System Building Fees

[lobo_pac]

just curious what you all charge for building a system. i am by no means an expert, but i've built two systems (one for myself and one for the inlaws) and both have been without problems. i'm going to start building for other friends and family and am kinda curious what to charge. i don't want to rip them off, but what is standard....is there a range?

do you take a percentage of the final cost, or do you charge a flat fee? i'll give some tech support, but doubt i'll charge for it. i seem to be doing that all the time for free already! any suggestions/ideas would be appreciated.

[XShadowZxX]

It depends what the parts are. If its like 1000 dollars i say 1200 - 1400 for installation.

[The_Saint]

If its someone I don`t know I`ll ask 20$ since I`m not an expert but I do know some stuff

If its a friend I`m not asking anything.

But that's just me.

[jerrygarcia]

Just watch what time you are committing to future tech support and newbie problems. The more you build for free, the more free tech support is expected. Trust me, I know.

[The_Saint]

yeah I know...you`re right! I didn`t get a lot of problems yet with PC that I built, but of course time will come!

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Bill in SD, CA]

I'd go 10 to 15% over cost.

Bill

[John Prophet]

Well, one factor is....what is your financial situation....or rather, do you NEED the money, lol.

What I mean is that if you are doing this cuz you NEED the money then you need to charge enuff to make it worth your while.

I have struggled with the same question myself and I dont really have a set answer yet. Actually I havent yet "built a system" for anyone but I have sold several computers...anything from trade in P2's to A P4 Dell two days ago....I just sort of look at what I paid for it all and then charge what I think will allow it to sell quickly etc.

And I have done some tech support work around town also, charging $35/hr....I have been told by several peeps that 35/hr isnt nearly enough, lol. I had a meeting with a small business counseler and he looked at my receipt book and asked where I got 35/hr from and I said I sort of pulled it out of my head based on the fact that other shops in town charge $49 hr and up....he said I needed to be charging at least $45/hr.

To put that into perspective I had to call around and get an estimate on how much it would cost to find an exact property line. So I called a friend of mine who used to do surveying...he said he new a guy who would probably do it for around $200..hehe, needless to say my jaw hit the floor....I was thinking like $50. So I called some numbers in the phonebook, ran across a retired guy who said he would do it for $60/hr....he said first he would have to go downtown and get a map and deeds and that he charged from the time he cranked his car up. In talking to him he pretty much explained the process....that when they marked the lots of they drove metal stakes into the ground showing where the property line is....and that hopefully he would only have to use a metal detector to find the stake.

So the whole time I am talking to him, I am thinking of service calls I have been on, charging $35/hr...not charging for the 40 minutes of driving etc.....if the going rate for finding a stake with a metal detector is $60/hr from the time the car cranks then I definitely DONT need to be shy on what I ask for setting up networks etc.

JP

[MrPurple]

I would think that the more you build for pay, the more people will expcet tech support.
Sort of I thought tech support was included in the fee thing.

[wju425]

Do you have a local shop in your town with a web site? Look at their rates and you'll get a general idea. If you're good enough and careful about assembling (or repairing) systems then you should be professional enough to charge those rates. When it comes to friends, give them a break if they give you a break in their professions (carpenter, mechanic, plumber, etc.) For the others, full rate. Trust me. I've been there.

\o/ Billy

[Omardeth]

for friends and family i tell them parts and 100-150$ . but i make sure that they understand that once i give it to them in working order they are on there own ....