5 best Secrets to charge big money doing upholstery 

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Very good advise. My biggest problem, regardless of what I was doing, is pricing my work. I think it's because I grew up with very little and so to me, something that is expensive at $300 is often $200 or more under market value. I also think it's why a lot of service type businesses fail. People price their service with a razor thin margin to try and beat the competition and get all the work they can but end up frustrated and depressed because they aren't making a good living so they quit.

Love your videos. I've wanted to do upholstery, but never did but I enjoy the professional and detailed work you do. I have had a few businesses. I used to have a embroidery shop, a Sign Shop and now I have a machine shop and metal Fab shop. I have a couple signs in my shop, one says " CHEAP THINGS ARE OF NO VALUE, AND VALUABLE THINGS ARE NOT CHEAP" Another says, "WE SELL TIME, AND WITH THAT TIME WE PROVIDE A SERVICE..AND FOR THAT SERVICE, WE ARE COMPENSATED" I did a small welding job for a fella. I never let customers watch me work, but this guy was on his way out of town. I welded up an aluminum bracket. When I finished, he asked how much he owed me. I said, "Sixty dollars.. Then he replied, "WOW!, it only took you a couple of minutes!" I said, "you're not paying for the time, you're paying for the knowledge." I told him my welder wasn't free, my welding supplies aren't free......I have to pay for them . I tell them, this isn't a Flea Market, my prices are non negotiable. People in business say, "I could never get those kind of prices" And I say...."Did you ask?" Always enjoy your videos, keep them up. I think I've watched about all of them.

I have done a few motorcycle seats in my day as well, undercharging. Wish I could sell my quilts using your expertise.

It can be very hard to price yourself when starting out ; you just want any old work . This is very good advice for everyone .

NOT upholstery but paint jobs for me. Waaaay back when I was doing it as a side gig I started out at $20....raised to $50....then $100.... This was a complete paint job... they had to have the body work done, sanded etc. and provide the paint I told them to get. I made a LOT of extra money and paid for the shop I put up JUST for providing labor to paint cars and trucks.

EXACTLY, AND A TRUE PROFESSIONAL KNOWS THEIR WORTH

A craftsman knows what his work is worth. I never go with the lowest estimate: great video Rudy.

REALLY REALLY good advice , I only wish my bank manager had told me this 50 years ago ! or anyone else for that matter , here in England it seems as though it’s almost rude to talk about money ! . When I first started out I had no idea and no one wanted to advise me , stupidly I charged customers what I actually wanted to earn per hour ! now I ‘ guesstimate ‘ at four times what I want to earn per hour and this works out fine most of the time , and surprise surprise sometimes I also get a tip as well ! ALL NEWBIES TAKE NOTE OF THIS GOOD ADVICE AS OTHERWISE YOU ARE DOING HANDWORKERS A DISSERVICE .

3:59 I always adhere to a “NOT to EXCEED” price strategy. The client knows he won’t pay a penny more. This is one reason I always have all 5-star reviews.

Thanks so much, I should do this in my business. People say I undercharge! I should be charging more!

Giving a price without seeing the project is like a Doctor diagnosing a patient and dispensing meds without giving an exam first- it is malpractice- and you wouldn't want to work with that sort of person, would you? Thanks for your tips, Really enjoy hanging out as you complete you projects and share your knowledge Rudoplh.

Great informative video as always. I think also what the deposit does for the upholsterer is you get the customer to commit to the job. That way you don't order materials and supplies and then they leave you standing at the altar.😂

🤑 Awesome!!

6:42 I tell my clients that the 50% deposit is to reserve their “Creation Day”, in other words, that block of time is reserved for me to work on, to create THEIR project.

Thank you for the confidence booster. Keep the videos coming. 👍

Thanks for your great advice I really appreciate

This is very valuable information for certain, I am 7 years into upholstery and for the most part I have given my work away, I have learned the " I feel sorry for you " rates do not keep the bills paid

I wished I lived closer to you Rudy, I'd have you do the front seats in my truck. Thank you for sharing your knowledge my friend! Jay.

Great advices! 👏👏 I do not have an upholstery shop, or deal with clients, but I always enjoy listening to professionals 👍👍👍

Thank you for the valuable insight buddy!!

Thank you for all advices it is very helpful and well explained when I started upholstery I didn’t know I still don’t know how much to charge but little by little I have learn some prices thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experience.

I attended Upholstery school back in 1978 in Idaho. I did a few projects over the years. I worked at processing plants and as a truck driver for the benefits. Now retired and son and I are working on a 97 Dodge. Mom gets to do the headliner. I am wondering about the fabric you choose , fabric on foam. would that fail like the originl did. seperating and falling down?

Very useful, thanks for posting.

Keep up with the good advice. We're loving it' Top man..

Very helpful, the half down for deposit is golden

I'm in the same biz you can tell sometimes if a customer is not gonna like the price

You don't get paid what it is worth as it is! You should get paid good for your hard work. Thank you for the good advise!

