Shop owner told me I charge too little, and it stung for a reason

I was talking to the old guy who runs the transmission shop two blocks over. He watched me quote a customer $350 for a brake job and just shook his head. Said I was pricing myself like I was still working out of my driveway. He's not wrong, I've been doing this on the side for 4 years out of my garage in Tucson, and I keep thinking people won't pay more. But he pointed out I have a lift, a scan tool that cost me $1,800, and my own insurance now. That conversation made me look at my last 12 invoices and realize I left around $900 on the table just in the past 2 months. Why is it so hard to value your own time when you've been the cheap guy for so long? Has anyone else had that moment where a veteran mechanic called them out on their own rates?

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cora86315d ago

Realized cheap rates just hurt your own pocket, now I charge fair and customers still say yes.