How do you bid a job?

[Ryan225]

Hello all. Its been a while since ive posted on here but im back.

Today I got a phone call from a buddy thats into doing body work and hes called me in to do the welding on this pickup. I've got the tailgate to weld shut and a lower panel below the tailgate to weld to the rocker panel. (hard to explain without pics, which i dont have any). In total its about 3 linear ft of welding on each side of the truck, not to mention other odds and ends.

What I am wondering about is how do you put a price on something like that for someone? Is there some sort of formula that can be used to calculate the price figure plus profit? One deal that the owner of the truck did say is that he would fill my 40CF C25 bottle for me, so thats something im taking into consideration on price to his benifit.

[MAC702]

Depends on your definition of "buddy." A real buddy would get the work done no matter what and then pay whatever the two of you thought was fair based on what he could also afford.

[Ryan225]

Depends on your definition of "buddy." A real buddy would get the work done no matter what and then pay whatever the two of you thought was fair based on what he could also afford.

The thing is i dont know the guy who owns the truck, its my friend that knows him. I'm not lookin to slam him but not looking to do it for free either, if that says anything.

[LarryM]

Ryan,

I would bid time and material. Most weldors have a minimum charge. If it takes less than an hour. When you work for a friend you need to keep it business like. You lose less friends that way. If you just what to do the man a favor don't charge anything. But before warned they what it for free ever time. One other point if you don't charge you don't have to guarantee it.


Hope this helps
Larry

[wrenchbender]

Use your hourly rate X hours you estimate the job to take. Some times you win some times you loose but at least you'll get something when you're done.

[Sberry]

Figure out how long you think its going to take and double it plus expenses.

[Zrexxer]

One deal that the owner of the truck did say is that he would fill my 40CF C25 bottle for me, so thats something im taking into consideration on price to his benifit.

Sounds to me like he's thinking he's going to get this job done in exchange for a $16 gas fill.

[smyrna5]

I have never done any welding for money, and probably never will. However, I have done a bunch of consulting. That's generally bid one of two ways. (1) Time, plus expenses, or (2) Fixed fee. It usually depends on what the client prefers.

One thing I always do is to put it in writing to make sure there are no misunderstandings later. That may be even more important with a friend, who may have expectations you haven't imagined. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a piece of paper that says what you are going to do and how it will be charged and a place for both to sign. Since this is just a welding job for a friend of a friend, you may feel funny having to write it down, so I would just downplay it by showing your already signed copy to him and saying, "here is what I am thinking, if that is what you are expecting too, you can just initial it, and I'll get started."

Of course if it was my friend, and not a friend of a friend, I would probably just do the 6 feet of welding for free, and have him buy the materials.

I vary my hourly rate depending on how big the job is, what I think the client expects, and how much I value the relationship and future business prospects. I agree that if you give work away, its always harder to charge more later. When i have done work free, I always make it clear that it is just a promotion done for good will, and its never a lot of work.

[Sberry]

Good, that should went in the business thread.

[AntiBling]

Speaking as a guy who is building a sport truck and is a welder for a living, I say pass on this job.

I know the mods he is wanting to do, what he wants to do is take the tailgate and weld it up so the rear end is all smooth. The problem is, a tailgate is heavy and designed to move. So the welds will crack over time, I don't care how good you are. The proper way to smooth the rear end is they make a one piece shape built specifially for the truck in question, it covers where the tailgate would go and has the roll pan built in as well. You weld up the sides then and are done with it, gaps are also significantly less than if you'd use a tailgate.

If you go through this, just know that down the road when it starts cracking, the guy is gonna come back on your friend for shotty body work and he is gonna come back on you for shotty welds, when in truth it'll be his fault or the owners for sheer ignorance.

[toolaholic]

I'm a remodeling contr. Just finished 15 months of time and material renovations.
I charge $70.00 per hr. per journeyman. I was taught small jobs are to be priced out at 3 times the labor rate of larger ones. You probably have no insurance ,minimal
equept. no shop. Get VERY specific details on what EXACTLY You will be doing.
take pix with Your digital camera. At this time give NO hint of any price. Leave saying , "I'll call with a price tomorrow " Call, repeating all the details of the job. Give the price ,SHUT YOUR MOUTH !!!!!!! Ist one that speak's loses . ON pricing. include Your
estimate time. Set up time , grinding , welding, getting back home . If I were You I would charge $100 per hr. DON'T REVEAL THIS. Just give the total price.
I estimate a lot of good jobs. No folks without serious money. If a cust. tries to work Me, I walk in a heart beat. good luck

[Ryan225]

thanks for the advice so far guys.

what i find hard to calculate is the actual time it would take. because my method of welding sheet metal is tacking it repatedly and keeping the panel cool. so when it gets hot its got to take time to cool. with those factors i really have no idea how long this is going to take.


All i know is that there is 3 linear feet of weld area on both sides of the truck.

[Jim-Tx]

Figure out how long you think its going to take and double it plus expenses.

Boy, that's it in a nutshell! I never estimated time on a job yet that didn't take longer than expected unless I'd done the same thing prior. Good advice Sberry.

[pturner]

I used to know this black guy that did the "lowered" trucks. He had no use for them himself, but that was his nitch as a part time job. But he was a good welder within the limitations of his equipment (250A MIG plasma, and O/A torch). Anyway, I used to use him for work when I was in his area, as it was far easer then taking it home to my shop. Anyway, I was looking at one of his trucks where the suspension was altered so radically that the diff stuck up into the bed of the truck. I asked him how strong it was and he said if they drove carefully, and never put any weight in the back, they might not break anything for a year :-). And this guy had the local reputation of being the best.

[Teeps]

Three linear feet x 2 = 6 feet of welding, I'd charge about 4 hrs x 35 bux per hour, but I have NO idea to what degree your going to complete the job.... are you sanding and painting it?!?! lol.

If your having to sand it down, tack it, and grind down your tack job, this could be a much longer day.

Plus you said other odds and ends.

Just tell him your hourly rate, and ask him how much time he wants to pay for.