So I've been dealing with more homeowners lately and it's always super short runs. What is everyone doing to account for this little of a run. I've been doing my pricing per LF and adjust that for length of run to cover the setup. I know others do a flat rate per foot and a setup charge. What are you doing? Thanks.

In the 1980's a shop I ran charged an even $100, with a $50 an hour labor rate.

Today, no molder, but I would charge a $200 Set up, with a shop rate of $100 per hour.

Thanks for the reply David, much appreciated. Anyone else have any input?

Prices widely vary throughout the country, but Daves post is close to what is charged around here. The best information I can provide you is to call local shops in your area to see what they are charging. Adjust your fees accordingly if you want to be competitive.

There are things to fit into the equation: lineal footage, the number of cutter heads to set up, how busy you are, and their time frame expectations.

I hope that helps
All the best
Russ @ MR

Thanks for the reply Russ. This is the kind of info I am looking for, basically to back up what I was thinking already but needing some confirmation from others. There is a very limited amount of shops near me that do this kind of work.

Dustin,
The amount of short runs has grown quite a bit in the last two years. It is not worth the time (most of the time) to stop a 5 head molder and change cutters for a 15 foot run. We have a Williams and Hussey that we use for short runs. We have been very busy running short runs (10 feet to 150 feet) of one off base, crown and hand rails. Mostly in historic restoration areas. We have learned that customers are willing to pay the full price of the knives and 125 per hour (one hour minimum) to run the profile. We don't charge a setup time on the Williams and Hussey as it only takes about 15 minutes. One job was 15 feet of hand railing in a house from the 1800's. It took 3 sets of knives at approx 125 each. Customer was glad to find someone willing to do the work. We are getting more and more referrals for this type of work...quick and easy and only requires one person to do the job.

Similar to Thomas here but for us at least the hourly (or per foot calculated) rate for the W&H is the key. Historic work around here is a different game because people in that world know they must match and they have no choice. Doesnt mean you can gouge them but they are a better customer from the start.

The sticky ones in my area are the home owners/contractors/kitchen designers, who are looking for 15'-100' of base/case whatever and have no comprehension that simply running that job on a W&H, single pass face, and back relief, setup, invoice, pickup or delivery, is perhaps a 4hr minimum investment in time, plus materials, which puts labor alone at $360 if you have the knives on hand. Add in a set of profile knives (buried in the job because around here at least if you tell people your charging them for the knives everyone wants the knives that they can never run again) at $160 (4" profile 2 knives) and your at $520 then add in your material as long as you dont have a bunch of hand sanding after sticks come out of the W&H.

At that point given 2 passing your material (if you can handle your edges with your knives) your pretty close to $6 a foot, regardless of quantity needed, for anything under 100' plus your cost of raw stock.

Larger shop around here charges the knife charge and setup, non-negotiable, and are avoided like the plague. They will fudge in-stock knife profiles "a little" for some but they are always trying to offer up a lower per foot charge and burry their setup/time in the setup and knife charges. Its six of one half dozen of the other.

I just price the smalls as a single line item to the customer, no footage, no divulging whethere Im buying knives or not. In there is my knife cost, shipping, material, xx hours of shop time, and an hour for transaction/pickup/invoicing. They can love it or leave it. I dont break it down into elements they can question or nit-pick.

Not every sale is a good sale. You can't be all things to all people.

Thanks for everyone's responses, it helps.