building computers for friends...

A

afsc102938

banned
well since i built my last PC about 8 of my friends have wanted me to build them one, so im not going to waste my time and do it all for free, they are going to pay for parts obviously and some labour, but instead of charging a set amount im probably just going to markup the parts a certain percentage, so what would a good markup be where i make a few bucks so its worth my time and they arent ripped off, im not trying to run some scam or get rich btw i just wanna have a few bucks and build my friends some computers, i was thining about a 20% markup so 1000 dollar comp in parts would cost them 1200 when finished and completed and gave to the, does this seem fair? i mean i know what i think is fair but im mainly asking this as to what other people/comapnies usually charge to do this and if thats fair compared to those
 
Wow, I must be too nice-- I would have said 10%...

Out here in my neck of the woods, the going rate for computer maintenance labor is $99/hr, so go figure. My only 'client' pays me $40 for a simple malware removal.
 
Dngrsone said:
Wow, I must be too nice-- I would have said 10%...

Out here in my neck of the woods, the going rate for computer maintenance labor is $99/hr, so go figure. My only 'client' pays me $40 for a simple malware removal.
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I would agree 20% seems pretty expensive, plus i don`t see why someone should pay more for a build based on the level of parts they buy.

I always work by pricing the job itself, it`s up to the customer what parts they buy and that should not affect the price.

I would usually charge around £50 for a basic build, then obviously more for more complex water cooled builds.
 
Is it only me who finds it a bit weird that you want to make your friends pay for your help?! Do you make them pay if they want your help painting a room or moving house?

Surely if it's amongst friends a box of beers or something would suffice?
 
I've built/fixed many computers for friends and relatives. The most I ever asked for (above actual cost of parts) was a 6-pack of soda, the most I ever received was being taken out for a nice lunch.
 
Doing to much for free is what they call being taken for a mug.

There are certain small things that people do for nothing, but you ask anyone to do a big or time consuming job, they won`t do it for free, particularly if they are actually qualified in that work, you can get your friend that handy with paint brush to help you quickly paint a room, but you ask the friend that is a qualified decorator to do you whole living room for free, they would probably laugh at you.

Also i suppose it depends on how the close the person is, your sibling or best friend you see all the time and do for one another, you should help for free as long as it goes both ways, but you cousin that you never see one month to the next, that`s never done you any favors i wouldn`t do for free.
 
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dug987654 said:
Is it only me who finds it a bit weird that you want to make your friends pay for your help?! Do you make them pay if they want your help painting a room or moving house?

Surely if it's amongst friends a box of beers or something would suffice?
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If I were to ask my friends to help me move, then i would supply the pizza and beer (beer only after the moving is done ;) )

If a friend asks me to help him with a small problem with his computer, then I will take a look for free. If I have to spend a significant amount of time on the problem, then my friends will buy me lunch and offer me what they feel is a commensurate amount for the time I spent working on their problem(s).

Like I said, I have one friend who asks me me divest his machine of malware occasionally, and he gave me $40 last time (and a very tasty lunch).
 
I see no problem charging your friends, but it doesn't have to be money. Maybe they pay for dinner or the movies once or twice. $200 is a LOT of money to charge your friends to build a computer, if you do want to charge I would charge maybe $50-$100 at the most.
 
I usually charge $50-75 depending on if its just building the system or copying data over to the new system aftewards. $100 labor to build a system is just too much. From start to finish, building the system and installing the OS usually only takes me an hour and a half at the most.
 
dug987654 said:
Is it only me who finds it a bit weird that you want to make your friends pay for your help?! Do you make them pay if they want your help painting a room or moving house?

Surely if it's amongst friends a box of beers or something would suffice?
Click to expand...

In this case, I disagree. This guy said he has ~8 (at least several) friends that want him to build them computers. If it was me building one or possibly two systems for friends, I would be fine with beers. However, for more than that I'm going to want some sort of decent monetary payment. After all, one of the main reasons to go with a custom build is that it's considerably cheaper. This guy will be doing a hell of a service for his friends, by getting them quality builds at an incredible price compared to pre-builts. Just because he's their friend he's supposed to build 8 systems for a proverbial box of beers? What kind of masochist does that?

That said, if it was me I would charge a flat rate for the labor of each system. As others have said, it shouldn't matter what parts each client wants. I would personally charge ~$75-$100 per system. Each of my friends would get a sweet deal and I would be paid for my time and "expertise."
 
one thing you could do to help out with figuring a rate, is to call around you area, or the area your friends are in, and ask computer shops what they would charge to put together a custom build. ask 3-5 of them, than average the quotes out. whatever the average is, reduce it by like $25-$50. that way they are saving money by going to you, and you are making money by them coming to you.
 
I helped built my friend's computer, and then his roommate had me build one, and even offered to pay, but I'm good friends with both of them, and as said, they gave me dinner and beer while I was building it.

It is quite different since you said you have 8 friends that want one. As much as I like building computers, that'd be really time consuming.

Its not just building it, its looking at the build and offering suggestions and whatnot. Setting up windows take a while, especially with an SSD.
 
alright so i actually ended up doing all these builds, ended up doing 7, and they werent like super close friends or anything just ones i would go get a beer with once and a while and such, not ones i talk to on a day to day basis but close enough where i talk to them once a week atleast, i did my best friends for free and my cousins and mine, thats why they all asked, so i charged them each 100 bucks, they all came over the morning i had all the parts, started building at about 8 in the morning, was one with all 7 at about 4, they payed for dinner and beers and such also, partied that night, so got some cash in my pocket to help m pay with my immigration stuff :) haha 700 bucks, beers and pizza wasnt too bad of a day
 
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