Bid Breakdown HOW I BID A SIGN JOB (Normally Patreon Exclusive)

[@bmlennox]

If some people think $100/hr is way too high they may want to consider the real cost of running a business-they might be shocked when they find out how much it is!! for example just wild guesses monthly costs might be: shop rental $ 3000?, utilities $400, internet/phone/alarm $150,vehicle lease $400, vehicle gas/mtce $300, vehicle insurance $100, business insurance $200, tool capital/depreciation $300, emp medical $400, plus???? total $5250 per month did I miss anything?? so the first 50 hrs per month is just to break even! these costs exist even if you take vacation so most small business owners take very little vacation. depending on the city it may be quite hard to find a shop rental for $3000/ month. Keep up the good work!

[@TheImprovementChannel]

It is easy to assume that after you have your CNC, supporting equipment and tools paid for that costs are low when they are really not. Thank you for making me the sign and breaking down the costs. This is very interesting and helpful for business owners as well as customers to understand the real cost of things built by hand. You are a very smart and talented individual, thank you for taking the time to help me with my channel and for the awesome sign!!!

[@makapalatrace8385]

The Improvement Channel I’d like to see you improve your logo to something more realistic. No offense but if I hadn’t checked out your channel I’d have assumed it to be a kids channel. js

[@TheImprovementChannel]

MaKaPaLa Trace just keeping it simple. Love to have you as a subscriber but if you are not interested that is not a problem.

[@jasonransdell1647]

My wife and I are starting a business, we purchased a CNC plasma cutter, welders and so on. We are going to be doing all kinds of different signs and jobs. This is really helpful for us to get started and what to charge. We have been struggling with this because we really don't know. We really love your channel and the help you provide everyone. I'm definitely going to be helping you out for $5 a month. Keep up the great work

[@troypaul2367]

I appreciate you sharing this. The opportunity to build a layered sign has not come up yet, but I've definitely learned some things from your processes. All my life I've noticed that people I've been around have been hesitant (if not unwilling) to talk and share actual financial numbers. It means a lot to me that you would give these details to help out those of us new to the cnc plasma business or just struggling to make some headway.

[@42Fab]

I've noticed the same. It's never really bothered me if people know how much money I make, I guess it goes with years of deciding to live my life for what I want for me and mine rather than what the world wants of me. There are always things to keep to yourself but "here's how you sell a thing at a fair price while also making a fair wage" isn't one of them in my book

[@kestergascoyne6924]

Thanks man. Becoming a patron seems like a steal for a beginner like me. Strongly considering it.

[@GotItMade]

I was eager to watch this and see how other folks approach one of the most difficult aspects of running a shop (for me anyway). When folks start as a hobby the novel excitement of making a do-dad for someone seems to offset the "fair market" price. Getting stuck in that sphere becomes a burden when more and more jobs come along. I always hate to see something that is priced way less than I know it is worth. I also hate seeing folks under-value their talent. You know the maker is losing and probably doesn't even realize it yet. It also makes it difficult to compete when the overhead of "I do this for a living" is present. Thanks for sharing your insight.

[@alternativeperception6949]

People don't realise when you do cheap work it attracts clients you will NEVER make a living from , once you set out low balling yourself you will struggle to up your price. Its really hard to get right especially starting out in business

[@ryantheentrepreneur4040]

Thanks for the information!

[@Kevin.L_]

Thanks for the insight.

[@Machin3Mad3Man]

Great video, what was the piece of equipment you had on the sheet that you dialled up to 100? Hard to see on a phone screen... at 2:00 thank you, keep up good work, ive started a project for my son after watching your LED signs 👍🏻👍🏻💪🏻

[@42Fab]

That was the 240V Garage Heater from NewAir

[@danielcofer3325]

I was literally watching your previous video and was curious what all you offered with the patreon package and then this comes out, lol. Love your videos, been watching for the last year or so and want to say thanks for all your videos!! I make random signs on the side from my usual job as a metal fabricator and I always refer back to your vids for any helpful tips. I’m pretty sure our shops plasma is used by me on the side more than actual jobs through the company 🤣

[@42Fab]

Yeah, patreon is this for every project, some of the ones that are only on Instagram, monthly Google hangout, and a bit of behind these scenes. Good to hear you're getting a fringe benefit at work, got pictures of your signs?

