How much should I charge?

By Ask a Shop OwnerUpdated Pricing

Short answer

Enough to cover all your costs, pay yourself a real wage, and have 15 to 20 percent left over. If your current price doesn't do that, it's too low.

The math

Total annual costs plus your target salary plus 20 percent profit, divided by billable hours per year. That hourly number, marked up for materials and risk, is your floor.

The market check

Then compare to local market. If your floor is way above market, you have a cost problem, not a pricing problem. If it's at or below, you've been undercharging and didn't know.

Ask your version of this question

This is one business owner-tested take. Your shop size, trade, and team change the answer. Ask the exact version inside Ask a Shop Owner and get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.