Personally, I don't like doing this. I take my business very seriously and I always provide a professional estimate - I love my software that calculates everything! Well anyway I came across a couple of customers already who want to pay me by the hour and basically just labor. They provide the paint and I provide my spray machine, rollers nad brushes etc.. Well any ways my question is what is the rate I should charge? In my estimates I charge $38 to cover my overhead costs etc.. But I had to reduce this down to $28 because clients think it's too high. And even though I lowered it they still think it's too much and want to go all the way down to $15. I am not about to work for $15 even though the economy is bad I am not going to accept it. Is it too high or do they not want to spend a lot?

What is the average pay rate?

I live in CA

I ve been in business since 1979. Many customers want to beat you down in price, To say the least its very disrespectful and insulting to us contractors. I would like to see them try it on the doctor or lawyer. Stick to your guns. Obviously there is always someone cheaper. Especially in the painting field. It looked at to often as a DYI. The customer thinks its just painting.

You will love this. This was an add my newspaper in the job section. "Need professional painters. Don't apply and say you painted your moms house"

So to answer your own question, Your base rate is $38.00 per to run the business. So times are scary. So if work is off 10% of calls then 10% may be the change here. Or a sliding scale. What's the bottom of that scale and how busy are you now for work?

How about pushing this. You can give a % break on this job if the customer can turn you on to another prospective customer. If he can get you 2 more painting jobs then he gets this much brake.

At times its worked for me and I get volume to make up for rate decrease.

One time I got so mad I told my customer pay me x amount for my excavation job here and if I have any breakdowns on my heavy equipment they pay the difference.

Your basic rate is close to my geo.

How about going back to the square ft price. Sometimes I say to my coustomer. " I thought you wanted a proffesional' Didn't know you just wanted a handyman

So should I work at that pace to make the $15.00 hour job go twice as long?

Signed 21 Boat

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The economy is tough and you have to make a living -- bottom line. I agree with 21boat; can you afford to charge a lesser rate.

Sometimes you just have to say to the customer, we charge by the project because through our years of experience in the painting business we have discovered that this is the best billing method for us as well as our customers.

Depending on how much business you have right now -- you may just need to break it down and say "I don't think we are the company for you. We are professionals and we bill by the project only. Perhaps you will be happier finding another contractor who can meet your specific requirements.

After all, this is your businesses - make the customer happy, of course, but don't compromise your professionalism.

Good Luck