In general, how much do backyarders charge for a board over the cost of materials. is it a percentage of cost or fixed? reason i’m asking is I have two friends who want me to make them boards and repair some of their off the rack boards. (one snapped in half) any ide if I should even charge them? should I charge them taking me to the beach next time we go and buying me lunch? I just don’t feel right charging but they insist. Maybe a barter system?
Cost of materials for good friends… Family free
i’ve been payin them to let me make them a board. i’ve been given the opportunity to make a dozen boards that way. great hobby and get to learn a ton.
Both my friends have finally come to the realization that pop-outs blow chunks. they are bugging me constantly to make them hand made boards. I will do the shaping but take them to a glasser on account of I suck at glassing. Thay also want boards that no one else will have. I think they got fed up with people bragging about brands. I personally think this is a huge compliment to me. this will be the first contract work I’ve ever done. One wants an 11" noserider the other wants a 6’2" shortboard/fish (not sure yet). Since these are two VERY different boards, it will give me alot of learning experience. I think Ill do them free of charge (they buy materials) because I don’t want to dissapoint them and have them complain later. Also, I am going to have them sit in my shaping room and force them to watch and tell me what they want. (I got my school to loan out an art studio for shaping while i’m at college and away from home shaping room) The school even said that if I can get 10 others interested, I can make a surfboard shaping club, and if 25+ are interested, I can make it an elective class. (non credit)
sounds like a lot of fun and a great opportunity. a swaylock swell group, i mean cell group. i would think if you can cover some costs for construction then your doin’ good. if you cover ALL your costs, your probably doin’ too good.
I anticipate losing about $10 - $15 a board in throw away materials. so, they will each buy me lunch on separate occasions to cover that lost cost and the cost of my time. although that toals to my time being worth about $.05/hour. Wow, im cheap labor. O BTW… if anyone is interested, Wlagreens has a 6 pack of plastic haired brushes for $1 I used them on my skimboard and not one hair was shed. I loved them so I went back and bought 20 packs of them. the 6 pack has the following… 2", 2x 1 1/2", 2x 1", 2x 1/2", 1x 1/4". Also, there are gatorade soft coolers for $.83 (normally 3.50). so, if you are on your way home, got o walgreens and go to the supervalue section and look for red handles brushes w/ black bristles and orange gatorade soft coolers.
The walgreens website hasnt been updated… the ones I got look just like these except they were in a 6 pack.
Us aussie have a standard formaula for charging family and close friends:
materials+consumables+carton of beer=total charges
-doug
I guess then ill charge the following
Materials + consumables + Food (im underage and dont drink) = total charge
Sounds right to me 
To be more accurate, I only charge for materials and consumables where I have to buy some OR they are expensive.
The beer comment should get across the idea - you are nice to people they are nice to you. I never ask friends or family for anything, they usually want to invite me for dinner or dinks or whatever. If they insist on giving me money or something I say “buy me a couple of beers and we’ll call it quits”.
-doug
aight… ill only charge what I have to buy and go out to mcdonalds or something with them buying. I guess that is really good advice, dont charge friends and family. Maybe, if enough friends want boards ill call them “team riders” …lol. Worst team ever.
Quote:
Us aussie have a standard formaula for charging family and close friends:
materials+consumables+carton of beer=total charges
-doug
I subtitute ‘beer’ for good quality legrope , or one of those thicker nylon drawstring board bags…
but usually end up behind , in terms of labour [time spent on the board spraying glassing and sanding .]
But then , I’ve only done a couple for friends…
bena
Hey bena!
You have the spirit right… Maybe the Hawiians on here might say its a bit aloha - you do it out of the goodness of your heart. Whatever you have to buy (or an expensive resource you have in stock), it’s only fair to pass that cost on. And if they are close friends or family I don’t think they will just let you pump effort into it with appreciating it and showing their appreciation in some way. I have done all kinds of work for friends and family (often saving them thousand of AU$) and never actually asked for anything… Sometimes I have had to turn down money and say “buy me a couple of beers (or invite us around for a BBQ) and we are even”.
Karma? Dunno - but what you send out into the world comes back to you.
-doug
I charge the Aussie standard. Mike
Some other things people don’t realise about making a board for someone else apart from time and materials is electricity, wear and tear on tools, cleaning and consumables.
Be it a carton, cask, BBQ or a bottle of scotch, the Aussie way is to share what you get with everyone concerned. Sort of like a christening celebration.
Good friends, common interests and plenty of fun…
Well said, Hicksy. What does Chip say? “Share the Stoke.” Mike
gulp …guilty …
I probably owe like $1000aus in electricity bills Hickster ?
now… WHAT kinda beer / champage / vintage wine did ya say ya liked ?!
ben
Howzit?!? I’ve been a backyarder for most of my life. When people ask me “how much?”, I always say “$1,000.00” Got close a few times, still waiting for the big one to bite. Aloha…RH
Good friends never charge, never ever and don’t ever feel in debt to me. EVER (sound of foot stamping!!!)
It’s the hangers on, the cousin of a friend of a mate that you expect a small donation from…
Any sway I meet here is an instant friend…except for that Crazywainanae bloke…
Wait for it…
…did you get a pm from him / her too ?
“cease and desist” …what a joke!! as if I’d even bother reading a pm with THAT for a title hahahah
interesting that that person has just very recently registered , [after c*****y’s eviction]…and not posted anything about surfboard design here …
…deja vu …
ben
you know the forum rules suggestion …“don’t feed the trolls” [then they will have to find another pond to fish in , if no-one is “biting” here .]