Custom Woodworking

[oldhudson]

This year I've been trying to get a little business going doing custom woodworking in the twin cities. For me the absolute hardest part of this is the estimating. Figuring the cost of materials isn't too bad but those labor hours ... I don't know how long everything takes.

 

I do a range of things. Here is a partial list: an entertainment unit, a elliptical glass stop/molding, a dog kennel, fixed a broken jewellery box. shortened bar stools, a side table and a picture frame) 

 

I put an add on CL and I get 2 or 3 emails a week for some project or another. I'm spending more time at the computer and desk figuring out how much and how long. If I don't get a handle on it pretty soon I think I'll try giving chess lessons for $10 and hour.

 

If anyone in business has any tips on estimating feel free to share them.

 

Thanks for reading and letting me rant.

[LarryEA]

Whew.... What you are doing might just be part of the game.

[amazingkevin]

This year I've been trying to get a little business going doing custom woodworking in the twin cities. For me the absolute hardest part of this is the estimating. Figuring the cost of materials isn't too bad but those labor hours ... I don't know how long everything takes.

 

I do a range of things. Here is a partial list: an entertainment unit, a elliptical glass stop/molding, a dog kennel, fixed a broken jewellery box. shortened bar stools, a side table and a picture frame) 

 

I put an add on CL and I get 2 or 3 emails a week for some project or another. I'm spending more time at the computer and desk figuring out how much and how long. If I don't get a handle on it pretty soon I think I'll try giving chess lessons for $10 and hour.

 

If anyone in business has any tips on estimating feel free to share them.

 

Thanks for reading and letting me rant.

My friend charges $45.00 an hour for any wood work

[amazingkevin]

This year I've been trying to get a little business going doing custom woodworking in the twin cities. For me the absolute hardest part of this is the estimating. Figuring the cost of materials isn't too bad but those labor hours ... I don't know how long everything takes.

 

I do a range of things. Here is a partial list: an entertainment unit, a elliptical glass stop/molding, a dog kennel, fixed a broken jewellery box. shortened bar stools, a side table and a picture frame) 

 

I put an add on CL and I get 2 or 3 emails a week for some project or another. I'm spending more time at the computer and desk figuring out how much and how long. If I don't get a handle on it pretty soon I think I'll try giving chess lessons for $10 and hour.

 

If anyone in business has any tips on estimating feel free to share them.

 

Thanks for reading and letting me rant.

My friend charges $45.00 an hour for any wood work

[Lucky2]

It pays to know what rate of speed you work at, and how familiar you are with tools. If you don't know that, it would be very hard to give a quote that is fair to both you and the customer. 

Len

[kywoodmaster]

Good luck with that. It is always the hardest part.

[Kepy]

I would try to help but I always underestimated so my advice would not help.  Too often, I had to tell a customer that this project was ok but there would be no more at that price.