Price a Job to Cover Your Costs
Your rate needs to pay for the days you cannot bill as well as the days on the tools. Materials and job-specific costs then need including in the quote.
Work backwards to a paid day
| Illustrative target | Amount |
|---|---|
| Income required before personal tax | £36,000 |
| Annual business overhead | £12,000 |
| Revenue needed before job-specific costs | £48,000 |
| Realistic paid days | 180 |
| £48,000 ÷ 180 | About £267 per paid day |
This is an example, not a recommended market rate. Materials, hired access and other direct job costs are not included in that £267. Personal tax still comes from the income figure.
Turn it into a quote
- Allow for the whole attendance: drive, setup, work, testing and handover.
- Add materials, consumables, delivery, waste and hired equipment.
- Include the margin and uncertainty the job needs without counting overhead twice.
- State the total, VAT position, scope and payment timing.
Use the last similar job
If a “quick repair” previously used half a day because of travel and a parts run, do not price the next one as one hour on the tools. Start with that actual experience and adjust for what is different.
For extra work, send: “I've found [issue]. The additional work is [scope] at [price]. Shall I go ahead?” Get agreement before extending the job.
Updated 29 October 2026 · Report a factual error