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From: simplykimm
Date: 04-28-2004, 11:28 AM (1 of 12)
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I got my first client. It's a dress for a 10 year old. Now, My concern is I don't think I charged her enough. She paid for all her fabric and notions which came up to about $58.00. I charging her $40.00. Was that okay or no? The dress is very simple with thin straps and a little shrug to match. Whoever is willing to talk numbers and not generally, please write me back. I love this site, but when it comes to pricing methods, nobody wants to talk actual numbers. Also, I charge a $25.00 consultation fee, should that go towards the cost of the project? and should I charge extra for altering a pattern to the clients size? I know I probably made alot of mistakes with this client, but I want know so that I'll have fewer mistakes in the future.
from to the one who shines.......
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User: simplykimm
Member since: 07-17-2003 Total posts: 13 
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From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 04-28-2004, 06:07 PM (2 of 12)
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Okay, $40 for this project might be a little low. When figuring your fees, don't even consider the cost of the fabrics, etc. It doesn't matter. You need to charge for the amount of work needed on a particular project. We all use varying formulas for figuring the cost of a project. Some use their hourly fee and estimate the number of hours it will take. Some use a "per pattern piece" formula. That's what I do. I started out charging $5.00 per pattern piece. These days I charge $10.00 per pattern piece, plus a consultation fee, plus a base fee (the more fittings, etc. required, the higher that base fee). For this girl, probably $25 to $50 base fee on top of the per pattern piece fee would be a way to go. This base fee will cover (or should cover) fittings, your time to adjust the pattern, your time to do a muslin fitting garment, if necessary, and so forth. I also charge to shop FOR or WITH a client. They pay for the fabric, etc, and then pay me for my time to shop. Some use a larger price for larger pattern piece and half that for smaller pattern pieces (facings, etc.) Most of us add extra if a lining is needed, or a underlining, and so forth. Usually that fee is half to three fourths the pattern piece fee. Some of us refund the consultation fee if we get the project. Others don't. You will have to decide which is better for your business. I hope I haven't confused you further. When you have time (soon!) sit down and figure out your fees, put them in writing (for your eyes only) and you will have a formula to go by for future projects. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: simplykimm
Date: 04-28-2004, 07:30 PM (3 of 12)
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Thanks alot Linda, I appreciate you being open about your prices. Your advice helped alot. from to the one who shines.......
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User: simplykimm
Member since: 07-17-2003 Total posts: 13
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From: paroper
Date: 04-28-2004, 08:31 PM (4 of 12)
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I like her fees..but if you are given a particularly difficult fabric, Sequins...will tear up your scissors and you'll replace a lot of needles, etc....chiffon, I had a surcharge. I also charged extra for lined garments (kinda falls under the price per pattern) and charged again if there was an interlining or overlay. I never bought any of the materials and worked strictly as a service...I never sold any goods, just the service. If the customer needed more, I gave them a list. I did sometimes exchange patterns (actually more often than not), but that was when most stores would do that. People often charge a per hour fee if there is hand beading involved.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Mrs Rabbit
Date: 07-12-2004, 06:34 PM (5 of 12)
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Hi! When I was looking to start up a part-time service from home, I got Kathleen Spike's book from library (which helped allot). In this she lists how long garments actually take to make (based on an average) and how to charge. You can also do a web search on charging, and how much others in your state charge. With lined garments, it is reasonable to charge 50% extra because of the double handling. I work on $12 per hour, which is fairly low, but I am just starting out, as such, I'd like the work to come in ... as I get a bigger client base, I'll start raising it. I specialise in Mending/Alterations, with Dressmaking as a sideline ... this means that I charge per item. HTH Jennifer |
User: Mrs Rabbit
Member since: 07-12-2004 Total posts: 10 
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From: MaryW
Date: 07-13-2004, 08:24 AM (6 of 12)
