Thread: how much do you charge your friends?

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I wouldn't do it for double the price after he argued with me. He's already tipped his hat. Hank

Charge your friends $30 an hour, $45 an hour if he watches, and $60 an hour if he wants to help.

Originally Posted by halftanked

I wouldn't do it for double the price after he argued with me. He's already tipped his hat. Hank

Very good point. If it starts off this way, IT AIN'T GONNA GET ANY BETTER!! Your "Buddy" is a user.

Don

Ask your self- Am I getting dirty? That costs. Am I getting out of pocket? That costs. Am I using something up? that costs. Am I wearing somrthing out? that costs. Want some advice? Thats free as long as i dont have to explain it twice. Friends don't ask for freebies or cheapies, they give them and they accept the same with actions not words. Friends get dirty with you. All others pay cash.

Update to the story.

I happened to run in to his son at NAPA and he told me his dad had taken the car to another guy in a small town about 20 miles south of here. He didn't tell me who it was or what the guy quoted him but he did say that his dad had thought it over and he was going to bring his car to me after all. Well, you would be proud of me, I took all of your advise and told him to tell his dad that I was not interested in doing anything for him, that he would have to take it the the other guy.
I really had to laugh when his son told me where he took the car. I know the guy, he was big into building mustang drag cars years ago and had his own shop. He is good at what he does but he is also very expensive. I am anxious to see what happens now.

Thanks guys.

Yup, should be interesting when he comes to talk to you again.... Suppose he will be singing a different tune this time?????

I help friends when I can, they help me when I need. We use the cars together to cruise and hang out, bench racing stuff ya know. One friend kept his car in my garage last winter and we went through it together and he put 15k into it. Worked side by side mostly, as I live here though my time exceeded his naturally. He repaid the favor by buying me loads of tools at an annual tool show we all attend. Beer food lunch using his shop anything we can do for each other we do, no cash between this deal. Friends helping friends, someone who can not repay the labor favor would get no work done.

Originally Posted by bigjon 454

I help friends when I can, they help me when I need. We use the cars together to cruise and hang out, bench racing stuff ya know. One friend kept his car in my garage last winter and we went through it together and he put 15k into it. Worked side by side mostly, as I live here though my time exceeded his naturally. He repaid the favor by buying me loads of tools at an annual tool show we all attend. Beer food lunch using his shop anything we can do for each other we do, no cash between this deal. Friends helping friends, someone who can not repay the labor favor would get no work done.

You're lucky to have a friend like that Jon! Not many like that around anymore... In the last year and a half I'm out about $4k to alleged friends!!!!! Needless to say I'm a bit gunshy now about who I do much for.... I remember the good old days when a handshake and a verbal agreement meant something, sorry to see it changing but good to hear that in some cases it still is good.

didn't read the three pages of replies:

so here is my take on your original post:

If he is a REAL friend, then he will understand that you have a family to feed.

As such, you can NOT do a LARGE project for FREE.

If he doesn't come around any more, then SO BE IT.

Don't loose any sleep over it. It always sucks to loose friends, but as my BEST friend will ALWAYS say:

"There is no love in money, brother"

AFTER reading the replies, I would like to chime in with the additional .02:

A working example...
my brother in law has a body shop. Nice big one, and he always offers to let me work on my crap in his shop. I refuse because I KNOW it will pull power, take his time, space, etc.

I used to drop by every Sunday to say hey. Hang around for about an hour and bull$hit, and drink one or two of his beer. He always seems to 'enjoy the break'. I KNOW he cannot feed his family by being 'on break', so I keep the visits short. I say USED to drop by, because I have had a problem with his employee's 'organization'.... best not to discuss THAT...

Recently, I brought my wife's car in to have it pulled. It is his sister's car, and so he didn't want to take payment. I rather insisted, and paid him $300 which I swear almost resulted in a fight. I KNOW he would charge at least $500 for the service.

point is this: That is how he feeds his family. I refuse to take advantage of his good intentions at his families expense.

Until I can get my $hit together and build my OWN shop, my stuff can just rust in the weather.

nuff said.

theres a really cool old song that fits this thread.. "hit the road jack!"

Depends on the friend and the type of the job.
Beer/Soda/Food and gas money nowadays.
I dont help inlaws anymore

Originally Posted by 42K3

When it comes to business, I leave friendship at the curb.

Ding, Ding, Ding, we have a winner.
I tell any friends that does work for me & or I do work for them that friendship is one thing & business is another & I never mix the 2 together. I alway tell them if they are doing work for me to charge me what t hey would anyone one else & IF by chance they give me a break that's great.

Now I will also help friends out for free, but they are the ones that have always helped me out when I needed someone to give me a hand...joe

I have 2 that I never charge, one has a backhoe ,dozer biz The other is a transmission shop. At this time when we ask each other the other how much is owed the answer is- I lost track. That said everyone else pays or barters

i`m about to find out what somewhat of a friend will charge me .. i have a ford truck that wont start ..firing ok but no fuel .. 87 model .. i know nuthing about computor controlled stuff .. this is the same guy i gave a 4 speed tranny to not too many years ago ..