How much to charge?

[GstRdr1]

I did some pc repair for a person in my office. When he gave me the computer to work on he said just to let him know what he owes me. Now that the work is done he insists on paying me for doing it. It took me a total of 2.5-3hrs to finish the job, but since he is more of an aquaintence (sp?) than a customer I'm not sure what to charge him. I don't want to give away my time but I don't want to overcharge either. Any suggestions??

Marc
MCP -WinXP
-Win2k Server

 

[alsoknownas]

How about lunch at a nice place for a change... Just a thought

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[philote]

I did something like that recently. Someone in my office needed to reinstall Windows after getting a virus (and he had a ton of crap on his machine). I charged him $60 and I guess it took around 3 hours. I ended up going back to his place for free for a few things I had forgotten to do and some minor things he needed, like hooking up a scanner. He ended up giving me another $20. So therefore I'd recommend $60 or so. Also, check with local computer shops to see what they'd charge for a similar service to get a price range for the type of work you did.

Kevin
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[GstRdr1]

Thanks for the quick response! AKA I tried the lunch route already but he insists that my time is worth more than that. But I now know where to start. Thanks again.

Marc
MCP -WinXP
-Win2k Server

 

[CajunCenturion]

Maybe there is something else that you can barter with, such as him buying tickets to a sporting event, or there is something else that he can do for you in return.

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[sleipnir214]

You could just gracefully accept an honorarium, while reinforcing the mutual understanding that this transaction is separate from y'all's personal relationship.

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[jen89]

I'd probably ask for 20 - 30 dollars. It may not be what you usually make, but 10 an hour between friends seems fair. To be honest, 20 an hour between friends seems a little high to me. 10 is enough to acknowledge your time, without coming close to what it would cost to get it done professionally.

It would be nice if you did graciously accept the money, if only by saying "whatever you think is fair." We have a friend who does a lot of car work for us, and it is tooth and nail to get him to let us pay him. We supply the parts, but we want to give him something for the labor as well. We usually send food, once we managed to get him to let us give him a gift certificate to a really nice resteraunt. Only one time out of about 15 times that we have gotten his help have we been able to give him actual money. It feels very awkward, because it makes me feel uncomfortable asking for help. When there is no reimbursment involved, the recieving party has to be careful not to cross that line into taking advantage of the other.

Another excellent option would be to work out a bartering system of some part. In other words, if he would help you fix your car, paint your house, do some landscaping, or something like that, you would call it even. If he has some skill that you don't, see if you can trade services instead of money. When we are able to do something like helping our friend move, it feels better to take his help.

 

[jsteph]

Marc,
You didn't say if this was a 'friend' or just a person in the office.

If it's a friend, then the lunch or tickets suggested above might be fine. Otherwise, in my opinion you should charge at or slightly below the 'going' rate. Bust Buy charges I think $90 per hour for this type of stuff (in my opinion that's way high).

I think if you charged $50 per hour you wouldn't be insulting the person--*especially* since he (or she) is offering--no--*insisting* on paying you. You may need to consider the political ramifications (is this your boss, someone higher up the ladder?).

Even with your boss or higher-ups, you'll gain their respect by charging a decent buck. They know the meaning of making a buck--show them that you do, too. At the same time you'll be avoiding the other trap--everyone in the office bugging you to spend your evenings and weekends on their little problems--for $10 per hour. That's not worth your time. Price yourself at a level that won't bury you in work for which you're underpaid.
--jsteph

 

[chiph]

I agree with jsteph --
If you were to tell them "I'll charge you half what Best Buy (or other local shop) charges", then that wouldn't be so bad. And it avoids excessive calls later.

Chip H.


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[jen89]

I like that way of presenting it, chiph. The main thing is that if someone hasn't done research on how much Best Buy would charge, and you ask for 50 dollars an hour from a friend, it would be easy to offend them. I, for one, had no idea that Best Buy charged $90 an hour. So imagine that I had in my mind that it would cost me $30 an hour to go to Best Buy (what I would have guessed). Instead, my friend does me a favor and tries to refuse payment. When I insist, he quotes me a cost of $150, or $50 an hour, when I thought that I would be spending $90 to go to Best Buy. I think I would be floored. Yes, I would have been misinformed, but I think that it would be easy to have misunderstandings between friends (or just as bad, coworkers,) that way. By saying that you will charge half of what Best Buy charges, although the price will be the same as if you said that 50 an hour was fair, it is more clear that it is a favor. So you are not giving away your time, but you don't give anyone the impression that you are trying to make a killing off of your favor, either.

 

[RichS]

I know this is a late post but...

A couple of questions: Are you a PC repair professional (is PC repair is what you do for your company). If so do you have one of those very strict non compete clauses or an anti-moonlighting clause in your employment agreement?

Either of these could prevent you from being paid though you would know best if the people at your company would care at all. These can be benign, but I have know some to get hammered by them.

Other than that: $30 an hour, $90 bucks.