[pianotech] Mileage charge

[Conrad Hoffsommer]

Daniel Carlton wrote:
> ok guys help me out here. i live in the panhandle of texas, and i travel 
> to eastern new mexico to tune. not long ago i told a customer from that 
> area that i divide my total mileage charge by the number of 
> customers/appointments i get for that particular trip, and that if i 
> only had three appointments the mileage charge per customer would be 
> about $75. i just had another customer call me and in a very nice way 
> told me that they don't want to lose my services in that area, so 
> couldn't i just charge $50 and wouldn't that cover my gas, and couldn't 
> i just consider that an expense of running the business and deduct it on 
> my taxes? 
> 
> i've been questioned about my mileage charge, but i've never had it put 
> to me that way. i charge what i charge based on what other technicians 
> have suggested. what would any of you have said in response to that 
> question?
> 
> right now, i charge about $1 per mile for mileage. i'm going up on my 
> price if gas goes up again considerably. i figure that covers my gas, 
> wear and tear on my vehicle, and my time to drive four hours round trip 
> to tune /their/ piano at /their/ request.
> 
> Daniel Carlton
> 



FWIW:
IRS deduction for 2008 had 50.5¢/mile 1/1 to 6/30 and 58.5¢/mile 7/1-12/31.
That's what I charge(d).



-- 
Conrad