Dennis Gerard
Member
- Messages
- 28
- Location
- florida/tennessee
This question comes up on woodworking forums every now & then. I think it depends on whether you consider yourself in the woodworking business, or just a hobbyist. From the look of your work, you are or should be in the business. It's beautiful.
If you're a hobbyist, and a good one, I think materials cost plus $10-15 per hour is reasonable.
If you're in the business & not charging materials plus a minimum of $25-30 per hour, you're not charging enough.
I believe the minute you accept a woodworking assignment, no matter how small, for compensation, you are no longer a hobbyist, and you should think like a professional.
Tom the Hobbyist only charging $10 to $15/hr is why Pros have trouble making a living charge what its worth. When I had my wood business going I charged $65/hr and that was over 10 years ago. DONT UNDER CHARGE you are a PRO if you take money for it so you should act like it and not give it away.
As to the pro rate I mentioned, maybe I'm just out of touch & it should be higher. I was kind of thinking of someone working out of a home based shop without regular business overhead. At $30/hr, a 40 hr week gets you $1200 plus your materials costs. There are a lot of people that would be glad to do what they love for 50K a year. I'm not saying that 100K wouldn't be nice if the hourly rate that supports that income gets you enough business to stay busy.