Even though I only do laminate countertops for a living, I do a few things different than most guys in my area.
In the beginning, it was approximately $30 a linear foot for tops, depending on how many feet. I add up all the inches, divide by 12 and multiply by 30. Tear-out of old tops and sink removal are different rates. Then I went to saying that I don't price by the linear foot, I price by the job. Most customers want to compare what the other guy charges and then say he's cheaper than you. I got 3 estimates and this guy beat you by $125, can you come down. My answer is always a kind "no I can't do that". I'm not high, he's low. My price is fair for the work that I am doing for you based off my materials, time, and yes, quality of work. You won't get burned edges and radius corners you can push in and out with your thumb.
I have too LARGE albums with pictures of many, many jobs I have done and that alone helps tremendously.
When people ask, what do you mean price by the job, I say that I figure out my materials, based off the kitchen measurements, and come up with a fair figure for them and for me based off my time and materials.
Example: I qouted a job $1900 a year and half ago. Two other companies were within $150 of my bid. The gentleman called me a couple days later and said someone underbid you by $700!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I told him a builder would not get it that cheap from me and there is no way I could do anything with that price.
Well, the company in question took my samples that I had left with the homeowner to look over for a few days(obviously, they qouted after my qoute). I said, no problem, I'll pick them up after they're done with the job, if you don't mind. He was so happy that I was willing to come look at their work after I didn't get the job, I thought he was going to come through the phone and hug me!!! Well..........3 days after the top was complete, I go to look at their work. I told him I would be honest and that I get no satisfaction from putting down anyone else's work. If it's good, I'll tell ya.
Well the seam at the sink was open enough that I could almost put a dime in it. They used white caulk on a brownish colored top. The edges of the laminate were burned on almost every linear foot of countertop in the kithen. The radius corners flexed in and out. Here's the kicker. They routed all the laminate off with a straight bit and I swear they didn't file any of it. You could take your finger nails and slightly lift up the edges any where you tried. That part, I didn't have the heart to say anything about to the homeowner. The burned edges (which they asked "what is that"), the open seam and the caulk I did tell them about.
This thread was about how much guys charge for their work, and Dev, I hope I have not gone off topic too much. Although I would never ever mention another company by name to any customer, I do tell a quick version of this situation, one of many, I have had in the past. I only do this with a few certain customers who start asking about price a lot or quality of work compared to others. I also tell them there are many good fabricators out there, but there are some bad ones too. Don't just go by price for foot. Decide if you feel comfortable with me and what I've said and showed you during my estimate.
The gentleman with the $700 difference said "how can he be so much lower?". I said there's a reason for it, I can tell you that. I also said, if he was that good why wouldn't his qoutes be more in line with every else's. Doesn't he want to make $700 more? The company in question doesn't have to worry about referrals, they will always get phone calls from people who don't know their work and then they will get a lot of those jobs because a certain percentage of people are always looking for the lowest price.
Price by the job (if you can) and don't be shy about your work. Pictures help alot and so do referrals (the most powerful business tool you have). I almost forgot. I was told recently that the company in question closed down and opened up under another
name. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Thanks for reading and God Bless you if you made it this far!
David
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Originally Posted by Andy Hoyt
To be honest, I've very, very rarely walked away from a job feeling like I charged too much and my prices are on the high side. Dave Avery's points(and others I was too lazy to read them all), should be really taken to heart about pricing. Pricing is about value and nothing else. The customer's perception of what you are providing and how much they are willing to pay for what you provide, will dictate every time. I create value through my quality, my repoire with clients, and my professionalism. Do they want a $500 invoice on a napkin or a $5000 invoice that is professional? That whole 'build it and they will come' is entirely true. I believe that if you believe in your product and constantly strive to improve it, the work will find you. This is when your pricing will shake out, and you'll find success, regardless of what numbers we throw around for what we charge. I've spent a week on a $500 project and on the flip side can make 2-3 times that in a day. I don't believe there is a true answer to your question, but I think every woodworker that is self employed and does at the very least decent work should be charging $30 - $100/hour. You've got to remember that a lot of hours that you're working aren't necessarily billable so this doesn't transfer to a straight 40 hours times your hourly. Time to make drawings, do layout, give bids, drive to jobsites, unload tools, invoice, etc, etc.... - these are all varying factors on top of your local pricing scene and are among many other variables. 
And want to second J.R.'s comments on charging what you need to make, not based on what others are charging. I attended a class early on at one of the woodworking shows(a JLC Live show) on the business side and one of the things I took away that has saved me a lot of money over the years(almost as good as making money
