How to price jobs and quote as an Electrician or other Tradesman

Рет қаралды 66,002

Күн бұрын

Quoting and pricing jobs can be a bit of a mine field and is an area that newly self employed tradesman can sometimes struggle with.
In this video I describe my step by step approach to quoting for jobs and how I price them up.
Leave your comments of how you do it or what your experience has been so far.
🔔 Become a Channel Member To Get Access To Exclusive Perks 👇
➤ / @artisanelectrics
Free Stuff for my Subscribers:
Free Amazon Prime for 30 days here:
www.amazon.co.uk/tryprimefree...
Free Amazon Music Unlimited for 30 days here: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/dmusic/pr...
Free Audio Books for 30 Days here:
www.amazon.co.uk/Audible-Free...
Supplies for your Business:
www.amazon.co.uk/tryAB/?tag=a...
📱 Don't Forget to Follow Social Media, FOLLOW US on Your Favourite Social Networks 📱
📸 Artisan Electrics Instagram Account 👇
➤ / artisanelectrics
🐦 Artisan Electrics Twitter Account 👇
➤ / artelectrics
📓 Artisan Electrics Facebook Account 👇
➤ / artisanelectrics
This video is for entertainment purposes only please do not attempt to copy or recreate it. Do so at your own risk.
#Electrician #SparksLife #Cambridge #ArtisanElectrics

Пікірлер: 144

@stephenpower9572 5 жыл бұрын

Wouldn't break down price into labour and materials. Have always found that people who want to dissect your price into labour and materials are usually a waste of time. Its not going to change your total cost figure.

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Stephen Power I totally agree

@ashmanelectricalservices4318 5 жыл бұрын

I can't think of a reason why a customer would want a quotation broken down into materials and labour cost other than a lack of trust, if you don't trust someone enough to provide you with a fair quote, then why on earth would you trust them to work on your electrics 🤔

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Alvin Ashman yeah exactly, the only situation I’ve come across where they genuinely needed to know the breakdown was because they wanted to claim back money for the materials from their company, but generally it’s a trust issue.

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Robbi Robson yeah you don’t wanna be travelling so far for work it’s not worth the hassle, if a customer really wants me to travel that bad then I charge my normal hourly rate for the driving time as well as adding fuel cost on to materials cost. You can’t work for nothing you’re worth more than that.

@abcdef-kx2qt 4 жыл бұрын

@@artisanelectrics >then cost them up front for the efforts !

@josev6660 4 жыл бұрын

One of the first side jobs I did, I priced a dedicated line with material and labor for 160. The run was about 35 ft. all the money I made went to the helper who went under the house. That same job now I would of quoted at least 450 but that's how I learned from my mistakes.

@artisanelectrics 4 жыл бұрын

You live and learn!

@manresaelectric 3 жыл бұрын

we have all been there lol..thats the price of doing it on our own. Dont sell yourself short.think about all the experience youve gained and its value to customers

@simaxpix 5 жыл бұрын

Really sound advice, generously shared: thanks as ever!

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@thecatalinacook6854 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips!

@itscoconutsaregood 5 жыл бұрын

thanks, I had to reconsider my understanding of a price that was given as an estimate. You are spot on. It is the detail you might give that make a difference. It is only the RATES you MIGHT state to support your estimate that will be construed, UNLESS you state otherwise, as the fixed element of the offer you make to your customers. So IF you state quantities and hours as well, they will float up or down until the final account.

@boldrich7225 2 жыл бұрын

Great info. Thank you

@khalidakhtar8341 3 жыл бұрын

New to the channel Jordan , really appreciate you uploading these videos they help young sparks like myself soon to be qualified and shows you the high standard we should all be aiming for keep up the great work !

@knockmore50 Жыл бұрын

jordon is a highway robber with his prices ! would never hire him !!!

@delspark 5 жыл бұрын

very good and some helpful advise for someone starting off, pricing is one of the hardest things to get right, but once you know your own worth and stick to it you can't go wrong. keep up the great content

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Derek cross thanks for your feedback!

@kevwade63 4 жыл бұрын

My price is based on my worth (experience, tools and knowledge) not their budget.

@artisanelectrics 4 жыл бұрын

Definitely!

@gameaccount1612 3 жыл бұрын

Nobody is asking the service provider to price based on the clients buget, that's as stupid as the service provier asking per the clients buget, both are stupid approaches. But this will not mean that if in your mind, you think you're worth £3000 per hour, and you're doing a simple socket fix for that hour, that price will be acceptable just because you think so.

@MartiA1973 5 жыл бұрын

Rock solid info for new traders and a good few old hands who are still not doing the basics right - thank you.

