Just what is the "Going Rate"??

[roukel01]

Good evening chaps.

Just a little something that is puzzling me at the moment.

Obviously this question depends on the area, but just what is the average going rate for a domestic Spark these days? I'm close to York, we do both Domestic and Industrial/Agricultural installations and charge around £20 + VAT an hour, now most of the time this isn't a problem and our customers are happy with our rates, however, most weeks we come across someone who's jaw nearly hits the floor when we send them a bill. We've had a couple of quotes rejected recently which I suppose means some people are charging less.

What botheres me is that I was doing an inspection and test on a property, the owner got me the previous certificate out from when the rewire was completed, the original quote was in with the certificate and the Sparky that did the rewire was charging £20 + VAT back in 2006 which leaves me to wonder what he's charging now??

 

[Bobby B]

yeah £20 per hour is about right, perhaps a little cheap but it's what i charge

 

[sythai]

160-180 / day

 

[Jackflash]

yea i think at least £20, any less and the client won't appreciated the skills involved in such work

 

[jonthespark]

I charge £40 first hr, £20 thereafter = £180 for 8hr day. £250/day periodic work. Hertfordshire

 

[m25maintenance]

i do £40 per hour up to 4 hours, then the rest of day free up to 8 hrs, so for a day 20 ph i guess, but if u hire a firm its 90 ph and vat

 

[Voltimax]

Well I must say, it's refreshing to see realistic rates being discussed here. I'm getting fed up with hearing about £30-£35 per hour. In my area that's just not realistic.

 

[ezzzekiel]

officially £18 per hour, but to make the math easier £20

 

[lloyd1980]

sounds about right - depends on the job too, some you can charge more for others have to be' to the wire' to win the work

 

[Snafu]

Hi all,

I'm self employed in the south east and price work at £250 a day plus VAT, although we do go in for £200 if push comes to shove. I'm not trying to big us up or anything, but the cost's involved in running a business, as most of you will know, demand this rate. Running a van, insurances, scheme operators, accountancy bills, tools, holiday pay, sick pay (if you can afford to be sick that is!), courses, mobiles, advertising, calibrations, tax, late payers, office equipment, free quotes and all the other crap that goes with it has to be paid for out of this. You might even want to contribute to a pension scheme for your dotage. Work out the outgoings and see what you are left with. Check out what plumbers charge! Come on, we're the most skilled trade in the construction game and should get rewarded for what we have to know.

Don't undervalue yourselves,

Cheers,

Snafu

 

[sythai]

160-180 / day

... thats based on just me working as sole trader from home, no office, no big business overheads, no extra staff etc.

One man band for the time being

Sy

 

[roukel01]

Hi all,

I'm self employed in the south east and price work at £250 a day plus VAT, although we do go in for £200 if push comes to shove. I'm not trying to big us up or anything, but the cost's involved in running a business, as most of you will know, demand this rate. Running a van, insurances, scheme operators, accountancy bills, tools, holiday pay, sick pay (if you can afford to be sick that is!), courses, mobiles, advertising, calibrations, tax, late payers, office equipment, free quotes and all the other crap that goes with it has to be paid for out of this. You might even want to contribute to a pension scheme for your dotage. Work out the outgoings and see what you are left with. Check out what plumbers charge! Come on, we're the most skilled trade in the construction game and should get rewarded for what we have to know.

Don't undervalue yourselves,

Cheers,

Snafu

Interesting, we can't charge that up north unfortunatley!

A sparky friend of mine was sent to court over an invoice dispute. After looking at all the evidence, the judge ruled that electricians shouldn't be charging more than £16 per hour!!!

 

[shagg]

Yer because he's more than likely one of these d@**? who wants something doing cheap as chips

 

[johnboy6083]

i bet the judge is earning more than 16 per hour.

 

[Bobby B]

Hi all,

I'm self employed in the south east and price work at £250 a day plus VAT, although we do go in for £200 if push comes to shove. I'm not trying to big us up or anything, but the cost's involved in running a business, as most of you will know, demand this rate. Running a van, insurances, scheme operators, accountancy bills, tools, holiday pay, sick pay (if you can afford to be sick that is!), courses, mobiles, advertising, calibrations, tax, late payers, office equipment, free quotes and all the other crap that goes with it has to be paid for out of this. You might even want to contribute to a pension scheme for your dotage. Work out the outgoings and see what you are left with. Check out what plumbers charge! Come on, we're the most skilled trade in the construction game and should get rewarded for what we have to know.

Don't undervalue yourselves,

Cheers,

Snafu

Your spot on mate, i just couldn't get away with that