How do most of you charge customers, buy the hour or by the mount?
What do you figure you make an hour?
I just started dabbling in taxidermy but wouldnt mind possibly makeing it a part of my buisness. I own a Body Shop and am leaning twords custom painting & taxidermy.
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I figure up the cost of materials, then add in the time it takes to mount it, deal with the paperwork, customer time, etc. My hourly rate includes overhead. If it is an animal I don't enjoy mounting, I also take that into consideration. I put the price on those up high enough I'll do them.
Depends on where you are and your experience what to charge per hour. $25 would be a starting point, though, in my opinion.
Jamie, However you choose to figure your rates, be consistent. I use a simple formula regardless of what species I might be doing. Very simply put, my price = ($20 X hours labor) + (materials cost), then take that number and multiply it by 1.25 (20% in overhead). That's all there is to it. Now, let me briefly explain the why's of each category of billing.
I pay myself (always pay YOURSELF) $20 an hour at this time.
Hours of labor is dependent upon the species on which you're working and how long it takes an experienced taxidermist, on average, to do. An experienced taxi can do a deer in less time than a neophyte. If you charge strictly by the hour, the guy who does the best job will get paid less. Kinda not right, huh? Therefore, I bill 8 hours of labor on deer (closed mouth), 10 on elk, 12-16 on lifesize mammals, atc. These are periods I consider to be the average hands-on. As I get better and faster, I work more efficiently but still bill the same amount. If I take longer, it's outta my own pocket. But, either way, it's fair to the customer.
Materials cost - some guys charge overhead on materials. I don't. It's my choice. I just make sure ALL my costs are covered and my bills to vendors are paid.
And finally, that 1.25. What is it? It's money made by the "company" which is used to cover bills, replacement of non-disposable tools, equipment, etc.. If you pay building rent, utilities, insurance, and all the other stuff that comes with running your shop as more than part-time, then this number needs to be higher.
How does the math work? I charge $325 on a deer right now.
8 hours times $20 = $160 labor.
$100 for materials/ tanning
160 + 100 = 260, and 260 X 1.25 = $325.00
Effective June 1, I'll be giving myself a raise to $23 an hour. My materials have increased as far as tanning costs and forms, so I'll up that by $15 as well. I'll keep my final number the same for the time being, so now my labor is $184, my costs are 115, total of $299, times 1.25 for a final price next year of $373.75, rounded up to $375.
This is just what I do. Other guys do it differently, but it works for me. Especially when I get a new project in. I look at the catalogs, assemble my materials list, determine how much time I should bill for labor and do the math. No guesswork.
Finally, the materials amount is key in determining my deposit. I have enough cash up front to cover ALL my expenses so I don't spend a dime out of my pocket. If they stiff me, I sell the mount to recover my labor and overhead.