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback

@xylo66 5 жыл бұрын

Great video fellow sparky ! Thanks JF

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

xylo66 thanks!

@stephenmorrissey7637 4 жыл бұрын

I received good value from your video☺

@aleciaschader5502 3 жыл бұрын

Great info! Do you have any videos on how you quote wiring a new home?

@OCD_Sparkies Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for this video, found it very helpful. Pretty much what I’m aiming to do anyway. The tip about mentally going through the job is great! When you say don’t add too much detail can you provide an example? I would put something like “install new light fitting, testing & certificate.” Is that too sparse?

@nickbuckle646 5 жыл бұрын

The problem with electrics is you can only really base any quote on what you can see, that creates problems in domestic because most wiring is hidden from view, so unless you are putting new in stuff back to the C.U you are always at risk of uncovering something thats going to add cost to put right, sometimes putting the whole job off altogether. Also its a very fine line between overestimating a little and losing jobs. In commerical and larger contracts from what i have seen companies are pricing at not much better than break even and making their money all through extras, i reckon at least 20 percent on the average job from what i have seen over the last few years.

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

132 Buckleup1000 yes unfortunately you’re right, many companies are dishonest like this and quote jobs super low to undercut the competition but then add loads on through so called extras along the way, this results in frustration and lack of clarity for customers. I had one commercial customer recently who experienced this, having chosen another company over me for the rewire of his shop, he came back to me for the fitting of the fire alarm system later as he said that the first company ended up charging more for the rewire than I had quoted, even though their quote was half the price at the start. They also had terrible customer service. Honesty and Clear quoting wins in the end.

@ohno1017 3 жыл бұрын

I've learned through the years that i walk the job figure out time frame..hours @ 75 labor hour....materials 20% mark up...bn working out for years.

@artisanelectrics 3 жыл бұрын

Well done!

@ghspaelectricalservices9296 5 жыл бұрын

I found this really helpful, I hate pricing and really struggle

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful to you! Let me know if you would like me to do another video about any other business related subjects

@qadeerhussain5751 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent video

@artisanelectrics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

@kangtheconqueror 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that AE. I'm relatively new to the industry so with the first few jobs I quoted for I was kind of finding my feet, as it were, and underestimated. I still did the job for the price quoted, and just took the hit. I soon learned to expect hitches and price accordingly. But as you rightly say, communication is the key. I did a little job for someone a while ago; single socket conversion to a double, installation of a new light and switch. Pretty straight forward. Anyway, it came time to hook the light up to an existing ceiling rose and off I popped into the attic, telling her I'd be around fifteen minutes. Well... what I found was a right dogs dinner! I came down in two mins and showed her pictures of what I'd found and told her it'd need sorting out. She was very happy I'd found it and stumped up without question the extra labour costs. But I have taken the hit a few times and put it down to experience. I've never left a job where I felt I'd cut corners because it had took longer than expected. Tempting to, but we're not to give an inferior job just because we cocked up.

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Kevin McNicholas totally agree it’s nice to hear your experience and glad the video helped

@ashmanelectricalservices4318 5 жыл бұрын

I always put a disclaimer at the bottom of my quotes that state "If additional work is required in order to safely complete the work that was quoted for, additional fees will be applied". Always inspect and test the circuit you intend to work on before starting work.

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Alvin Ashman good idea

@donnierobertson3088 5 жыл бұрын

Good job

@jagjeetjohal7853 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you - this video was brilliant and extremely helpful !!!

@artisanelectrics 4 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

@ashmanelectricalservices4318 5 жыл бұрын

When I first started giving out quotes, I used to separate materials and labour, now I just give a quote for the whole job, much easier as if the customer decide that they no longer want one job done, I can just remove it from the quote and not have to rework my figures. Fixed price on everything with the exception of fault finding, I let the customer know my rates, once I've found the fault, I update the customer of the time taken to find the fault, what the fault was and how much it will cost to put right.

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Alvin Ashman yeah exactly it’s the best way to do it

@markgilder9990 4 жыл бұрын

Ashman Electrical Services Hi, I usually find it takes ages to find the fault and 10 minutes to fix it😂😂

@artisanelectrics 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah that’s so true!

@tonydavison3312 5 жыл бұрын

Great video

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Tony Davison thanks!

@michaelwhite28 5 жыл бұрын

How do you not have more sub? Great video very helpful. keep it going!

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Michael White thanks glad you’re enjoying the channel! I’m gonna try and post every week now

@benh9961 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@sylkelster 3 жыл бұрын

I find that price breaks on wire peak at around 250' and level off after that. Home Depot and Lowes will kill you on the smaller rolls.