Customer here... watching for how to get charged less

Great video. I have been doing this since I opened shop a year ago. I would add that this is a skilled labor. Every area is a little different on pricing structure. I would look around in your targeted market for labor rates. If you plan to work on cars go to auto repair shops and see what there labor rates are, If you plan to work on boats do the same for the local marina or boat yard. Also some commercial customers will want a wholesale rate. for example if your rate is $130 maybe offer $100 to the shops.

Some good information, if you do good work charge for it. Some folks never really master this trade so they end up doing subpar work and charge accordingly. I'd add never get into a price war, the customer wins, you don't. Folks will tell me so and so will do it for this much, I suggest that they get them to do it, and often they will still want us to do the work. Pricing can vary depending on your overhead, how much competition you have and as mentioned your skillset. Do the best work you can, maybe through a little extra for no charge that makes a difference too. It's always better to get more then you expected than less. We do accept credit cards and I generally just figure that into the estimate. So many folks just don't use cash or checks these days it's almost a requirement. Plus in some states you can't charge an extra fee.

Thank you. I need this information. Mark Tennessee

❤ thanks. Been struggling with pricing I’ve been under pricing for years.

Hi your advice is very helpful to me I make doses mistake already people are looking for the lowest possible price but the work is hard.

Great comments and experiences here! You should read some of these, I recommend it!

Thank you so much for all these nice videos !! I'd like to meet you some day !! I have a shop here in Taylor Texas.

Thanks!

thanks so much. i want to retire from my day job and do upholstery. im retirement age. wifey and i have a few prodjects under our belts and in a possition to charge more. its hard for me to do but i cant work for nothing helps build that confidence watching your vid.

Your videos are much appreciated by me. I hate to criticize at all, but the car slide show in the background distracts me from what you are saying. I hope this comment does not cause you offense.

2:28 Never sell out of YOUR wallet - you don’t really know what the client can afford. Also, raise your prices 10% per year and let the low-paying clients fall off the bottom.

Awesome advice

Thanks for the advice. Can you make a video on what thread 🧵 you like to use. For car and furniture upholstery, and for marine as well. Or if you use the same for everything. Thanks I’m advance

Great video and info now I feel so much better about priceing I work out of my house and people want me to be cheap drives me nuts

So I guess I'm doing things right even though sales are slow

I would like to see a video with you showing various jobs and how much that job would cost . Thanks again enjoy your videos and am learning a lot. Another question, have you ever done many tufting jobs?

Good way to operate Sir.... WhatsApp pics helps me to filter out work I may not want to do...that way I don't waste time meeting the client ....I'm kinda fortunate I can cherry pick at my age....good $$$$ can be earned after a few years experience which brings confidence (and clients can detect that confidence in you which also makes them confident they'll get a good job done)....MOST important requisite to getting a good price imo is not to need the job in the first place!!!!!! because if you're anxious to get the job you'll be scared to quote sufficiently in case the client walks away......

Sadly, that "trick" up charging at pickup is common everywhere. We don't do it either. I think it's dishonest. Thanks for the videos.

Thank you that is one of my problems. But I also have the problem that people want to come to help me to do their car

Thank you for all the helpful videos!! I’m trying to watch all of them. I’m curious if upholstery shops offer any warranties?

Thank you for your Videos I've learned alot. I'm thinking I'll give a 4% discount for cash. And price for credit. That way it looks like your getting a deal.

I have held to the thought that you are priced exactly right if you win half of all the bids you put out. If you win 100% of the bids you are obviously underpriced.

Check? Lol Yes, I take them too. Still don't like being stuck in the grocery line behind THAT lady.

why didn't i find your page sooner

much respect,may I ask if there is such apprenticipe program to learn upholstery?

In your video, you say you let people know they have to bring in the item they want worked on before you can quote them a price. If they email you a photo of the item for a price quote is that acceptable?

Adjusting prices is always difficult for me. If course we have to cover costs. All costs. But the padding it, capitalism part is hard for anyone who comes from a "poor kid" background. That takes practice too.

How much do you try to net per hour?

We have our upholstery business in Kentucky .Can't believe how busy we are .I give a high and a low price .I use that to cover me .We only do furniture and cushions .Some of the companies around here are a year out on work.Not sure how to do this with phone .and Text messages with giving estimates and how far out we are .I have no idea .

What's your current shop rate per hour?

Have customers take a picture or video and text it to you.

Wow 4% for using card . I live in sweden here is no cash and card payment is free

Where’s Your place located at?

Don't say it's customary, say it's policy.

Yep keep charging more and more and you get less and less business... No wonder most Upholstery shops are out of business within the year or 2

That sounds pretty bad that you're trying to get every single dollar out of your customers that you can lol I would work in that 4% credit card charge into the price. Y'all accept checks? Not many people accept checks even though this is a year old video

my father had two rules in business when making a deal, He who speaks first loses, and you can always lower your price, but you can't raise it

Great timing on your video .. I just picked up a 49 Cadillac limousine project and I’m going this week to look at the interior and give the customer a price . I have a ball park material price in my head and will see what is involved to price this project.. thank you again for some sound advice 🙋‍♂️

Love yiur videos and your RU-vid channel. I would like to get in touch with you if that is possible. Either by phone. Emails....etc. Sam