[@danielcofer3325]

42Fab - Metal Fabrication & Signage yep. Not sure how to share them to you?

[@42Fab]

[e-mail] or instagram

[@KSKS37]

Great info bud, I’ve been struggling with pricing my work, I’ll be a patron as soon as budget allows. I wonder if I could charge customers for KZbin research.

[@42Fab]

no worries dude, I'd rather see you upgrade a tool or put the money toward experimenting with a new process

[@KSKS37]

42Fab - Metal Fabrication & Signage cheers pal, just got a tig for myself instead of using the one at work, first step to being my own boss

[@maspower101]

can you do a video on what program you use to design with and how you do it? im getting into cnc plasma cutting and just like hearing what everyone uses.

[@42Fab]

I use Corel draw for my 2d work and fusion 360 for 3d. I have a live stream playlist with some videos

[@lsellclumanetsolarenergyll5071]

Nice video. You calculate a bit different from what we do but close.

[@konstaterava7367]

I get coupler nuts locally for 9.99€/kg from one place and in another place they're like 0.70€ a piece

[@TheGarageEngineer]

Thanks for the good info. Doesnt overhead and profit need to be concidered in the bid or is that blended into the shop rate?

[@42Fab]

I touched on that briefly at the end. of my $100 hourly rate, about 40% when we're busy, climbing to 50% in slower periods is overhead. I prefer to make sure jobs meet my hourly rate, which I know will cover my costs, pay my guys, and pay me, rather than try to build that in to each project via some spreadsheet or something. If I hit my rate, I'm good.

[@Ty_Conway]

Has covid affected business for you this year? I own a fab shop but I mainly only built parts for subarus. Aftermarket parts and always had orders backed up for months. So no shortage in work. Now covid killed that business for me so I'm searching for new work to do. Im located close to Birmingham Alabama. I have an Arclight Arcmax 5x10 plasma table and I've been trying to market to sell more cnc signs. How are you selling the larger signs to businesses? I've only sold one and it was a friend who made the sell for me. Its been hard selling just small signs as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also I paid my property / shop off and have a good location so I basically have no overhead. If I did I would be out of business as of now. I've followed your channel for a while and you have helped a lot so far just when I started looking into using my table to make signs instead of car parts. Thanks in advance.

[@42Fab]

Covid slowed us some but not terrible. You may get something from the bid breakdowns we do over on patreon.com/42fab as far as sales channels go. Takes time to build your name

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Very neet video

[@jimijoe6432]

Even at 5 bills you're leaving money on the table. You also need to factor in your facility costs, and the value of being a reliable conduit to a final product/ solution. A legit sign shop would get upwards of 750 for a single side metal sign all day long, take it or leave it.

[@adambergendorff2702]

great video!

[@mannyfilmsinc]

Great video. I am not familiar with stud welders, what brand/model is the stud welder you are using ? do you order the threaded rod pieces or you make them.. thanks so much

[@42Fab]

You order the studs. The machine is the truweld tw-i 321

[@jessefrost3853]

Thanks for the video! I teach a manufacturing business class at the high school level. I will share this with my students. What kind of stud welder are you using?

[@42Fab]

Tru weld twi321

[@rodneycassidy6037]

Just priced 14 ga hot rolled today $198. Yikes

[@42Fab]

I know

[@burmy1552]

You must be here in California. I wanna move to Texas. It's $100 a sheet there.

[@dennispope8160]

I noticed you said you used 14ga hot rolled, I feel like in previous videos you’ve used cold rolled. Any preference or reason on hot vs cold rolled?

[@42Fab]

Cold means less prep work for powder coating, cuts a bit easier. Had hot rolled on hand though

[@johnsabarese7103]

Thanks I think I need to up my rate. I only charged $170 for the stuff you saw the other day

[@42Fab]

definitely

[@jarodmorris611]

I first noticed the while big product = big price, small product = l process with kid's shoes. Sure j it's less material, but it had always seemed like sewing them and gluing would be harder but peons think they shouldn't cost anywhere close to the office for adult shoes. (This ignores the actual cost of shoes manufactured by Nike and the insane markup)

[@weldmachine]

It,s good of you to take time out of your day, to help others. But i guess it,s a case of what goes around comes around. A job i prefer not to do. Paper work ?? Quotes and Invoices ????

[@sheldonstanley7145]

🕺🏿