Realized I was underpricing drywall repair by about 40% after a buddy broke down his numbers

3 comments

3 Comments

Wait, did your buddy include all the hidden costs like gas, tool wear, and insurance? Numbers on paper always look different than real life. Those 40% margins can disappear fast when you factor in drive time and material runs. I've seen too many guys underbid and eat the difference. Maybe your buddy's numbers work for his area but not yours. Different markets have different overhead. What covers costs in one city might leave you broke in another. You gotta trust your own math over someone else's spreadsheet. If you're getting steady work and not losing money, your price is probably fine. Underpricing is bad but overcorrecting can kill your volume too.

owens.laura16d ago

My buddy's in Phoenix and I'm in Portland so that's a big part of it right there. His numbers work for him but our materials and labor costs are way different even if the job looks the same.

fionanguyen16d ago

Just nodding along to this whole thread. It's rough watching someone figure out the hard way that what works in one market doesn't always translate. Hope your buddy stays steady and doesn't stretch himself too thin trying to match your prices.