Canadian Price check

[Owens Customs]

Hey Everybody,

Just getting into the plasma cutting world here. Trying to figure out the excel pricing sheet ( graciously provided here ) with my first job.
Little more difficult considering currency exchange. So I figured I'd ask what Canadian members would charge for this simple job.

14 pieces - 3/8" mild steel 6" x 6" with 4 holes 9/16" in diameter.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Dan Owens

[grindergary]

I charge $14.80 each cad for my customers.

HTH

Gary

[rikduk]

13$ cad each, for 14.

I'm in southern Quebec


Richard

[Owens Customs]

Thanks Guys,

I wasn't too far off then, at $12.48 each.

[Dennis]

Yup.. Right on the money , I would charge 12.50 each

[Roman]

you guys charge more than me, 14x12.5 =$175, its only 4 square feet of plate , =$25 I would do itfor $5 each, $25 for plate and 1/2 hour @$85X.5 =$42.5

[theonlybull]

i'm still pricing by the seat of my pants, and gut feeling, but i would have guessed around $14 plus tax. i figure table time, at the book value cut speed @ 150$/hr, plus material, that usually gets me pretty close

[twelve02customs]

Yea I am pretty new too, however I am developing costs per square foot and then I break that down to square inch (divide by 144). In the background I keep in mind what I think the cost should based on similar jobs, etc. For this one I did nothing different. I priced a suitable piece of plate from my steel provider (Have no 3/8 PL around, for this I used a piece of 8" FB that measured 8' long, guessing $30?) and I measured the work as per the original post. My multiplier for .375" steel is $30/sq foot (haven't done a lot of .375" so this is also a guess). So....the pieces are 6"x6" (what they get billed for is 8"x6", cause I can't use the cut offs at all), that equals 48". Its already in square inches so you multiply that by cost per square foot factor, which I have arbitrarily set at $30.(it's the # I have determined the market I am in is okay with), you arrive at 1440, divide that by (square inches/foot) 144, you arrive at $10. $10/piece. The CAD time in this one is irrelevant. Its a square with 4 holes, snapped into position I am thinking 15 min? Make a linear pattern of 14, zero all axis on the steel and push go.

That means I am lower than you guys, completely non intentional. What it also means is that this job gets assessed for due date. I don't just run out for steel every time a job comes in. I coordinate my efforts as best as possible so I am keeping jobs close to each other. I also don't mind leaving a bit on the table as part of establishing a fair price (which clients talk about). So this job overall netted me $140 plus tax, probably took an hour total, less material. I'd assess after this job doing a quick aftermath, asking....was that fair to me? Was it worth the time? Have I created a return customer.

In the end, I am focused on the long term. I'm not doing this for fun or a hobby. I will in fact make mistakes, but that's all apart of it IMO.

Disclaimer - I guessed on the cost of steel and went from there. If I knew the actual cost to be higher I would adjust. So really it's a mish mash system. Works for me. Course I am totally willing to learn your guy's methods to perhaps improve mine.

[levesquea]

My formula is the following. (My opinion)
Shop rate is 75$/hr (that includes all my expenses for the shop and my salary)
Hours spent Designing parts i charge 50$/hr
So for a given job I add the material cost, my hours worked in design @ 50$, the actual plasma cutting @ 75$.hr + 30% profit margin.
The actual 75$/hour covers my hourly wage(40$/hr) plus the shop expenses averaging per hour (25$). Thats based on a 160hrs/month worked.
That includes electricity, insurance,rent, consumables, tooling, misc.
i figure in order to grow a business, one needs to pay himself and add a profit margin. Otherwise you are chasing your tail.
that's my opinion.
i just added powdercoating to my services...so I'm struggling to price that part....if any have some input i would appreciate.