Price check on a piece that someone just turned down...

[Nacs Fab]

I had a potential customer who camps full time at a Camping Resort that I camp at. Back story, I have been making some of my fellow campers some custom signs for their campsites so this person asks me to make one. I do the normal thing, ask them their hobbies, something about them to get a personal feel for what I could design for them. This campground is in MO and they are from FLorida so I thought of something simple that could have been finished with polished 14 gauge and metal dyes with a clear coat.

Can you guys take this cad file and let me know what you would charge for it - the piece is 35" wide. I dont use cut rules because I cut mine by layer - I have a profession using AutoCad in the Engineering Business.

Al and Kay Chalet.jpg

[Bobkovacs]

I'd be at $75 for that in raw 14ga hot rolled. I don't do much colored work because most people aren't willing to pay for the time required to do it, but I'd be at least $125-159 with any kind of grinding and finishing.

[tnbndr]

I'd be at $175 polished and clear coated.

[Nacs Fab]

Do you guys mind telling me how you quickly price up a job that is not drawn in CAD? Having an accurate way to estimate a square footage, based off its "Complexity" level may be one way to do it. Give me your thoughts. Thanks again!

[Bobkovacs]

I use $25/sf for raw 14ga stuff, unless it's really complex. All the calculators with cost per pierce, cost per inch, etc., are overkill for artsy stuff like this.

[motoguy]

I use $25/sf for raw 14ga stuff, unless it's really complex. All the calculators with cost per pierce, cost per inch, etc., are overkill for artsy stuff like this.

I'm beginning to learn this/feel this way myself. I've started pricing at $0.125 sq/inch, which is $18/sq ft for bare metal. $0.21 sq/inch finished, which is $30/sq ft. Not sure if the $30/sq ft is a bit high for this area or not. I've found it FAR easier to quote stuff this way. That's all for 14 ga...I need to work on the numbers for the other stuff.

[tnbndr]

I just base my off the cuff pricing on past experience.

If people turn me down I don't worry about it. Move on to the next project, more will come.

[wickedinhere]

150-175 powder coated

[Bobkovacs]

So, what was the price that they balked at?

[Nacs Fab]

So, what was the price that they balked at?

my price was $104 but I am very low all the time. Need to up my prices and do what tnbndr says and not worry about missing a job here and there.

[Bobkovacs]

my price was $104 but I am very low all the time. Need to up my prices and do what tnbndr says and not worry about missing a job here and there.

$104 for raw steel might be a little high, but something polished/finished, that's a good deal. Can't win them all!

[wickedinhere]

I get a drawing/design fee up front on all custom signs that normally weeds out the tire kickers. Don't sell yourself short cheap work only brings more cheap work. Price your signs to make money and stick to your guns.

[plasmartist]

I agree with what others have said about holding your prices. The only exception I can think of is if you feel you are pricing yourself out of your market, or if you have idle time, and you don't have much to lose. I have done jobs that I never should have, but I didn't have active projects, so in my mind it was better to work cheap than not at all. I just tell my customers what my normal rate is, so they don't expect cheap cuts all the time.

[Doc Hollywood]

I'd go $100 just for cad, cut, and perhaps simple buff finish. More for paint etc.
The fact that you drew this up and got shot down is the worst loss you'll take on the situation.
Cheers,
Doc

[michmetalman]

Right around $150 powder coated and another $20 to clear

[cstroke]

That cut eyeball test would be around 5 minute cut. A few minutes handling etc.. I always lowball myself but for initial gut reaction is $50. for cut.
Doubt you'd lose money at what you said and it's a deal for them.

[Pit&Boots]

I'm new to the business, just bought it turn-key and one of the first lessons he taught me was to never take on custom orders without a deposit for this reason. Thanks for sharing, you confirmed the necessity of doing that.

[Thompson Off-Road]

I don't take custom orders without deposit. I have a very simple pricing system. It is...

$7.50 a square foot in 16g. That includes cut time and material cost. It doesn't include any paint, grinding, or prep. I only over basic 1 tone paint jobs for an additional 2 dollars per square foot. 99% of the time it is all black. I charge an extra 2 dollars per square foot for every 16th of an inch added to the thickness of the material. My design time is 70 an hour with a half hour minimum- half hour increments.