reasonable rate to charge friends for service ?

people I know would rather someone they trust do it  and expect to pay
knowing they're not getting ripped off & especially if they can get a receipt
Some easy others get lucky for problems , I'm thinking 1/2hr min ?
what's the going rate these days ?

Maybe i should start a poll ? tia & regards Greg

If they are good friends, I'll do it for a decent bottle of wine. Other wise, yes, 1/2 min charge even if it only takes 10 mins.

For me it depends on the friend, service, deadline, budget, expected versus actual time, risk/reward, opportunity, and things like that.

I like to think of the people I work with as friends and as an equitable exchange as protection of that friendship from both sides.

Start bringing money, expectations, dreams, and friends together and I think extreme care should be taken transparency practiced.

Maybe a rate of 1/2 normal and they give you a rate of 1/2 normal for an equal amount of time doing what they do.

If we're talking ten minutes or 1/2 HR then it's not really that big of a deal in the big picture. Charge full rate with maybe 10% discount for automatic negotiation. That rate usually sticks for repeat business though.

If it's a project's worth of work then it's time to talk a little deeper with transparency as far as expectations, deliverables, etc...

My $0.02

-jb

No matter how good  of friends you are when your pay is banana's, people treat you like a monkey.

pucho812 said:

No matter how good  of friends you are when your pay is banana's, people treat you like a monkey.

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unfortunately i couldn't agree more, but if it's really good friends i guess a bottle of wine, or a dinner is more appropriate.
But isn't there a phrase that says: "Don't let money squabbles ruin a friendship", i'll charge a 200 bucks then, good guys are rare these days ;D....

One of the troubles being , I could easily become too busy just doing stuff for friends
for sure , if they're not in a hurry , i fit it in when i can , then it takes up space , cases open
waiting for parts . or busy with nothing to show for it .

What are " standard " or average service rates these days ?

I work lots for friends and acquaintances - it's a small town, and loads of my mates are musicians, so it's unavoidable.

I tell my friends my 'normal' rate, then knock off a chunk as 'mate's rates' - maybe 20% off, or there abouts.

What goes around comes around, and if they have a trade, I expect the same in return, so I now get good prices for plumbing, and discounts at a couple of shops.

If it's a close friend and a very small job, I'll do it for fun, or beer, or just cost the parts.

And if a close friend forgets to pay, I try to remember that friends are more important than money.

pucho812 said:

No matter how good  of friends you are when your pay is banana's, people treat you like a monkey.

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Wise words.  And I'll add to that  - your own motivation level will often follow the pay scale.

zebra50 said:

And if a close friend forgets to pay, I try to remember that friends are more important than money.

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Even wiser words...

Double. Your friends should support you right?  ;D

And it's probably also worth saying that big organisations are FAR worse at paying up than friends and other real people. 

zebra50 said:

And it's probably also worth saying that big organisations are FAR worse at paying up than friends and other real people. 

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Thats why they are big........they hold on to your hard earned cash until the last second to earn penny pinching interest


Different case when you owe them !

  And I'll add to that  - your own motivation level will often follow the pay scale.

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sure , if it's easy or obvious whip it out of the way quick , but the tough ones can get a little resentful

And if a close friend forgets to pay, I try to remember that friends are more important than money.

Even wiser words...

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If they're real friends they will also have some understanding that you have a life as well , and business
for the most part people have been good , and want to pay , I just have to come up with a fair figure .

I have an auto mechanic i go to , good guy , busy and hard to get a hold of, But he talks me out of work, just as often
as he recommends it . I trust him and never question how much he charges because I don't want to lose this connection
that i appreciate ,