I am trying to keep track of my cost of materials and having difficulty. I only make small stuff, but I use every scrap I can. I have an inventory of all my materials, (lumber and hardware) but would like a way to figure out what I use, cost of materials and keep track of labor. This is probably something others have dealt with. I was thinking of putting together an Excel spreadsheet but am not sure where to start.
Has anyone done this? Any suggestions? I don’t have the funds available to buy a program and I don’t make large stuff, so that wouldn’t be cost effective, at this time.
Anyone want to share? Thanks.
Robin
Replies
I do this all the time. First I do a materials (lumber) estimate, and add 20% overage.
Then I do the hardware and finish estimate. Lastly, I do a rough estimate on the time. I present this to the client, and if they're agreeable, I ask for a prepayment of at least enough to cover the wood. Figure in special bits or blades too.
I keep track of my time on a time sheet that I fill in every day. I usually figure $15.00 an hour for shop time which will cover electricity, sandpaper, and my labor. Keep your time sheet handy so you won't forget to fill it in every day.
For small stuff of less than 8 hours of shop time, I usually go with $100 labor + materials.
Aloha,
If you have Excel you may have Access which is a better way to keep track of data. It takes some getting used to however, if you've never used a database. They do have some premade databases included with it. My copy is an old one, Access 97 but back in the old days when I was still working, I was quite profficient with it. Glad to help out if you do have the software.
Actually, right after I posted this, I remembered that most windows computers come with a copy of MS Works included. There is a database in there. Although I've never used it, I assume it is a lot like Access. glad to help out on that software too.
Edited 7/20/2005 7:19 pm ET by Dan
I agree with Dan, a database is very efficent and easy to relate clients, materials, payments and great for querying your data and stuffing the data into a report.
I may also beable to help you in this area
Garry
http://www.superwoodworks.com
I once figured out a bid on a large office cabinet job. Material, time, profit, travel, the whole nine yards. Didn't really want the job so I figured what the heck and doubled the bid. I was the only one that turned in a bid and won the job by default. When done, they asked me to do all their remaining jobs.
Over the course of the next several years, those jobs put my 4 kids through college, put braces in their mouths, and got them cars to drive.
Oh yeah, this was my night and weekend job. I had a regular 8-5 office job.
Now, my kids whine about their one day job! Gees! They don't get much sympathy from me.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
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