How much to charge?

Lori Reynolds spray painted on a boxcar:
Thanks for the input, everyone. I've made some calls to local bridal
shops and found out that seamstresses make $8-10 per hour. I think
I'll charge $10 per hour as a flat rate rather than making a price
list of different items


$10 seems low.
Get yourself a little timer from Radio Shack. Time everything you do.... I
bill basically in 1/4 hour increments, based on my hourly ( which is $45) I
have a price list made up based on these increments. After a while you will
get a good sense of what certain things take you.

Penny s


--
Specialty Outdoors
Modification & Repair of Outdoor Gear & Clothing
Factory Authorized by The North Face
www.specialtyoutdoors.com

Hi, Your labor charge is not just your hourly wage, it also takes into
account all the "overhead" that you might have. Electricity, wear and tear
on your tools, and the other things that you use to complete the job that
are not the actual materials of the item. Clear as mud? Sorry if I am not
too clear. Nana

I agree with Nana------are you sure you can do it for $10.00 an hour??

Once I had to sew some costumes that were so dense I ended up having to
repair my machine.........put a little in for that sort of thing too!!

Lori Reynolds wrote:
Thanks for the input, everyone. I've made some calls to local bridal shops
and found out that seamstresses make $8-10 per hour. I think I'll charge
$10 per hour as a flat rate rather than making a price list of different
items.

I think $10/hr is too cheap, considering the skill you are using and the
investment in machines, cost of electricity, etc. is concerned.

--
I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.
I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. - Mother Teresa

Just think how much other professions charge for their services. Plumbers,
electricians, painters etc. The going rate for expert anything is around
$45. I have a wonderful seamstress. She made both dresses for my childrens
weddings for me. I bought all the materials and she charged $250 labor.
All the fittings and she made a muslin pattern of the dress and jacket. The
results were great. I am short and couldn't have bought anything off the
rack. If I did find something, I would have paid a lot more than $350-$400
total for these formals. That is for each.

--
Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E
http://community.webshots.com/user/frame242

Okay.... $20? Jeez, I think I get it all figured out, and I always forget
something! Can you tell I'm blond? :-)
--
Lori in Peoria, IL

"Pat" wrote in message
...
I agree with Nana------are you sure you can do it for $10.00 an hour??

Once I had to sew some costumes that were so dense I ended up having to
repair my machine.........put a little in for that sort of thing too!!

Lori Reynolds spray painted on a boxcar:
Okay.... $20? Jeez, I think I get it all figured out, and I always
forget something! Can you tell I'm blond? :-)


that's $5 for a 15 minute alteration. Will that cover everything?

Penny S

If you want to MAKE $10, then charge $15. You will end up buying the
thread, needles, etc...........As well as having your machine at least
cleaned more often.......


"Lori Reynolds" wrote in message
news:s5jmb.19981$Tr4.42882@attbi_s03...
Okay.... $20? Jeez, I think I get it all figured out, and I always forget
something! Can you tell I'm blond? :-)
--
Lori in Peoria, IL

"Pat" wrote in message
...
I agree with Nana------are you sure you can do it for $10.00 an hour??

Once I had to sew some costumes that were so dense I ended up having to
repair my machine.........put a little in for that sort of thing too!!

You will HATE sewing for $10 per hour. Several years back I asked
this group the same question and I couldn't immagine giving people
huge bills. So I priced myself at $10 per hour anyway, (because I
liked the work anyway - right?). Word flew and I was quickly swamped
with customers. Demanding ones, picky ones, some nice ones too. They
need it NOW, they need it YESTERDAY, they want the hemline you just
moved twice moved again so they can pick it up after they go for a cup
of coffee. They don't make a fitting and throw your schedule off so
you miss an outing with your family so you can make up the time
later.....since they still HAVE to have it. Or, perhaps the best one
yet, mother picks up the outfit for the daughter who doesn't bother to
try it on (like I asked her to on several occassions on the phone over
a couple weeks)...untill she was dressing for her Batmitzvah
(spelling?).......when she realized suddenly, that something wasn't
quite right and she needed me to desparately fix it.. Got that phone
message and decided on a picnic outing with the family - left
immediately and made sure I was gone all day. Raised my prices,
became picky about my clients, and I do lot's less sewing now for more
money. Ahhh. The price of sanity.
Joy

How much to charge?

(Joy=A0Hardie)
You will HATE sewing for $10 per hour. Several years back I asked this
group the same question and I couldn't immagine giving people huge
bills. So I priced myself at $10 per hour anyway, (because I liked the
work anyway - right?). Word flew and I was quickly swamped with
customers. Demanding ones, picky ones, some nice ones too. They need it
NOW, they need it YESTERDAY,snip
raised my prices...snip
picky about my clients, and I do lot's less sewing now for more money.
Ahhh. The price of sanity.
---
AND, I have to now add, you should raise them yearly, giving yourself
a raise, and keeping up with inflation.
I have to recommend the site Karen (SewStorm) posted in the thread:
For Other Pro Sewers Discounts?
(Go to the thread to find the email addy.)
The site covers soft fabrications (window treatments, home dec, etc),
but the advice on pricing is well worth reading--as are all of the
articles. You can glean much good advice from
the site.
Karen (SewStorm) also wrote a book about starting a sewing business--I
bought a copy years ago, and it was invaluable for setting up a
business.
NAYY.
Cea