[superiorceilings]

Just curious how you incorporate your fuel costs into your quote?

Do you charge a small fee for fuel to view the area to provide estimates within or outside of your service area?

Do you incorporate the fuel into the estimate?

Do you let customers know they will have to pay for your fuel?

Generally what I do is view the area to be concentrated on and provide a 'FREE' estimate. Depending on where the area is located, I break my fuel surcharge down per area at time of fuel prices and incorportate the initial estimate and how many days the job will take and brign that into the estimate.

I actually just tried something a little different with one client and informed them they will have to pay a small fee of $20.00 in order to provide an estimate as they are outside of my service area, well guess what, let's just say I lost that job.

My reccomendation would be to suck up the cost of fuel in order to provide an estimate and incorporate the cost of fuel to and from the job as well as initial cost of fuel for the estimate and generally you get every job, as soon as the client knows they are paying for your fuel, as I just learned by trialing, You lose the job.

Good luck with rising fuel costs.....

 

[HomeGuardPaints]

fuel is an overhead charge and should be included in that number. i wouldn't suggest anyone charging an estimate fee. Many like to say that it deters the tire kickers but I've landed many jobs where the customer said I only called out people that offered free estimates. Its like if your were hiring an employee and he asked for an interview fee.

 

[Tonyg]

I can't help but laugh when people ask if we charge for estimates. In todays market charging people for the opportunity to do business with you is a sure fire way to go out of business.

Outside of estimates though I have added a line item on my estimating to offset fuel expense though. At 8mpg I have found myself adding about $10 a day to the estimate where before that was just incorporated in my overhead.

 

[tsunamicontract]

there really is no such thing as a free estimate. But no you can't charge for it unless you are maybe say a faux elitist who is in high demand. But still. The price of doing business (ie. going around and giving estimates) is included in your overhead so every job you do get also pays for say 2 you don't.

 

[johnthepainter]

this is why i dont drive,,,,,,

for smaller jobs ill pack a small rucksack, and walk/jog

or worst case scenario, ill use the honda ruckus,,

 

[Wing 54]

I ride the "Wing" whenever possible. 38 to 50 mpg.

 

[bikerboy]

You may do well trying to pre-qualify customers over the phone. There is money to be saved by saying "no" before you even start the truck.

 

[johnthepainter]

with the rising costs of utilities, i also canceled my telephone service.

i use a two pronged approach, utilizing smoke signals and carrier pigeons.

once your customers get familiar with these great forms of communication, they appreciate your effort.