Hey Mrs. Rabbit, welcome to Sew Whats New.  Thanks for your input, the business of sewing is a lot more involved than it appears. You girls seem to have a good handle on things. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 07-13-2004, 12:05 PM (7 of 12)
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Oh, Mrs. Rabbit, you are right, you are not charging enough! Right now you should be charging at least $15.00 per hour. As you gain experience and speed, you can raise your rates. Many of us like to raise our rates at the same time each year (say, January 1). Even alterations require talent and expertize -- have you noticed that it can be easier to sew from scratch than do alterations? Yesterday it took me *&%#$$# amount of time to UNSTITCH before I could STITCH! AARGH |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: MarciaK
Date: 07-15-2004, 01:24 AM (8 of 12)
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Alterations are the way to go! I'm finding that folks don't want to pay for a custom made special occasion dress, BUT they will pay a lot of money to buy that dress from a store, and need alterations. I work in the alterations department of a large bridal store and I think their charges can be outrageous, but the price is the price. I have just received permission from the town where I live to place a sign out front and start my own business. There's no way that I will compete with the store because their volume is huge, but I'd like for a little if that to come my way. I'll just have to see what the market will bear. I do live 40 miles from my job, and it's a rural community. I'm blessed with an embroidery machine, also. Wish me luck! |
User: MarciaK
Member since: 02-06-2004 Total posts: 32
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From: MaryW
Date: 07-15-2004, 06:05 AM (9 of 12)
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MarciaK, good luck to you. I'm sure you will do fine. I was not allowed to post a sign in front of my house, no matter what it said. The neighbors wouldn't have it and we lived way out in the boonies. I actually had bylaw officers come to my house, tell me to take the sign down, then check back to be sure I wasn't running any sort of business from my home. Everyone against the wall! I told him to come in and he could arrest anyone that was sewing or buying fabric. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: paroper
Date: 07-15-2004, 07:27 AM (10 of 12)
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Wow! I was allowed to have a sign as long as it was in the pasture. I posted a small one near my door. I did not employ anyone. People came and went from my house on a pretty regular basis. I would have entire wedding parties (bride, bridesmaids, boyfriends, mothers, children, etc.) come to my house at one time and the officials did not care. The major thing was that I did not sell anything but my services. That took away a lot of issues with license. I checked multiple times with zoning regulators, etc., it just wasn't a problem. Although I lived 21 miles from the epicenter of Oklahoma City, I was within city limits, so I was under pretty strict regulatory rules for other things but the city didn't care about this type of business.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 07-16-2004, 01:02 PM (11 of 12)
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About those signs: In my city there is no problem with having a small discreet sign on the front of your house. For those of you who do have that problem, maybe you could use a decorative flag out front -- one that features a spool of thread or sewing machine -- no words. I'm sure there are hobby sewists who might also display such a flag. On the other hand, let's not court trouble here, so even a flag might not be a good idea after all. When your business takes off, you won't need any signage at all -- word of mouth will bring people in! |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: Mrs Rabbit
Date: 07-17-2004, 12:18 AM (12 of 12)
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Thanks for your input .. I started on $12/hr, because that works out to $1/5mins ... easy math!! Most of the work, I quote on, and include the cost of notions/thread in that. Thought I'd raise the price/hr in either January or July depending on how it is going. I'm not out to make millions, just pin money I guess ... in the last 6 weeks, I've earnt enough money to pay for a course on running a hobby business course (will be taking that in August), get interfacing/notions for supplies, and a full length mirror for fittings, plus the occasional sewing magazine here and there. I guess I'm after it to be self sufficient. Any other money I earn is also put into the sewing fund - look upon it as start up capital! Occasionally I get a basket of ironing that needs doing, and I clean a friend's home once a week during term time. One good thing is that I'm sewing for myself again (been a long time) and am really enjoying it. Cheers Jennifer |
User: Mrs Rabbit
Member since: 07-12-2004 Total posts: 10
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