How much to charge?

[Marcus2000monster]

Hi fellas! I’m just starting out into the mechanic world! Been working on my own vehicles for a while but I’m now working on other people’s cars and trucks. I am starting a full time job soon. My question is wha do you think a young man is worth as far  as price to charge per hour when it comes to mechanic work? Some professionals can charge anywhere from 60 to 120$ per hour and I know I’m not worth anywhere near that of course but what would seem fair to you guys?

[Mopar1973Man]

I'm still running $60 an hour out the local economy is weak out here. I charge by my actual work hours if I can bet the labor book. If I'm over the book rate hours then I typically cap the hours to the book. It's a humble pay but its something. 

[dave110]

My inspection mechanic is at $48 right now just for reference.

[Marcus2000monster]

Hmm I don’t wanna trip people off becuase I’m not very experienced and I’m young. Is 20$ an hour too low?

[IBMobile]

There are several factors in deciding a labor rate that you're paid.   Mike has hit on two factors (1) what the local economy can bear and (2) the job time factor.  Also, as you said, your skill level is low.  Your skill level at this time will limit you in preforming complex repairs.  

Repair work is rated A, B, C and D.  An A rated repair is very complex and requires the most skill, ie: transmission overhaul; and, a D rated repair needs the least amount of skill, ie:  oil change.   

 

The shop labor rate (for example $160/hr at a Volvo dealership) is based on:  what the mechanic is payed, all the hidden federal, state and local payroll / business taxes along with overhead costs and still make a profit.  Of that $160/hr, the entry level mechanic at the dealership is paid $20/flat rate hour.

 

 So if you are an entry level "independent worker" with no overhead $20-$25/hr is a reasonable rate.

[Mopar1973Man]

2 hours ago, Marcus2000monster said:

Hmm I don’t wanna trip people off becuase I’m not very experienced and I’m young. Is 20$ an hour too low?

 

12 minutes ago, IBMobile said:

So if you are an entry level "independent worker" with no overhead $20-$25/hr is a reasonable rate.

 

I agree. You have to start somewhere. For a basic part changer that not a bad place to start. I think the worse part is investing large amounts of time in the diagnostic realm. Better your tools, and experience the less time you invest. I win over heart locally with if I can't fix I don't charge. If I diagnose a vehicle and it's beyond my skill or experience then I typically will pass it up and not charge for the diagnostic work. The honesty wins. I end up with a return customer typically. 

 

If I doing a job I've got no experience in I'll outright tell the own straightforward I've never done this task and I expect to take more time than typical. Again the honesty brings them back. Acting like nothing phases you and you can handle anything make people uneasy. 

 

Try to allow yourself extra time for diagnostics, extra time to learn, extra time just in case you need special tools. 

[TheGreatWhite]

I'm pretty new to it as well and I've been charging $20/hr as well. Look at it this way, start your pay low and do a fantastic job because if you do do that and they see that, they'll spread the word on your work and bring you more business. It'll also pay off when the guy that's charging $150/he (like a guy over here is charging) screws up and the customer gets mad and looks for a  good cheap way to fix it they'll  probably get pointed towards you. Now obviously if you go bigger and have a shop you'll need to start charging more but if you're like me and do it in your personal shop (dad's shop) I just charge $20/hr and make sure I do a better job on their truck than I do on mine, and I do a damn good job on mine. 

[Mopar1973Man]

I love seeing there are you guys out here willing to cut your teeth on the mechanic realm. Make sure you guys jump in the 911 Contact list you might be able to help out other members. 

 

Like my A/C work I typically charge $40 for A/C recharge (if the system is just low). Repairs can't go up depending on the extent of the repair. 

 

VP44 replacement on site I typically get $120. I've done them in the middle of a hay field in a rainstorm. Even bailed @IBMobile out when he broke down in Riggins, ID. The only thing DON'T let @JAG1 hang around while you do a VP44... 

 

Electrical jobs I typically edge up my price depending on the type of repair, modification or installation of an accessory. This is one of my strong points I'm not going to cheap out on that. 

 

Then with my Prevail Web Management, I'm doing server admin work or website building for a price. Depending on the task it can be simply $20 an hour or upwards of $60 an hour depending on how in-depth and working off hours. I even teach Linux OS. 

 

Back when I had "Cloud 10 Computers" I was getting $120 an hour for computer and network service. I closed this business down in 2008 when the economy tank locally. I switch to Mopar1973Man.Com. 

 

 

 

 

[JAG1]

23 minutes ago, Mopar1973Man said:

 

 

VP44 replacement on site I typically get $120. I've done them in the middle of a hay field in a rainstorm. Even bailed @IBMobile out when he broke down in Riggins, ID. The only thing DON'T let @JAG1 hang around while you do a VP44... 

I know this one... if he wasn't working on my truck at the time he'd of chased me away with a Big Effing Hammer that for sure. 

           For the life of me I cannot remember why  

 

Edited August 19, 2018 by JAG1

[Mopar1973Man]

I love picking on you for that bolt in the intercooler... "Where does this go?" Clank!  

[TheGreatWhite]

1 minute ago, Mopar1973Man said:

I love picking on you for that bolt in the intercooler... "Where does this go?" Clank!  

You've peaked my curiosity please do tell how that can happen

[JAG1]

 we looked so many places for the damn thing the only place left was the intercooler and guess what..... what do ya know........holding a flashlite.... there it was.

Edited August 19, 2018 by JAG1

[Marcus2000monster]

Thanks for he tips guys! Other than doing good work and all how can I get customers? I’d like to do work I. The side starting now. I have done a couple oil changes and rotors and pads but nothing more. 

