A snapshot of work and earnings by latch.

[latch]

This is one type of day that can be expected if you are fairly skilled at several things and charge median rates at those services. My goal is not to gouge as much money out of as many people as possible, and so consequently, I give discounts to widows, single mothers, and military and I try to save the client money where I can.

I have 4 hourly rates:
Handyman $40 or 25.75 pounds
Computer $60 or 38.64 pounds
Discounted Handyman $30 or 19.31 pounds
Discounted Computer $50 or 32.19 pounds

Friday was not a typical day, but rather a typical busy day. Someways, I run around appearing to pretend to work. So Friday went like this:

Sue:
install 2 co detectors, and smoke detector, and 2 sets of blinds.
1 hour handyman $40

Anita:
install Msn explorer and misc config stuff on another computer
1.5 hours disc computer $75

Meg:
Move and setup 2 computers and misc config and usb wifi adapter
3.3 hours computer + adapter $210 got xmas bonus - $100 shoes

Jamal:
Troubleshoot studio microphone issue and laptop tune up
2 hours computer $120

Aliane:
Virus removal and Quickbooks file transition
2 hours computer $120

Now, not all of these hours were worked Friday but they were collected Friday.

So that's $565 or 363.8 pounds collected in one day and some days, I make nothing. Busy days are long days where everything takes longer and I am late to every other appointment and drive like 100 miles.

I have 5 clients that owe me another $400 and 3 of them will pay me with Paypal so I don't have to go get it from them.

I think really the point of this post is that I made bank, but I had to earn it.

[bigsharn]

You've worked it out the wrong way sir, $565 is around the £350 mark

Just as an idea of scale, (when work decide to give me decent hours) I earn an average of £132.84/week. As it is I work for a small local company and an opening's come up in the near future doubling that figure (tripling if I work 37+ hours), but bear in mind I'm around half Latch's age that's not bad


EDIT: £364.21, I wasn't far off

[latch]

We have a strange thing in our society where its not polite to talk about money. I don't really understand it. Its like its a huge part of the person's personal value is tied to how much money they make. If person 'a' makes more than person 'b' and talks about it, person 'b' might get offended or maybe person 'c' might get offended because he sticks his nose in everyone's business. Money is just a tool we use and it shouldn't be the focal point of life.

Fulfilling life is in relationships.

[bigsharn]

Unfortunately, being a borderline hermit I don't bother socialising apart from online, which fucks up the above statement :p

[de Baphomet]

Hm, just as a question, I'm 14 years old, I'd like to think that I know more than the average kid about computers and I'm sure I could do a good deal of work as a computer repair person (minus hardware stuff). How do you think I could get started making money?

[latch]

Hm, just as a question, I'm 14 years old, I'd like to think that I know more than the average kid about computers and I'm sure I could do a good deal of work as a computer repair person (minus hardware stuff). How do you think I could get started making money?

You can charge as much as your confidence allows- I used to charge less but I was way too busy. I decreased demand by raising my prices though my average pay remained the same.

In your case, I would start small and charge like $10 an hour. I would print out fliers saying so and pass them out all over your neighborhood(so you don't have to travel very far) and tell them flat out that you are charging so little because you want to get more experience and tell them if they are not satisfied with the results, they don't pay. Be willing to do extra to give the client the most you can. After a few clients, you will get a reputation. Then you are in! The more you have to offer, the more you can charge.

[bigsharn]

^^Please note, the above only works if your area only has a few local speciality shops to deal with your business... If there are already 14 advertising and promotions businesses in your area, like in York, DON'T try to start another

[latch]

Please ignore post #7 in this thread as it is ultracrepidarian in nature.

You can steal market share from other businesses with superior service. My clients love me. They give me stuff, tips, bonuses. Sometimes they invent stuff for me to do to come see them. I don't have to bad mouth my competition- there is enough work to go around most of the time and you should avoid speaking in excuses.

Here is the link to dictionary.com!

[Pack3t SynAck3r]

I charge $150/hr w/1hr min on all of my consults. Local or remote. It is either a grand meatloaf feast or a poor English dinner of pigeons though. Last month I made a bit over $6000 after working 4 days on two jobs, but that was all I worked all month. All of my money this month has come since last Friday (which explains my absence for the last few days.) I am left with a lot of downtime, but that is how I like it. I get paid 80% for what I know and 20% what I do. I find it is always best to work smart, and not hard.

[latch]

I charge $150/hr w/1hr min on all of my consults. Local or remote. It is either a grand meatloaf feast or a poor English dinner of pigeons though. Last month I made a bit over $6000 after working 4 days on two jobs, but that was all I worked all month. All of my money this month has come since last Friday (which explains my absence for the last few days.) I am left with a lot of downtime, but that is how I like it. I get paid 80% for what I know and 20% what I do. I find it is always best to work smart, and not hard.

Aye! That feast or famine thing is precisely why I even do the handyman stuff. To give me something to do when I have no computer calls. On a bad week, I still make ~$400. I can't charge what you do because I fix computers and for 2 or 3 of your billable hours, a new computer can be had. Your skill is more specialized and therefore worth more but needed less. Now if I could get to your level and add that to my bag of tricks...

Alas, limited by time.