Ruminations on fees
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So I have been trying to pick up some side work, building GBBs for people I have met on the forums. It has been really exciting to be recognized for the work I have done on my own guns, as well as the way I comport myself on the forums, but now I am running into the problem of how and what to charge for work.
I keep getting asked to do work on budgets that don't allow the client to actually receive a gun I would be proud to deliver to them, and which allows me very little room for any profit. I don't want to be a capitalist pig, but I am not doing this entirely out of just general good will, I would like to make some money for the work I put in.
Right now I am charging a labor fee (ranges from $10 for basic install work, or general tuning to $60 for installation of a metal body), but that is it, everything else is full disclosure to the client. Now I think this works well, since everything is in the clear, fully transparent. But I am unsure if I am charging enough, or too little. From what I have seen, my costs are in line with what some other people are doing, but yet I keep having to turn down work because they can't afford my fees. Maybe I need to just be willing to not make as much money to get more of my work out there. Either way it is great that I can actually make a few bucks and get to indulge my hobby. Nice to get the chance to build a new custom gun, and then not only not lose any money on it, but make something.
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