ORIGINAL: nctaxi
I guess it could be interpreted that way but let me explain... I live in an area with 3 community colleges that have taxidermy courses. Therefore there are a lot of taxidermists in my immediate area. Most, if not all, have good intentions but don't understand basic business, which means that they charge sometimes absurdly low prices. Now I had to decide early on if I wanted to be one of those guys or try really hard to make a name for myself, so I studied further with some top notch, world class taxidermists. I am fortunate to call most of them friends, now. And if there is one thing that they all taught me, figure your time and expenses (all of them) and then figure your profit and that will give you your price. I have guys that charge, at last check, $165 all the way up to $500, with the average being $275. (Being in NC we have the current Best in World Whitetail - Tommy Hall, current National Champion Whitetail - Keith Bowman, National Champion Gameheads - Chris Barnhardt, National Champion Birds - Mark Benfieldand a few other really good taxidermists, sorry but I had to brag). Why do some guys think that they can make any money at $275? I have on good authority that one of the largest suppliers is going up 20% on lifesize mannikins and a good percent on all others. Now with current shipping costs, electric, advertising, paints, etc (ALL the things that go into a whitetail shoulder mount) you come up with a grand total of right around $150 (some might be more, some less). So after this the have a grand total of $125 to work with. So let's say that it takes 10 hours to mount a deer, they're making $12.50 an hour right? Wrong, remember basic business 101. Where is their profit? Using this math, they are only covering basic business expense and as such are not going to be in business very long. Guys pop up burn out by the dozens every year. I wish everyone could afford to have something mounted but I can't cut my prices to accomodate them. I don't think that some people shouldn't be able to afford it, but some can't affordupper end.It's no different than hunting, some guys can afford to spend $8,500 to hunt mulies, I can't but maybe I can afford $1500. Am I going to get the same experience (quality), maybe not. Am I going to enjoy it just the same, hopefully.
I conquer 100%..
If you want to be successful its not just you doing outstanding work,in excelenttime,and offering an outstanding warranty and providing great service..
Ultimately whats going to keep you in business is money being brought in......
My dadcharges $175.00per hour for his accounting services and bills just his book-keepers out at $85.00/hour..I'm not sure about the accountants are billed out at,but I would imagine somewhere around what he charges for himself....
I've never seen any Lawyers bill themselves out at less than 200 an hour and often its in the thousands.......
First year Apprentices in our shop start at $14.00 an hour and are being billed at out $30/hour....
Journeyman carpenters and glaziers employed by are company,make looking at $35.00 to 40.00 per hour and are being billed at $65-70/hour..
Successful companies run on making profit,, and your just taking food out of your kids mouths and sooner or later you'll be living in a cardboard box down by the river if anyone thinks they can get clients (through advertising and location), keep clients( by still maintaining maintain quality and service) and STILL STAY IN BUSINESS by ripping yourself off by not charging enough,just so you can undercut the competitor...
Bottem line, don't work for free, if you have the skill the knowledghe the experience but you don't have business intelligence, (and alot of people out there are like this,I know I not the only one
) work for someone but don't go cheep......
Your doing yourself a huge huge diservice by doing so.....