Simple question really, how much would you charge for pc maintenece on the side (ph)

DJMK4 · 12 Mar 2009 at 09:36

How much would you charge for PC maintenence and repairs on the side?

I could be doing this either on a call out basis, so I would expect a callout charge (which will include the first hour) then a charge for each additional hour.

Also would need a suitable rate for doing the work from home.

What do you think? this is not my main job I just need to do something to make abit of cash on the side, I need to clear some debts

a1ex2001 · 12 Mar 2009 at 09:39

Don't forget you will need to register as self employed with the tax man and complete a yearly tax return if you want to be legal.

Solari · 12 Mar 2009 at 09:41

a1ex2001 said:
Don't forget you will need to register as self employed with the tax man and complete a yearly tax return if you want to be legal.

Yeah yeah.. of course - the taxman doesn't grab enough of your money as it is, so don't take any cash in hand work

DJMK4 · 12 Mar 2009 at 09:41

a1ex2001 said:
Don't forget you will need to register as self employed with the tax man and complete a yearly tax return if you want to be legal.

Isnt that if you earn over a certain amount?

Im not planning on making this a big earner, just abit a money on the side to clear a small amount of debt.

Anyway, sod the tax man, he takes enough of my money :mad:

DJMK4 · 12 Mar 2009 at 09:42

I was thinking £20per hour (call out charge which includes first hour) then £12-£15 per hour after that?

Or if im doing work from home then a flat out £12 per hour charge maybe? or shall I base prices on the actual work im doing?

qqg3 · 12 Mar 2009 at 09:54

I'm sure you are entitled to somewhere in the region of £250 per month/annum (forgotten which) without informing the tax man...

Wiggins · 12 Mar 2009 at 10:31

If you're doing the work at home, scrap the £12 and knock it to £20. Take into account you're heating, electricity etc....

I charge a flat fee of £20 excluding cost of hardware and software and nobody has complained. I have had some repeat business as well as extra business through word of mouth so it cannot be that extortionate.

Duke · 12 Mar 2009 at 10:34

Sounds cheap to me.

Admiral Huddy · 12 Mar 2009 at 10:34

Standard charge for me is £35ph but some services are fixed price.

No call out out charge as such, but the minimum time is one hour for call out.

Bear distance in mind too.. You can spend time on the road which isn't chargable so you need to decide on a charging area.. So CM1 and CM2 are classed as local. Surrounding codes i add £5, other CM add £10.

Of course this only applies to call out.. If customers bring the PC to me and collect, then the standard charge applies.

Make sure you get your terms and conditions sorted and get adequate liability insurance before you start playing around with peoples PCs

All earnings have to be reported to IR.

Abraham · 12 Mar 2009 at 10:38

if you have another job then anything you earn should be declared, keep hold of the tax in a seperate account until you have to fill out your tax return, you will find there are some things that can cancel out a bit of the tax

As for what you should be charging, depends a bit on your area but £20/hr isn't unreasonable, just make the minimum call out 1 hr.

Antar Bolaeisk · 12 Mar 2009 at 10:43

I charge around €20 an hour with a minimum 1 hour charge. I'm happy getting a wee bit of extra cash since my other job more than covers daily expenditure and the customers are normally very happy and recommend me to their friends. It's a win-win in my opinion.

I do charge around €50 when lumped with a computer and asked to clean it up. In that case I take the computer home with me and batter it with a rake of scans, optimisations etc while doing something else in the mean time.

mrk · 12 Mar 2009 at 10:45

I charge £25, free local collection and delivery. I get a bit of business

DJMK4 · 12 Mar 2009 at 10:50

Gives me a good idea of charges etc.

Thanks people

Admiral Huddy · 12 Mar 2009 at 11:08

DJMK4 said:
Gives me a good idea of charges etc.

Thanks people

Just remember what I said earlier about Public Liability Insurance.

Ask yourself what you would do if you accidently lost someone's data, dropped a PC or caused an accident whilst on-site?

DJMK4 · 12 Mar 2009 at 11:23

Admiral Huddy said:
Just remember what I said earlier about Public Liability Insurance.

Ask yourself what you would do if you accidently lost someone's data, dropped a PC or caused an accident whilst on-site?

How much does this usually cost?

To be honest if im going to be paying £400 a year for public liability insurance I dont think its going to be worth me doing this as this is not really going to be a big earner for me, just some extra cash to tie me over whilst im paying of debts.

Brian Stuart · 12 Mar 2009 at 11:48

DJMK4 said:
How much does this usually cost?

To be honest if im going to be paying £400 a year for public liability insurance I dont think its going to be worth me doing this as this is not really going to be a big earner for me, just some extra cash to tie me over whilst im paying of debts.

I think my liability ins is around £20 pm. As Admiral Huddy says you must register as self-employed, and submit end of year accounts. All profit is taxed at basic rate if you earn over your tax allowance and at 40% if you are a higher rate tax payer.

DJMK4 · 12 Mar 2009 at 11:52

Brian Stuart said:
I think my liability ins is around £20 pm. As Admiral Huddy says you must register as self-employed, and submit end of year accounts. All profit is taxed at basic rate if you earn over your tax allowance and at 40% if you are a higher rate tax payer.

Urgh, sod this, think I might just keep it as "word of mouth"

For the little work im thinking about taking on, its hardly worth it