help please?!?!

[Encrypted Existence]

Hello all. I have a new side business. My services include virus removal, data backup, data recovery, and networking(home). I would like to know what you guys charge for the services I've listed above. Also, if you charge by particular case/situation, what formula do you use to come up with your price? Thank you! Oh....I am in the U.S.(northeast...Maryland more specifically).

 

[bertie40]

Ok. Useful to know which part of the world you are in.


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- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ..... Whist proclaiming the machine fixed, grabbing the cash and running like hell.

 

[Xander]

Even knowing location won't help unless we each look up degresh's competitors rates. Rates fluctuate by region -- what Allanc (e.g.) charges for virus removal in Toronto probably won't wash an hour away in my blue-collar city.

Rates are based on economic factors that only someone living there can understand. Other than that, a service fee should be based on how long a job should take (not how long it does take you). So, if a virus removal takes an hour and a half (of face-to-screen time, not including unattended scans) then you charge an hour and a half for it.

Degresh -- call around and find out what your local competitors charge. Finding out what any of us charge will not likely help you. Once you have a local rate, decide how competitive you want to be and what other 'value added' services you might include for that same price.

 

[ATTech]

Even knowing location won't help unless we each look up degresh's competitors rates. Rates fluctuate by region -- what Allanc (e.g.) charges for virus removal in Toronto probably won't wash an hour away in my blue-collar city.

Rates are based on economic factors that only someone living there can understand. Other than that, a service fee should be based on how long a job should take (not how long it does take you). So, if a virus removal takes an hour and a half (of face-to-screen time, not including unattended scans) then you charge an hour and a half for it.

Degresh -- call around and find out what your local competitors charge. Finding out what any of us charge will not likely help you. Once you have a local rate, decide how competitive you want to be and what other 'value added' services you might include for that same price.

+1.

If I tried to charge some of the amounts that I've seen on these forums, I'd get laughed out of every establishment.

 

[Encrypted Existence]

thanks

Thanks ehousecalls.ca. I have been looking at some of my competitors' websites. I will take your advice and break out the phonebook (google) and start calling around. I saw some really low prices advertised on one site and it makes me question the quality of work (65$ for virus/spyware removal). Then on the other hand you have the geek squad who want your firstborn to remove a virus. I would like to find myself somewhere in the middle but most of all I want the customer to feel like they made the right decision by choosing my service. Thanks for your time.

 

[ATTech]

65$ for virus/spyware removal

Perfect example, that's slightly low in my area, but not enough for there to be a serious question of work ethic.

 

[Xander]

I should mention that you might not want to factor in the extreme highs and lows.
Don't bother with the Craigslisters who'll "fix anything" for $20. One lesson I've taken to heart from Technibble is that you really don't want the customers that these guys will attract. Bryce once had an article titled something like, "You get the customers that you aim for". If you aim low, you'll get the hagglers and cheapskates by the dozen. Aim too high and you might get some folks with overflowing pockets but too few of them.

My rule of thumb is find the local average, go a little bit higher than that but throw in some extra value for those dollars difference. For example, if virus removals are $65, go for a $70 virus removal and throw in a flushing of the Temps and a Defrag done.

 

[MrUnknown]

Thanks ehousecalls.ca. I have been looking at some of my competitors' websites. I will take your advice and break out the phonebook (google) and start calling around. I saw some really low prices advertised on one site and it makes me question the quality of work (65$ for virus/spyware removal). Then on the other hand you have the geek squad who want your firstborn to remove a virus. I would like to find myself somewhere in the middle but most of all I want the customer to feel like they made the right decision by choosing my service. Thanks for your time.

I am in Maryland also, but this will really apply anywhere, and this is what I did, I called my closest competitor and got their general hourly rates and added $10 as I came on-site (and they won't) and I also pick up the computer, and they won't.

Eventually I simplified my pricing to basically 2 costs (basic and advanced) and have an hourly on-site rate for anything done on-site.