starting out, what should I charge?

[Tim Brennan]

Hi All,

I've been asked to do a small electrical job today, removal of a double socket and spur from a cupboard that they want to make into an En-suite, and an additional socket in the understair cupboard, where the CU is. (iwas planning to spur from the MCB for this) and a minor works cert.

I was thinking of charging £150.00 + vat, is that too much?

 

[Pete999]

Hi All,

I've been asked to do a small electrical job today, removal of a double socket and spur from a cupboard that they want to make into an En-suite, and an additional socket in the understair cupboard, where the CU is. (iwas planning to spur from the MCB for this) and a minor works cert.

I was thinking of charging £150.00 + vat, is that too much?

You would need 2 MNW certs 1 for the new socket and 1 for the removal of the other socket

 

[Midwest]

Hi All,

I've been asked to do a small electrical job today, removal of a double socket and spur from a cupboard that they want to make into an En-suite, and an additional socket in the understair cupboard, where the CU is. (iwas planning to spur from the MCB for this) and a minor works cert.

I was thinking of charging £150.00 + vat, is that too much?

I think I would be around the £150 mark, no vat though.

See your just starting out, but are charging vat. Do you think you will hit the vat threshold? Have you spoken to an accountant.

 

[davesparks]

Voluntarily registering for VAT when you are just starting out in domestics is not a good idea, it makes you more expensive than a lot of other people. If you quote £150+VAT and I quote £150 with no VAT then I'll be the cheaper quote.

 

[SparkyChick]

You would need 2 MNW certs 1 for the new socket and 1 for the removal of the other socket

I would issue 1 per circuit being worked on and just list the work carried out on that circuit. Have I been doing it wrong?

 

[Octopus]

Where in the UK are you? Location matters a great deal and what do other sparks around you charge.

As for VAT - why are you registered?

 

[SparkyChick]

His profile says Leicester

 

[telectrix]

i'm wondering about the vat as well, unless OP intends to do a fair bit for business clients. unlee he intends to claim all his VAT for van, tools etc., with the intention of de=registering a few months later, due to being below the vat threshold. ( that's what i did ).

 

[Pete999]

I would issue 1 per circuit being worked on and just list the work carried out on that circuit. Have I been doing it wrong?

If it's only 1 circuit being worked on then 1 MNW, if on the other hand the OP said he was taking the supply to the new socket in the way of a spur, he may find a spare way and opt for that way then an EIC is required for a new circuit

 

[Tim Brennan]

I am VAT registered, the job turned out to be removal of a ring feeding the one socket to be removed, then adding a spur at the DB. The ring I removed was doubled up in the MCB with original house ring. So in effect two rings on the one MCB. Anyway thats now been changed to the original ring and a spur from the MCB. So 1 circuit has been worked on, so just one MNW Cert?

 

[Pete999]

I am VAT registered, the job turned out to be removal of a ring feeding the one socket to be removed, then adding a spur at the DB. The ring I removed was doubled up in the MCB with original house ring. So in effect two rings on the one MCB. Anyway thats now been changed to the original ring and a spur from the MCB. So 1 circuit has been worked on, so just one MNW Cert?

How many sockets were on the ring you removed?

 

[Tim Brennan]

two double sockets next to each other.

 

[Pete999]

two double sockets next to each other.

2 twin sockets on 1 ring? Tim I'm sorry I can't get my head around what you are saying, don't mean to be funny, but it doesn't seem right to me, may be I'm missing something, but 2 twin sockets as a RFC seems a bit suspect.

 

[Tim Brennan]

yes.

 

[Octopus]

Why are you vat register?

 

[Tim Brennan]

because my company turnover is over the threshold for VAT.

 

[Tim Brennan]

Pete, it was just two double sockets with 2.5 T & E, running to them and back to the MCB. Like I say, there was not enough capacity in the CU so the previous guy had piggy backed these off the house ring final circuit, so there were 4 2.5 line cables in the MCB.
why do you think it was suspect?

 

[Octopus]

So where does just starting out fit in?

 

[Pete999]

Pete, it was just two double sockets with 2.5 T & E, running to them and back to the MCB. Like I say, there was not enough capacity in the CU so the previous guy had piggy backed these off the house ring final circuit, so there were 4 2.5 line cables in the MCB.
why do you think it was suspect?

Your reply earlier said you removed 1 ring, that was what was confusing

 

[Tim Brennan]

Hi Murdoch, i should have said starting out as an electrician, having recently retrained taking my part P exam, 17th ed, 2394 and 2395. I did C & G 236 about 30 years ago, but only do the odd bit of electrics.
I trade under my Ltd company name, but I also do other things, like IT support sales and installations, Concert touring as a Video engineer, and in my down time, I renovate houses, which is why I took the exams above so that i can sign off my own work.
I hadn't intended to do work for other people as an electrician because I have enough work as it is, but a builder mate asked me to do it as a favour short notice.
So that's why I was asking what sort of rates to charge.
Hope thats ok.