@stephengreen909 5 жыл бұрын

Keep them up.. 👍👍👍👍

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Archie Oliver will do! Thanks!

@johndufton9686 5 жыл бұрын

Some jobs are so much of an unknown it can be impossible to give a fixed price quotation. In these circumstances I just offer a day rate.

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

John Dufton yeah sometimes you have no other choice

@davejones4740 4 жыл бұрын

@@artisanelectrics What's the day rate price for a plumber or electrician?

@artisanelectrics 4 жыл бұрын

It varies hugely depending on location and skill level

@12000gp 4 жыл бұрын

I charge £250 per day plus VAT or £150 plus VAT for half a day, anyone want to tell me how I compare?

@MrAustin241080 4 жыл бұрын

How do you deal with “oh while you’re here. I have these light fittings, could you put up etc.” I used to do hedge cutting and people would always try do this and in the half day charge yet they don’t understand it covers time to go to the rubbish dump.

@artisanelectrics 4 жыл бұрын

Say yes I don’t have time to do that for you today but I can give you a quote.

@jimjam8179 3 жыл бұрын

Perhaps if you gave your customers a cost breakdown they would better understand things like time taken to go to rubbish dump / waste disposal charges etc. Just a thought....

@hajirpirouzfar9481 3 жыл бұрын

Hello, I'm over here! Little to your left. Great advice though

@coastalconnections2507 5 жыл бұрын

Have you heard of project management software called Fergus? I’m an English sparky living in NZ. I use that to run all my quotes/invoicing/dayt to day through. Only just discovered your channel, keep it up!! I recently started my own channel so really enjoy watching what other sparks put out for content.

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Great thanks I will check it out!

@andrewmayes3271 5 жыл бұрын

4 including filling out test sheets that's quick

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

andrew mayes yeah to be fair I am pretty quick but that’s 15 years of experience for you 😁

@Devlin85 4 жыл бұрын

I could do that with a tea break in 1 hour tops 🤣

@MarcusT86 3 жыл бұрын

Great video mate. How long have you been an electrician if you don’t mind my asking? Also, that’s a nice, clean, luxury looking van interior!

@artisanelectrics 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I’ve been an electrician for 17 years now!

@MarcusT86 3 жыл бұрын

Artisan Electrics how!? Aren’t you like 30!?

@artisanelectrics 3 жыл бұрын

34, I started my apprenticeship at 17

@The360Electrician 2 жыл бұрын

Bidding is not rocket science. You first have to know your cost. The biggest question I get when coaching is "how much should i charge". Only large companies can use bidding software otherwise you are wasting tons of time bidding and less time trying to close the sale and build a great client list. Almost all the bids on my channel are bid the same way. Doesn't matter if it a $3k job or $300k. But it took me 6 years to finally get my system to work perfect! Every Time. No guessing if I made money. Thanks for sharing your system! Everyone has to find what works for them.

@qadeerhussain5751 3 жыл бұрын

Would you not place a percentage on materials etc plus the cost going & coming to the building merchants etc

@artisanelectrics 3 жыл бұрын

I do now

@Earthwatcher57 3 жыл бұрын

I'm a customer and I do want detail. I do want a break down of materials and labour, then I can judge whether the price is worth it or not. I've just had a job done for which I've been billed over £650. The original estimate (yes, not a quotation) seemed pricey but worth it because I needed a more complicated job doing later and wanted a reputable electrician. I should have asked for a breakdown before hand but, as someone else pointed out, I trusted them to charge a fair rate for the job. However, when I saw their day rate and subtracted this from the original bill, I was being charged £300 for materials which I could have bought for £40 (that would have been less to the electrician) and each of the jobs was small and straightforward. I feel I've been taken to the cleaners. Have subsequently asked for the cost of materials and they refuse to provide that. They've mentioned admin to fill in the the minor electrical work certificate. How long would it take to fill that out?

@nonenone9759 3 жыл бұрын

You probably don’t see it but you’ve got buyers remorse. You were happy with the price till you’ve done some sums in your head and believe you’ve been ripped off. Likely you haven’t as if it was day rate would be charged differently, you were offered an estimate, which you accepted.

@josh214haigh 2 ай бұрын

Minor electrical works certificate - no more than an hour, which includes the tests needed to fill in the numbers. As I understand it, minor works is only needed if you alter the circuit in any way - like moving or adding sockets or lights. If you're doing a like for like swap, no certificate is needed. I'll usually still do the tests to make sure everything is ok, for my own peace of mind.

