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What should I charge for network install?

1035 Views 1 Reply 2 Participants Last post by  johnwill
Hello!

So, I'm one of those guys who lives in a small town and everyone knows that I can fix computers. I get quite a bit of side work out of this. I've typically only done general hardware and software troubleshooting.

Average, everyday computer problems

Well, today, this guy who runs and agriculture chemical company outside of town had me do a network install for him at his business. The problem is, since I've never done it before, and it was a larger job than I am accustomed to...

...I don't know what the hell to charge this guy.

After unplugging everything, I removed the old network cable. The guy who installed it poked crude holes in the ceilings and walls to install his cable. I ran 175 feet of cat6 cable up one office wall into a loft, across a rafter, and down another office wall. I terminated the cable on each end at a keystone wall plate and ethernet jack in a wall box. I plugged everything back in on one side, and then had to make three 3 foot patch cables and install a switch on the other side.

This office was attached to a machine shop and it was DISGUSTING! The office was full of dust and the machine shop and loft above the office was full of dirt and grease. The loft was also cluttered with parts and heavy equipment that had to be moved to rip out the old cable and install the new. It took me 8 hours to finish the job and I came home exhausted and covered in dirt/grease/dust/sweat.

So here's the damage -
175 feet cat6 cable
2 wall boxes
2 keystone wall plates
2 keystone ethernet jacks
3 or 4 dozen cable nail-in clips
3 patch cables - 3 feet long - cable, ends, boots
1 network switch - 8 port - 10/100 - $15 half off at newegg

So what do I charge this guy?

I really hope you experts here can help me.

Thanks in advance
Mitch
Near Springfield, Central Illinois, US
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Charge him for the parts with a reasonable markup, and whatever you think your time is worth for the hourly rate. Obviously, the hourly rate is variable, based on the market and your experience level. I actually have a variable rate based on the specific customer, small time residential networking jobs I charge less per hour, simply because it's all the traffic will bear. Large corporate clients, which also assume a higher level of expertise, get to pay me more. :smile:
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