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pricing/fuel
riverrat	03-25-2008 17:40:57
Member Posts: 6 Joined: 03-21-2008	Recently I was scanning thru concrete network and noticed there prices suggested for stamped concrete (6.00 to 8.00) dollars a sq ft. I only looked for this because a customer(maybe)told me this is what the rate is. I charge in my area (9.00 to 12.00) sq ft. Help me out is this to much to charge and then with gas to add another .30 to .50 cents on top of that. Is $9.50 to $12.50 out of line. Ive been doing stamping for 7 years. Our work is by far the best in the area, trust me I stop and look at ever stamped or decorative job I see. any input on pricing would be great. At least then i have a leg to stand on.

Lindy A.	03-26-2008 07:40:57
Member Posts: 1789 Joined: --	Your material & freight/transportation costs, fixed overhead, general operating costs, per hour labor rates in your area, business related insurances, cost per yard for concrete in your region, advertising/marketing costs in your area, price per gallon for fuel (especially if you are in a market area where you routinely travel greater distances to perform your trade), etc./etc. ALL have a DIRECT bearing on your total costs. Those that charge less in other regions of the country are irrelevant since their overall costs may be far less than your's ... with you both making the same "net profit" when all is said and done. Example: if you lived in Florida, next to an orange grove, you could buy oranges and make orange juice for less, than if you lived in Alaska and wanted to purchase oranges to make your own juice there (more miles from the orange grove, cost for transporation of the oranges, various number of distributors the oranges went through in route to your store, average wages paid out to all those that handled the oranges along the way and in store your bought them from, etc. ... although oranges and stamped concrete are totally different, in theory it is the same senario in that costs incurred in one area are different than those of others. Lindy

suntacsys	03-26-2008 11:30:29
Member Posts: 1160 Joined: --	not uncommon to see $6-$8 stamp'd but quality guys get much more generally,,, if your work's worth the addl price, don't worry,,, we no longer adv in yellow pages ( $ shoppers ) & the phone rings just as often from referrals,,, if you're busy & eating well, relax,,, you'll know when its time to get ' hungry ',,, more'n once i've told a prospect to call ' them ' - our work's worth more & they won't hurt my feelings,,, when its all said 'n' done, this IS still a business. best [the original] saving-poorly-stamp'd-conc-jobs-pays-the-best yic-yac

scottyb	03-26-2008 14:35:21
Member Posts: 24 Joined: --	Yeah you are about right. I add for steps, raising the patio, borders and rebar. I really don't care about the guys that are doing it for less. One customer told me a contractor was doing a job to 3,500 less but he was already reported to the BBB 2 times. If they want the possiblity of a headache then they can take the chance. People really don't realize how difficult stamped concrete can be and if YOU contractors want to do if for less go ahead. I pay my insurance, suppliers, etc and plan on being in business for a long time. I will stand by my pricing unless I really need to work, but right now I probably got beaten out of 10 jobs. You can charge 8.00 or less, but don't plan on being in business too long and you will never grow your business. Good Luck

concrete_matt	05-06-2008 05:36:30
Member Posts: 74 Joined: --	YE

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