How much to charge for IT services?

Ev0 · 13 Jun 2013 at 15:46

But what you have to remember is he's not being used as a 'contractor' in your sense, he is being used as a business providing a service.

Your type of contracting is generally full time for the contract period, remarkably different to being called up as and when for the odd hours work here and there which is what most of us are talking about

'Harry · 13 Jun 2013 at 16:14

40 quid an hour for ****ing about with a few computers...rip off Britain

Haggisman · 13 Jun 2013 at 16:17

'Harry said:
40 quid an hour for ****ing about with a few computers...rip off Britain

Could say the same for mechanics, accountants, lawyers, etc.

The £40/hour is for not "****ing about", because you know what you're doing. :rolleyes:

LordSplodge · 13 Jun 2013 at 16:54

aln said:
It doesn't really work like that in a single person company in IT. Being a contractor is great,

Aye but the market rate for a self employed contractor isn't the same as the

Except he isn't a 'contractor' he's a business. Hence my profit example.

Ev0 said:
But what you have to remember is he's not being used as a 'contractor' in your sense, he is being used as a business providing a service.

Your type of contracting is generally full time for the contract period, remarkably different to being called up as and when for the odd hours work here and there which is what most of us are talking about

Exactly.

'Harry said:
40 quid an hour for ****ing about with a few computers...rip off Britain

Really? You'd probably faint at the price of a specialist in the trade then. I bet you cry when you need the services of a mechanic to '**** about with engines' then.

cjgardens · 13 Jun 2013 at 17:15

£15-20 quid a hour cash? If it's nothing major and just a few hours each time I would be happy with that. All boils down to what price your happy doing it for.

Duke · 13 Jun 2013 at 17:26

Ev0 said:
But what you have to remember is he's not being used as a 'contractor' in your sense, he is being used as a business providing a service.

Your type of contracting is generally full time for the contract period, remarkably different to being called up as and when for the odd hours work here and there which is what most of us are talking about

This - it is nothing like contracting.

Here is a list of the costs when I worked for myself doing the same thing -

Directors remuneration (i.e. pay)
NI contribution
Business insurance
Leasing of office equipment (card payment machine)
Repairs and maintenance
Clothing
Printing, postage & stationary
Advertising
Telephone
Motor expenses
Accountancy
Bank charges
Credit card charges
General expenses
Any hardware supplied (little margin on that)

So if you are doing it 'properly' then you will need to charge £40-50 an hour if most the work is adhoc, to cover the above and times where you are not working. You could be travelling say an hour or so a day overall as well so can't be earning either during that time.

Generally I was able to do 4-5 jobs at most in a normal day.

If its just a one off then it is a little different as you wouldn't set up a company just to do that, but then would someone want you to be working on their kit without insurance?

LordSplodge · 13 Jun 2013 at 17:37

cjgardens said:
£15-20 quid a hour cash?.

Minus expense (see above) that probably works out as a negative price per hour.

cjgardens · 13 Jun 2013 at 18:02

LordSplodge said:
Minus expense (see above) that probably works out as a negative price per hour.

Not if it's just a few hours here and there and he's getting cash. That's why I said £15-20 cash.

Deleted member 77746 · 13 Jun 2013 at 18:13

LordSplodge said:
Minus expense (see above) that probably works out as a negative price per hour.

Not really.

Client brings system to you. Client leaves. You fix. Call client. Client returns.

No travel cost, only electricity cost && time.

Frenzy · 13 Jun 2013 at 18:15

I know it's been answered before but the replies in here seem a bit more detailed. What qualifications if any would be recommended for such work? Not necessarily the "for show" stuff but qualifications that give you the know how...

Deleted member 77746 · 13 Jun 2013 at 18:16

Frenzy said:
I know it's been answered before but the replies in here seem a bit more detailed. What qualifications if any would be recommended for such work? Not necessarily the "for show" stuff but qualifications that give you the know how...

Qualifications for your own business or actually working for a company?

FoxEye · 13 Jun 2013 at 18:39

'Harry said:
40 quid an hour for ****ing about with a few computers...rip off Britain

No one I know would pay that much for basic IT. Let's face it, everybody and their dog can install AV and configure Windows these days.

Seriously, simple IT is not rocket science.

Frenzy · 13 Jun 2013 at 18:48

mrbell1984 said:
Qualifications for your own business or actually working for a company?

Qualifications for your own business. So you are competent enough to perform what ever task is necessary.

Deleted member 77746 · 13 Jun 2013 at 18:50

FoxEye said:
No one I know would pay that much for basic IT. Let's face it, everybody and their dog can install AV and configure Windows these days.

Seriously, simple IT is not rocket science.

Wrong..

Frenzy said:
Qualifications for your own business. So you are competent enough to perform what ever task is necessary.

Non at all. As long as you can do what is required.

Diagro · 13 Jun 2013 at 19:07

Wow the people in here charging £50 an hour.

I do it for £40 an hour.. But then again i charge the rate i would get profit wise from fixing two iPhone screens in an hour, £20 x 2.

£40 an hour isn't bad for a specialist

Naff8000 · 13 Jun 2013 at 19:13

FoxEye said:
No one I know would pay that much for basic IT. Let's face it, everybody and their dog can install AV and configure Windows these days.

Seriously, simple IT is not rocket science.

you keep believing that and stay away from our old and wealthy customers eheh

Frenzy · 13 Jun 2013 at 19:13

mrbell1984 said:
Wrong..

Non at all. As long as you can do what is required.

Ok for example, this sage stuff. Setting up servers and the back up processes, are there any qualifications or training courses which give you all this information. Assume I am joe average and I know diddly squat about computers.

FoxEye · 13 Jun 2013 at 19:18

mrbell1984 said:
Wrong..

But it's getting that way. Those of a certain age can't do simple IT, but the younger generations can. I was installing Windows by age 13. It wasn't hard then and it isn't hard now.

Naff8000 said:
you keep believing that and stay away from our old and wealthy customers eheh

Seriously, installing & configuring Windows and applications is not tough, is it

I don't consider it skilled work, if I'm 100% honest. We are the pencil pushers of the digital age.

Now Linux, on the other hand... you need an IQ of 600 just to log in

koolpc · 13 Jun 2013 at 19:19

Duke said:
£40-50 per hour, anything less and you are a mug.

Depending where you live in the country as some places wont be expecting to pay that amount

LordSplodge · 13 Jun 2013 at 19:34

cjgardens said:
Not if it's just a few hours here and there and he's getting cash. That's why I said £15-20 cash.

Ahh so you means dodgy on the side cash-only work not proper business work. Still selling yourself cheap.

mrbell1984 said:
Not really.

Client brings system to you. Client leaves. You fix. Call client. Client returns.

No travel cost, only electricity cost && time.

And your own personal value. I value my work at more than £15-20 an hour even if a client was to come to me.