I was wondering if you would share with me what you charge for install of cut vinyl lettering and graphics. I'm sure everyone has their own charging system and I'm just not sure where to set for myself. If you could share with me I could see what's going on out there and come to my own conclusion.
Thanks,
Heidi
There is a formula for figuring what you should be charging for your rate. I can post it soon if you like. basically you take your overhead(rent, utilities, etc.) figure in what you want to pay yourself and employees, figure actual billable hours(which is days you will work minus vacations and off days) and then divide that by the number of equivalent hours and you have your shop rate.
I charge $40-80 depending on what is involved.
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Carl T. - www.ekkographics.com "An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one." - Charles Horton Cooley
Do you have a minimum charge? What if someone wants just a decal applied say 6"x8" or 12" x 16"? This will not take long to apply, would you chare your hourly rate or do you break it down for small things? I'm thinking I had figured way too low on installation as to me, country girl that I am, I thought $20 per hour was quite a bit.
I won't do anything for less than $10. At first I thought about a $25 minimum, but figured that was just too much for something simple as a name on a window.
My $10 is install and cutting as well, and would be charged for something like, as mentioned above, a simple name on a car window. It only takes a minute to type it out and choose a font. Then a few minutes to cut and weed. Then maybe 5 minutes to apply it, so 9 minutes for $10 dollars averages about $60 an hour.
So if I think it's gonna take me less than 10 minutes, I charge 10 dollars
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Carl T. - www.ekkographics.com "An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one." - Charles Horton Cooley
Are you going to have to make a trip to this person's location to install, or is it something they can bring to you? If you have to visit, a trip fee isn't out of the ordinary. This takes care of the gas, the prep (gathering all the tools needed for the job), and the traveling time to and from. In a bigger city, even though it's 10 miles away, it could still take 30 minutes to get there and 30 minutes to get back. So make sure your trip fee covers the scenarios appropriately. This is totally apart from your labor fee for installing.
If you are the one making the decals as well as installing and installing at your site I'd include the installation cost into the job price. Who's doing installation should be established before production begins, but sometimes things change. If they ask you to install someone else's decals, I'd have them sign a waiver saying you are not responsible for the defects of the material, or any misapplication due to lack of knowledge about the material. I'd also probably charge minimum of 30 minutes or an hour labor if I didn't print the job myself.
What to charge for installation? 
