02/09/2026
Something I've noticed over the years is how easy it is to price your work based on what everyone else is charging.
I've done it myself.
You look around, see what a few other businesses are charging and think, well, that must be about the going rate.
But how do we know they've got their price right?
We don't know what their overheads are, what they need to earn, how long the job takes them or even if they're actually making a decent profit at that price.
That's the bit I think we sometimes forget.
Before you know it, one person's price gets copied by another, then another, and suddenly that's what everyone thinks the job should cost.
Obviously you need to know what's happening in your market, but your own numbers have to come first.
There's no point having a diary absolutely rammed with work if you're getting to the end of the month wondering where all the money went.
Being busy doesn't always mean you're making money.
I'd be interested to know how others do it.
When you're pricing your work, do you work it out from your own costs first, or do you look at what everyone else is charging?
