“Don’t try to be different. Just be good. To be good is different enough.” Arthur Freed

From the beginning we had a vision for our business. To be the absolute best at what we do, yet offer our services at a price people could afford. What would be the point in charging $40 an hour for a restoration that ends up costing $200+ when so many of the people who need the service are older people, most on fixed incomes? They can’t afford that! Especially not if they want, heaven forbid, more than one restored! On the other hand, if you don’t charge in a manner befitting damn good restoration work, some people won’t even deign to consider you. Plus, you get the added bonus of people assuming since you charge a fair rate, you’re fair game for abuse. The again, some people just live to abuse, so that one breaks even.

Our base rate, for the very smallest of restoration work, is $50. Period. Don’t even get out of bed for less. Some people think it’s too high, but the majority of comments I’ve gotten is that it’s too low. I’m selling myself, and my talent, short. But I’m not sure I agree. If it’s the simplest of work, chances are I’m going to be done in an hour or two, so that’s not so bad. The price goes up, accordingly, after that, and always by visual quote, so neither myself, nor the customer gets hosed. Funny enough, some people even balk at that! They want “an idea” of what it will cost. I won’t do it! I’ve actually gotten burned doing that. I told a client I couldn’t tell them a firm price, I had to see the damage, but told them what the base price was, just to give them an idea. Before I knew it, that figure had become the quote in the clients mind. Rather then argue, I honored what they thought was the quote, letting them know, gently, that it wasn’t, really, and vowed to not step into that pile, again! One of those “learn by doing” object lessons we all must go through when owning our own business, I suppose. Anyway, I don’t know if our base rate will stay the same, or if I’ll find I can raise that over time while still providing a service to the people who most need it. Is the relatively lower rate actually preventing the business growing? Or would raising the rate’s make it worse? Will I be able to keep doing this, or will I have to go to work at Wal-Mart? Time will tell.

In the meantime, I’m going to work very hard at making a name for my self and getting a reputation as one of the best at what I do. I’m going to strive to keep learning and to improve my skills at every opportunity. I know this will all fall into place, eventually, one way or another!

Tags: Opinions, Restoration