tech fees

[Carl Root]

Wimblees wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 98-03-26 22:04:37 EST, you write:
> 
> >I would say that your NET charge should be the same for whatever you
> >do.  If your shop overhead is greater than your field overhead, perhaps
> >you should charge more.  Set your rates so you will be willing to do
> >whatever work comes your way without profitability being an issue.
> 
> Setting one rate for the shop and another for the field might not only get
> complicated, but it could also leave you behind. Your shop overhead (I am
> asuming overhead to mean the constant charges for the shop, ie: electricity,
> insurance, etc.) is going to be there, whether you work in it or not. So if
> you wind up having a lot of field work, and charge only to cover the expenses
> in the field, you are loosing money.
> 
> Willem Blees

Yes, it can get complicated, but I still wouldn't blow it off and go
with a flat rate for everything.  I assumed that you fine tuned your
fees when you referred to travel as a variable - meaning if you have to
travel a lot farther than your average distance, that requires charging
a higher tuning fee.....or did I misunderstand.

The concerns you raise about shop overhead are addressed be considering
both fixed costs and variable costs.  This necessarily applies to travel
as well, of course.  The best way to figure your future fees is to break
down your past sources of income and their associated costs. 

 Maybe even think of them as separate businesses.  If you sell or rent
pianos, for example, you would certainly want to do a separate P/L
analysis.