How much to Charge for Computer Installation

[mn072065]

Some advice. I have a work place where they want to pay me to install 13 computers. All i have to do is take out of the box, place on table, install the Ethernet cable, run updates, that's it. They are all per-configured with windows 64. How much would you charge for a service like this. Thanks all.

[Cornucopia]

How much are they willing to pay you?
How much is your time worth?

ME, I'd probably charge $25/hr. How long it takes would depend on how long the updates take (though I would do a round-robin of setups & installs because you don't need to babysit every install). I would say a minimum would be 3-4 hours. BTW, "pre-configured" may not be what you think it is.
Do these people work on a domain? (more work) Do they expect all the apps to be ready-to-use (IOW, past "first run" setup BS)? (more work). What about drivers, including Printers? What about user logins? What about installation of AV & other anti-malware?

You see, you need to get more specifics from them. Plus, you'll probably need to document the inventory in some fashion.

Scott

[mn072065]

How much are they willing to pay you?
How much is your time worth?

ME, I'd probably charge $25/hr. How long it takes would depend on how long the updates take (though I would do a round-robin of setups & installs because you don't need to babysit every install). I would say a minimum would be 3-4 hours. BTW, "pre-configured" may not be what you think it is.
Do these people work on a domain? (more work) Do they expect all the apps to be ready-to-use (IOW, past "first run" setup BS)? (more work). What about drivers, including Printers? What about user logins? What about installation of AV & other anti-malware?

You see, you need to get more specifics from them. Plus, you'll probably need to document the inventory in some fashion.

Scott

thanks i see i need to do more homework.

[TreeTops]

There is no windows 64. Did you mean Win 7 64? New computers purchased recently will come with Win 8 and that will introduce a whole new ball game.

[mn072065]

No they bought it windows 7 64, they didn't want 8. Im gonna charge them $25 per hour, and take it from there, im looking online for a word template to create invoice for them.

[TreeTops]

I think they were smart sticking with Win 7 64.

[jman98]

I work in IT for a Fortune 500 company that I do not wish to name, but many of our US members will have heard of. Although it's not my job title, my current job is basically being a Linux System Administrator for one specific product that we sell. My job duties require me to get in touch with customers when they have access issues (our product is web based). I can tell you from my experience that if they don't know enough to install 13 PCs on their own, you are dealing with technological morons. I see this all the time in small offices. The product I support is actually targeted at small to mid sized companies and it seems to me that the smaller the office, the dumber they are with regards to technology. One time I actually talked to a customer who was so dumb she had no idea how to open any browser, not even Internet Explorer. The reason I mention this is that when you deal with people who are technologically stupid, they are going to have problems. After paying you to install their systems, you may get a lot more calls than you wish when the most piddly of issues occur. I could easily see you deeply regretting this job.

Also, you are selling yourself too low. Geek Squad would probably charge at least $75 an hour for this, maybe $100. My friends in IT who do this kind of stuff usually charge $100-125 an hour. In my opinion you should charge enough to make it painful for them so that they don't keep calling you for every piddly problem because they don't want to pay your fee for follow ups.