Posted by Chris Jones on October 25, 2013 at 12:40:52 from (24.148.141.137):
In Reply to: What should I charge? posted by Chris Jones on October 25, 2013 at 09:43:48:
Thanks for most of the replies. Maybe I shouldn't have said need money, my meaning was always could use more money. I'm covering my bills with small consulting jobs but sure would like to get back to a steady paycheck. I need to use my time searching and doing things that find me as someone put it "work in my field" rather than running around doing odd jobs that don't really help the bottom line much. But there is always that stigma that if I don't take this kind of thing word gets around and people think I'm out of work, don't want to work, on some kind of government assistance (I'm not).
I've had a talk with my folks to stop telling people I'm unemployed tell them I'm consulting and if they want to help me out refer me to some business leaders that might need my skills. I need to get people thinking in that direction rather than thinking of odd jobs they can offer me.
That said I volunteered for a non-profit awhile back and offered to do some, computer work, paper work, even maintenance or landscaping projects. As landscaping came out they jumped. So I started cleaning paved parking lots of grass, gravel, building retaining walls and before you know it everyone there thought I was "Grounds Keeper Willy" and started asking if I'd come by their house and remove bushes or cut back tree limbs etc. I began to think there must be a pent up need for this kind of work--then again I think the pent up need is more the prospect of getting someone you know something about to drop by and do hard work off the books for very little money. Of course I responded I didn't really do this kind of thing for a living I was just helping out the charity. But, once typecast as grounds keeper willy it's hard to be seen as anything else and I eventually couldn't handle the work any more. Frankly at times I've thought of hiring me some workers and going into that business, but there are tons of guys with trucks and old mowers cutting grass now--I can't imagine there's much profit to be made to start another landscaping business. Again the demand isn't for someone to do the work, it's for someone cheap!
I have no background in pricing work like this so I've decided to quote them an hourly price at which I feel comfortable working. I'll supply all the equipment. How well or fast it's done is up to them. Want it done in 2 hours or want not one leaf left on the yard and spend 4 hours--makes no difference to me. Think cleaning the gutters or fishing leaves out of the pool was included--fine as long as I'm there working it's X and hour.
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