What to charge

[Trevor R]

Hi All passed my NAPIT assessment on Friday, one of the main reasons for doing this is the cost of reporting notifiable jobs to the LABC (I'm in Swindon who charge £135 a go). Now instead of charging the customer £135 I can charge less good for them but I am not sure what is reasonable to charge for certification \ notification? Just setting my business up and thinking that I will be spending time at home keeping the administration in order so want to make some £s for the time whilst keeping customer costs down and being competitive.

 

[alanl]

I dont charge anything for notification/certification. Why would you add extra on?
The fee is something like £1.50 to you, so if you've done a days work for someone, then add on a admin fee, I think they would look at it as taking the pee.

 

[telectrix]

you have to factor in the time for paperwork the same as you allow for travelling time/cost to and from the job.

 

[cjp1]

When quoting for a domestic job I submit a price for the work with costs for certification and notification included, on domestics when you start breaking the costing down too much it sometimes gives the customer too much to look at, especially if they have got a few quotes from different sparks, because all thats important to them is the final cost and that job is done to a good standard, and when changing a cu for instance whoever does it will have to test, certificate and notify and if the other quotes appear that there is no additional charge for this then they may get the job instead of you.

 

[TPES]

because all thats important to them is the final cost and that job is done to a good standard

thats debatable...

Alot of customers now seem to not care about the standard of work or know the difference from one good spark to the next, customers just want to see things working and pay the lowest possible price.. It's ridiculous!

 

[richy3333]

I think they would look at it as taking the pee.

The PART P?

 

[TPES]

You may have been used to adding the £135 on to notify work, but if you have paid a scheme provider to notify look at it as more as an investment, to get you more regular work and advertising the fact you've been assessed for the requirements to do the work. You'll so make your subscription fee back

 

[cjp1]

thats debatable...

Alot of customers now seem to not care about the standard of work or know the difference from one good spark to the next, customers just want to see things working and pay the lowest possible price.. It's ridiculous!

To be fair your right there mate, some customers want a good job done but chances are if they have got a few quotes for a job chances are they want the cheapest job possible and are not too bothered about quality or safety.

 

[TPES]

You can't blame customers, the main problem is there not educated to know the importance of having a job done safely and what little they do know they see as not being that important and won't pay that extra for someone to do it safer than they think they can them self.

Hence the reason for most domestic customers always going for the cheapest quote..

Sorry gone a little off topic here

 

[Amp David]

I generally put 15 quid onto the price. This easily covers the time spent and elecsa costs.

 

[Short Circuit]

i'm with alanl and tel on this one, i dont charge for the notification as it has to be done for a lot of jobs and its included in your day / hourly rate. I am amazed you have managed to get customers willing to pay that £135 extra for the LABC

 

[Ponty Massive]

I charge £10 and put this on the quote. That way it shows the customer everything is above board and re-assures them the LABC will / have been notified.