@bellakhong5732 2 жыл бұрын

Hihi, greetings from Malaysia 🇲🇾 Would you charge for the time consumed and petrol fee if you cannot get the job after sending quotation? Because my father is an electrician too, he visited a big factory far away to have a look and came out ideas to set up all the electrical stuff required for the factory for a whole day, but end up earn nothing bcs the boss gave the job to his relative and copy my father's quotation and ideas. Anyone can help me to answer? Thanks 😅

@nickdavies5688 8 ай бұрын

Do all of the over quoted jobs give you extra time to sit in the van and do more KZfaq videos and hence more revenue?

@markgilder9990 4 жыл бұрын

Bigger jobs I’ll estimate, In case added extras appear out of your control. Smaller Jobs quote.

@ivanbautista4119 4 жыл бұрын

Mark Gilder how much would you charge for whole new wiring of a house

@lalocastillo7738 4 жыл бұрын

My problem is I keep getting jobs where they want to buy all the material. So I have to walk the job and think how long its going to take. I have a full time job and can only work weekends

@artisanelectrics 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah that’s annoying, I usually turn down jobs where the customer wants to supply all the materials.

@jinksy31337 3 жыл бұрын

I dont think the issue is with your labor cost, for me it would be the materials (if there was a massive difference in materials I would wonder why, and is there something that has been overlooked that another contractor has spotted) Your price is your price and the customer expects a standard of work, if someone charges more for labor that's okay if you know you're going to get a good standard of work. People will pay for a high standard of workmanship not for an inflated price on materials. Personally

@artisanelectrics 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks great comment

@muttlymoo 5 жыл бұрын

Do you have a markup you put on your materials?

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

muttlymoo no I charge materials at cost price although I was discussing that with someone today they suggested I should... what do you think?

@muttlymoo 5 жыл бұрын

@@artisanelectricswell from what i have heard most electricians/tradesmen do put a percentage on... think mostly between 15 and 20%.. Some plumbers ive spoke to put 30% on...i dont think its a bad idea especially if you can shop around and get good quality materials at a decent price as i find prices vary so much even though as tradesmen we should get looked after by our local wholesalers..but i dont find they are always the best price..i guess people justify it to say it covers the cost of handling the materials i.e back and forward to the wholesaler & to cover the cost of possibly replacement of faulty goods

@abscomm 4 жыл бұрын

@@artisanelectrics Sell materials at cost! Shock, horror, sell at non trade price maybe but never at cost!

@artisanelectrics 4 жыл бұрын

I charge a lot for labour so don’t need to put money on materials as well. Sometimes I will add a bit if I think it’s justified though.

@MrPablo54 4 жыл бұрын

It’s completely standard to charge a mark up on materials. As an electrician our career/wages is made by selling labour AND materials. You travel to get the parts, you have to deal with replacements if faulty. It’s just the common law of any business isn’t it? Would you expect a mechanic to charge you cost for a part, or a wine merchant to not put any mark up on a bottle of wine? Of course not - they’d soon be out of business. Just don’t take the mickey - 20% is pretty standard.

@zjzozn 5 жыл бұрын

It will happen.... needs to do a regular weekly vlog..... let’s hope so 👍

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

zjzozn I’m gonna try and get a video out every week, watch this space!

@240soundwave 2 жыл бұрын

Do you/ other tradies here vary their price a lot depending on the apparent wealth of the customer? Massively appreciate the openness about prices and am pretty envious to be fair honest beginning middle and end of the day. I would be very interested to find out what kind of volunteering you have done and if the back drop of it is Christianity? Maybe to personal fair dooze, my only thought is that your business sort of caters to wealthy people and that is the basis of it's success? Is giving customers a very good price for a very good job a good turn?

@kmd2391 4 ай бұрын

Noice 👌

@abcdef-kx2qt 2 жыл бұрын

finding any construction building violations its my DUTY to turn then in to inspection authority .no one waists my time if i do an estimate !!!!!!!

@paulprescott7913 3 жыл бұрын

Okay im not an electrician and work in the wholesale industry. And made a comment on one of your other vids about pricing up work. This is not helped by the likes of Screwfix selling to them at the same price as they would to a tradesmen. My only point really is why shouldn't an electrician make money on his materials at the end of the day its a business. Personally i would rather pay any trade to do a good job using decent materials. Trusting a kitchen fitter to replace a fuseboard if he not an time served qualified electrician as well, no thanks.

@Farmer_26 4 ай бұрын

I totally disagree as the customer with no detailed quote I’m going through a rewire right now and there’s a serious issue happening where what was supposed to be done isn’t clear between me and the contractor It’s caused a ton of anxiety Please detail what the customer is getting

@Zombie_Longwinger 3 жыл бұрын

£50- £100 for an EICR sounds about right these days with all the one man and a van Harry house bashers out there.

