Armory Sponsor
Posted: 4/12/2016 1:55:13 PM EDT
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I'm in the process of setting up price list and such since I've finally established my FFL. How are you guys determining your price list?
I have my numbers on what it cost for materials etc. how are you determining your hourly rate? |
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Quoted:
Take a look at Brownell's average gunsmithing charges. Not the bible by any means, but that will get you in the ballpark. essentially this, and if you find yourself not getting enough work, either rethink your marketing or reduce your prices. if you become over-encumbered, raise them up. all markets are different so what works for someone set up in the suburb of a major city will not necessarily work for a shop set up in the boonies |
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Costs are usually based on what it takes to keep the doors open. When I first opened my shop, I looked at what the costs were of the shops in my state as a guide, for simple bread & butter work like routine cleaning/sight & scope mounting, that type of stuff. I went to the minimums I could on those costs & still make a profit until I was established. Custom work above & beyond, like restorations or custom builds, can give you a higher profit margin as you develop skills & equipment to shave time off the needed processes. "Time is money" in any business, and that rings especially true in gunsmithing I found out. Doing quality work in a timely manner benefits both you & the customer. But, it takes time (and money) to minimize time. I can perform some tasks quicker & just as accurately with a file and a keen eye than I can with setting up the same project in the mill, and vice-versa. You will develop the feel as time goes on.
Just remember, the biggest mistake you will make is not charging enough, and that's where you can get into trouble. It's your shop costs that dictate your rates, it's not you. There's a prominent sign in my shop that used to hang in a good friend's machine shop, it reads "the bitterness of low quality outlasts the sweetness of low prices". That sign isn't just for the customer 
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A good friend of mine sat me down after I worked on three of his guns for him. He owns his own business and he said charge what you and your time are worth. No more brother in law deals
and pro bono stuff. If it costs more than it costs more and stick to it, people will respect you and your work. That's how my price sheet came about it gives people something to look at and they know you mean business. |
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Quoted:
A good friend of mine sat me down after I worked on three of his guns for him. He owns his own business and he said charge what you and your time are worth. No more brother in law deals and pro bono stuff. If it costs more than it costs more and stick to it, people will respect you and your work. That's how my price sheet came about it gives people something to look at and they know you mean business. Well said. I agree 100%. |
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Quoted:
Costs are usually based on what it takes to keep the doors open. When I first opened my shop, I looked at what the costs were of the shops in my state as a guide, for simple bread & butter work like routine cleaning/sight & scope mounting, that type of stuff. I went to the minimums I could on those costs & still make a profit until I was established. Custom work above & beyond, like restorations or custom builds, can give you a higher profit margin as you develop skills & equipment to shave time off the needed processes. "Time is money" in any business, and that rings especially true in gunsmithing I found out. Doing quality work in a timely manner benefits both you & the customer. But, it takes time (and money) to minimize time. I can perform some tasks quicker & just as accurately with a file and a keen eye than I can with setting up the same project in the mill, and vice-versa. You will develop the feel as time goes on. Just remember, the biggest mistake you will make is not charging enough, and that's where you can get into trouble. It's your shop costs that dictate your rates, it's not you. There's a prominent sign in my shop that used to hang in a good friend's machine shop, it reads "the bitterness of low quality outlasts the sweetness of low prices". That sign isn't just for the customer This isn't my day job and there aren't any doors to keep open per se. I do this because it gives me something to do when my wife is working. I'm just trying to figure out what to charge if it takes me an hour to do something, what do you value your labor at? |
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Quoted:
$35.00 per hour, $45.00 per hour on the machines. ETA $20/FFL transfer. Basically this...... $25 transfers $75 NFA....... $35 shop minimum ..$50 clean and oils on most...a few firearms are more. hourly varies depending on what I am doing! I do have a "you are to stupid to own a firearm" charge that is $20 for things that I deem worthy.....you will thank me for this later!! |
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