[TheGreatWhite]

3 minutes ago, Marcus2000monster said:

Thanks for he tips guys! Other than doing good work and all how can I get customers? I’d like to do work I. The side starting now. I have done a couple oil changes and rotors and pads but nothing more. 

Just post on FB and say like hey anyone need any service to their vehicles leave a comment I can get you in or here's my number give me a call. I got a customer cause a kid who lived across the street from my gf was having trouble with his truck and all the keyboard mechanics were  giving him bs answers (his truck is a 00 24v and someone said the oil from his rear main was from his rocker box, which isn't a thing on the early 24vs and another say it was the front cover blowing to to the back via the fan) so I asked if he needed help and he said yes so I went and diagnosed a problem and bam now I have a new contact and customer and I'm going to do potentially a rear main and a tappet gasket and probably a front cover.

[JAG1]

Just a couple tips.....

         Try spending some time with the client to educate them on simple things they should do to take better care of their car. Those times with the client will go a long ways for your future. In other words give them custom attention and leave the phone ringing if someone calls.... it lets them know you think they are important. But always call back the caller as soon as you possibly can. My clients and I have an unwritten rule that you don't need to leave a voice mail, waste time with that, because if I see your call it won't be long and I call back.

 

You could leave a reminder sheet on the seat on what will need attention sooner than later like a brake fluid change or rear brakes soon. That sort of thing.

 

Try sticking with the easier jobs... don't get into highly specialized items where your probability of having problems greatly increases. In other words, stay with the smaller easier jobs. You'll have more satisfied people that way and it will be easier money for you.

 

Never think profit comes from haste work, always spend the time needed to do a better job than anyone else. 

 

The folks looking for inexpensive work might be more problematic for you. You need to price yourself to be competitive not running on the margin and not dealing with folks running the wrong kind of lifestyles.

 

Get liabilty insurance on your business.

 

I hope all goes well......

 

 

[Dieselfuture]

21 hours ago, JAG1 said:

My clients and I have an unwritten rule that you don't need to leave a voice mail, waste time with that, because if I see your call it won't be long and I call back.

I can't stand voicemail and the amount of time it takes to get to it, text is better than that. And most of the time it will be a message like, hey it's at so and so call me back. Really???!!! If it's an emergency call me more than once then I'll know, and if I'm not by the phone it doesn't do anyone any good. 

 

Edit 

I'm talking about people that you already know well not new contacts.

Edited August 21, 2018 by Dieselfuture

[Mopar1973Man]

Answering machine at home is off. My voicemail on my cellphone is full. Now my WiFi number is really cool since its setup with Google Voice it sends me an email in text form of the entire phone call plus the phone number. The part I hard is a person calls 10 minutes of blah blah blah... Then at the very end run through there phone number extremely fast. You hear maybe 2 number. Now you got to play that message over and over again. I've wasted an entire hour to crap like that. Why typically I don't worry about voicemail or answering machines if you really want me you call again.  My WiFi number is the only one that is really good about making text back with a readable phone number. 

[JAG1]

I also cannot stand the sound of that female computer voice. If she was my wife I'd move to Borneo to get away from it. Its just awful.

 

Voicemail is so redundant, stupid and yes some folks not only talk too fast but also too lazy to fully pronounce each word without sloshing them all together. 

 

My voicemail message says, 'please do not leave a voicemail, but send me a text instead. Thank you. 

 

Edited August 21, 2018 by JAG1

[Marcus2000monster]

On 8/20/2018 at 9:07 AM, JAG1 said:

Just a couple tips.....

         Try spending some time with the client to educate them on simple things they should do to take better care of their car. Those times with the client will go a long ways for your future. In other words give them custom attention and leave the phone ringing if someone calls.... it lets them know you think they are important. But always call back the caller as soon as you possibly can. My clients and I have an unwritten rule that you don't need to leave a voice mail, waste time with that, because if I see your call it won't be long and I call back.

 

You could leave a reminder sheet on the seat on what will need attention sooner than later like a brake fluid change or rear brakes soon. That sort of thing.

 

Try sticking with the easier jobs... don't get into highly specialized items where your probability of having problems greatly increases. In other words, stay with the smaller easier jobs. You'll have more satisfied people that way and it will be easier money for you.

 

Never think profit comes from haste work, always spend the time needed to do a better job than anyone else. 

 

The folks looking for inexpensive work might be more problematic for you. You need to price yourself to be competitive not running on the margin and not dealing with folks running the wrong kind of lifestyles.

 

Get liabilty insurance on your business.

 

I hope all goes well......

 

 

I don’t have access to Facebook for personal reasons. Would I be crazy to put a few signs around town with something like Light Automotive Repair bla bla being an 18 ye old with not tons of experience? Good news is I start Sept 3rd and will be a mechanic full time! Hoping I will learn a lot! The goal is to open my own shop in a few years after I’m ASE certified and be a Cummins specialist.... 

[015point9]

you said you're 18 somewhere I  believe.  That was about the age of my kid started as a lot boy at a dodge place.  Wash cars, drag battery charger around, trash detail etc.  Pretty soon some body quit, then he snagged down parts. Then the experianced mechanics told him what parts to change, long story 4 years later get smog lic and some ace certs,  then their main trans guy quit. Then he had 3 bays that were his,, along with part pullers/changers, like he was.  You can see the trend? 

(Probably shouldn't say but he was upward projection.  Then he bought a shop of his own.  Now he understands why shop rates are like they are)

 

PS... if your feet are still under your parents table at dinner time, how much do you think you should charge them?  Best of luck.

On 8/19/2018 at 1:07 PM, Marcus2000monster said:

Hmm I don’t wanna trip people off becuase I’m not very experienced and I’m young. Is 20$ an hour too