I made $300 per hour by interrupting my dinner time to replace fuel lines on a scooter. Got paid $50 for 10 minutes of work. Would have been less time if I had been prepared. :biggrin:
Firstly most dealers have a minimum labour charge, mine is 1/2 hr = $ 30
The only exception is chain sharpening and pull cord replacements.
So some one comes in and wants blades replaced Sunday afternoon, it will cost $ 30 labour + parts.
For the local Victas that takes about 5 minutes as I keep blade bases with new blades fitted ready to go.
As for dealers people easily forget all of the on costs
Way back I was an engineering clerk and the actual cost of a mans work was just under 3 times what he was getting paid.
Some one had taken the booking, written up an invoice & issued a receipt, this costs money as does the rent of the office, the rent on the workshop floor space, insurance , holiday pay, public liability insurance, garbage removal, cleaning the workshop and downtime etc etc etc.
These costs always go into the labour charge.
I am a 1 man mobile mechanic and have a contra deal that covers the rent on the workshop so I can run profitably @ $ 60 /hr
The man up the road , owns his workshop, lives out the back & also sells fuel and new mowers, he charges $ 90 / hr and makes a profit on repairs.
The shops in town are all rented and are part of various franchise chains, they charge $ 120 /hr and all make a loss on the workshop
