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Going rate for just cutting fret slots in custom scale length blanks?
Business question: What’s a going rate for just cutting fret slots in custom scale length blanks? I have an order for a 24” and 27” blank. He’s gonna cut all the dot in lays. This is just me ordering blanks from StewMac wholesale and cutting slots with a template.
I’m just looking for what to charge him for labor and time spent sourcing wood.
I will be doing this with a StewMac fret slotting table sawblade, so it’s not all hand sawing.
Thanks!
Justin
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3 Replies
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This sounds like about an hour and a half. $150 sounds like a nice round, fair number.
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Justin, this really comes down to a question of what you need to charge to make it worthwhile (profitable) for you to do the job. The difference between ordering a non-slotted vs. slotted board is often in the $10-$20 dollar range. But if these were available at that price I am sure your customer would go that route. If you are going to spend an hour (or two) between coordinating with the customer, ordering the fretboards, setting up the tablesaw, spending time considering the best orientation, measuring twice, coordinating with the customer again to pick them up and pay, then that price point doesn’t make sense. I would try to make an estimate of time involved and multiply that by your hourly shop rate and then tell the customer, “this is what I need to charge to do this job.” Doug Proper has some excellent videos in the archive on determining shop rates and profitability. And while it is easy to say, I , and just about everyone I know struggles with this exact thing.
It is much better to quote high and charge less. Another thing to remember is that if you do it at a price that is not sustainable for you, the customer will often come back in the future for the same job expecting the same price. Obviously you are not bound by that price but it does make for an uncomfortable interaction. I hope that helps,
Jamie
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Wow, James, that’s the complete formula! Thanks for taking the time!
Justin
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