrison — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 04:47:53 +0000

In reply to Howard Goodisson. Howard Goodisson: your formula is still not right. I had a furniture manufacturing shop and I worked on at least 4 times the cost of materials and even then it was still not enough. I sold wholesale to retailers and they were always screwing my price’s down until one day I packed up my workshop and shifted to the country. I just make what I want now and put my own price on it. Or charge it out on an hrly rate of $80 per hr plus materials and mark up.

By: Howard Goodisson

Howard Goodisson — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 13:06:19 +0000

For years I’ve been undercharging for my services, I have been pricing based on this, cost of materials double it and then add 50% roughly 25% cheaper, I’m guessing the exact same methodology is the norm throughout the world and will be working on that basis from now on