@rrenvrrenv8014 3 жыл бұрын

If people want a quote you should find out if they are looking for the lowest quote because if they are you might as well not waste your time because if you are a genuine electrician who will do the job properly there will be plenty of jokers who won't do the job properly and will give a lower quote than you.....you then get called to rewire the place after the 10 KW shower cable caught fire after it was plugged in to the ring main

@josh214haigh 2 ай бұрын

Ha! I recently had an enquiry from someone who wanted to do exactly that. I told them it needed its own circuit and it was dangerous to spur off their electrics in the loft - likely a lighting circuit. I didn't get the job.. I'm wondering if anyone did do it the way he wanted 😱

@sparksfly002 3 жыл бұрын

If you are not an electrician you shouldn't give electrical estimates due to the updating codes and regulations.

@richardwilliamson3624 5 жыл бұрын

What is an estimate: it’s a best guess

@artisanelectrics 5 жыл бұрын

Yes you’re right, that’s why I never give estimates

@galvanelectric8880 4 жыл бұрын

Artisan Electrics so what do you do. Hourly ?

@artisanelectrics 4 жыл бұрын

I give quotes

@MultiFab14 3 жыл бұрын

I bet you do like to go visit the property, easy $$$

@nomorefaith4988 3 жыл бұрын

£1000 for a CU change......please tell me what area you work in!! 😎

@artisanelectrics 3 жыл бұрын

Nomore Faith Cambridge

@nomorefaith4988 3 жыл бұрын

@@artisanelectrics I need to relocate! Good vids mate. Im subbed. 😎👍

@bendersquaddie 3 жыл бұрын

Interact with your audience. Don't look to your cameras right all the time

@artisanelectrics 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks yeah that was an old mistake I used to make I don’t do that any more

@wearelivinginthematrix5367 4 жыл бұрын

If this is what an electrician looks like i don't want to be an electrician

@artisanelectrics 4 жыл бұрын

Hi thanks for your comment, what part of it don’t you like?

@thomaskelly8101 2 жыл бұрын

Strange comment

@gameaccount1612 4 жыл бұрын

Anyone else realised that this guy literally is a "tradesman". He is pricing the job based on the value of the house, hilarious ! ahahaha For any1 looking for an electrician, plumber, etc, just go online and call at least 10 companies to quote your job. Don't be the idiot paying 5k for something that is worth under 1k just because someone said that is the cost.

@simon247sa 3 жыл бұрын

That is how the cookie crumbles my friend. He was saying depends on your location and where you live will depend on the cost of the job. You wouldn't charge the same amount to rewire a house of a value of £100 000 to a cost of rewiring a house with a value of £ 1 000 000. Makes sense?

@gameaccount1612 3 жыл бұрын

@@simon247sa Nope, it makes no sense whatsoever. In terms of location that's a different story, that is completely up to demand and supply proportion, but nowdays most services are national covered, if not there are several locals if it's an isolated area. But to say that the price is different just because the house has a different value, that's utter stupidity in my book. It's like saying that as a solicitor I'm charging you 1000% compared to what I'm charging someone else, for the same service, just because you have more money. It's like you're buying groceries and your total is 1000% of my total, but we purchased the same things from the same place. The amount of stupidity behind your statemet, and this guy in the video amazes me. That's the problem with these "tradesmen" nowdays, they are trying to rip off people, and that's why you should ask for 10-20 quotes before going with someone, because most likely 50% will try to overprice the shit out of their work, not to mention to make sure you ask for feedback from previous clients and have proof of work quality.

@rrenvrrenv8014 3 жыл бұрын

@@gameaccount1612 you are supposed to charge approximately double what the materials cost so if it's an ex council house and the light costs £50 it will be approximately £100 labour to install it. If it's a country house with a chandelier that costs £500 then it will cost approximatel £1000 labour to install it. If you can afford the materials then you can afford to pay the labour to install it. He's not ripping anyone off if he gives a quote they can say yes or no

@rrenvrrenv8014 3 жыл бұрын

@@simon247sa makes sense to anyone who has actually been there and done it. Makes no sense to moody people who pay £300 for a designer light but want to pay some fool £30 to install it

@gameaccount1612 3 жыл бұрын

@@rrenvrrenv8014 Your example is sort of correct, but you're comparing apples and oranges. My argument is that you don't charge different for the same work just because the house happens to be x10 more. You could have a house that costs £50k and exactly the same house but in a different location that's £500k, the cost for the work should be the same, if the work is the same.