Clipping Prices

[Tiaki]

When I got paid for having the TB Gelding in for sale production (he's sold now and gone to new home), I decided to invest in some clippers.

Basically, I am now advertising a clipping service but want to check prices with you.

I don't want to have a different price for each blooming clip, I want to keep it simple. The main Clipping lady in the area charges £30 per clip, she's got a good reputation. I'm experienced in clipping but obviously haven't got the rep for it like this lady has so I thought I would charge £20 per clip? Does this sound ok to you guys??

Just got to get some horses to clip now :lol:

xxx

[black crow]

No point underselling yourself or it will come across the wrong way.

I wouldnt pay £20 for one type of clip and £20 for another unless it was actually the same thing. I.e Charge one thing for a full clip, another for a hunter, and so on.

Then add on a set charge for anything fancy, i.e £5 for designs or customisation.

I've clipped and charged for it for years, and always find people prefer a set price, and then add on £5 if they want it tailoring in any way. From area to area prices do change, but i would stick to set prices for each type of clip. Then gives you a bit more of versitality etc.

[rozbug]

I just paid £25 for a bib clip- but she did come to me!

[Twizzel]

A trace clip is going to take far less time to do than a full clip, so why charge the same?

Don't forget the cost of petrol, blades, wear and tear on the clippers, insurance and declare it as income otherwise the tax man will come running ;)

[eeek]

£20/clip sounds amazing to me and I think you have just found yourself your first client :)

Not going to clip Vinny for a few more weeks at least but will give you a buzz when required, providing I haven't become richer than expected and have taken the plunge and bought my own by then!

[Tiaki]

:lol: Liz, yep just drop me a line and I'll come over with the zappers :lol:

The reasoning behind the set £20 per clip is that covers everything from travel (within reason), blade sharpening etc etc. The local lady who is well known round here charges £30 per clip, no matter what clip. Due to me not being as well known as her, I thought £20 would be more than fair??

What sort of prices would you guys recommend then?

xxx

[Catg]

The lady that comes to do ours charges £15 per clip, we all have a chaser and no funky designs or anything. She has an amazing set of clippers but I wasn't that impressed with the end product, she was quick and didn't leave tramlines or anything but she wasn't a perfectionist if you know what I mean?

I would not pay £30 for someone to do a chaser on Zeb, I'd rather borrow a pair and do it myself even if it didn't look as good.

I would pay £20 for a chaser though I think that is very reasonable. As long at they took their time over the finishing touches.

The only thing I'd say is that people who only want a bib are going to find your fee quite expensive and then people who want a full are going to think you're a bargain so you'll no doubt end up with more clients wanting the full monty which will cost you more in wear and tear.

I know you have mentioned that you've worked it all out but from the client's point of view I think it would be fairer to stagger the cost. Even if you only had three levels for example, £15 for a bib or low chaser, £20 for a high chaser or trace and £25 for a full. Then like the others have said just add on a fiver to any additional patterns etc.

[Tiaki]

The lady that comes to do ours charges £15 per clip, we all have a chaser and no funky designs or anything. She has an amazing set of clippers but I wasn't that impressed with the end product, she was quick and didn't leave tramlines or anything but she wasn't a perfectionist if you know what I mean?

I would not pay £30 for someone to do a chaser on Zeb, I'd rather borrow a pair and do it myself even if it didn't look as good.

I would pay £20 for a chaser though I think that is very reasonable. As long at they took their time over the finishing touches.

The only thing I'd say is that people who only want a bib are going to find your fee quite expensive and then people who want a full are going to think you're a bargain so you'll no doubt end up with more clients wanting the full monty which will cost you more in wear and tear.

I know you have mentioned that you've worked it all out but from the client's point of view I think it would be fairer to stagger the cost. Even if you only had three levels for example, £15 for a bib or low chaser, £20 for a high chaser or trace and £25 for a full. Then like the others have said just add on a fiver to any additional patterns etc.

Thanks Catg :)

Looking at it from a clients point of view that does sound much fairer.

So how about;

Bib & low chaser - £15
High chaser, Trace or Blanket - £20
Full clip - £25
Legs off - additional £5

Does that sound ok?

I am a perfectionist at getting lines straight and level so no problems there :lol: I don't how ever do anything fancy as in patterns or clipping hearts into bottoms etc :lol:

xxx

[Catg]

Sounds good to me!

How far you are willing to travel before charging mileage?

Cat x

[Tiaki]

That's something else I haven't really thought of.

umm, 15mile radius before mileage, does that sound fair?

xxx

[Twizzel]

Thing is, if you are charging £20 to clip and the person is 15 miles away, that's probably about half an hour driving so an hour for both ways. If the person wants a full clip that's probably an hour if they are good to clip, so £20 for 2 hours work doesn't seem much to me? Then add in £1.50 approx petrol for each way, so £20-£3 is £17 before you've paid for insurance, wear and tear on the blades and clippers (if you're doing a lot of full clips this is going to mount up!) and wear and tear on your car.

If the horse is bad to clip it will take you much more time to clip and if you're only charging £20/£25 it probably isn't worth your time.

[Catg]

Thing is, if you are charging £20 to clip and the person is 15 miles away, that's probably about half an hour driving so an hour for both ways. If the person wants a full clip that's probably an hour if they are good to clip, so £20 for 2 hours work doesn't seem much to me? Then add in £1.50 approx petrol for each way, so £20-£3 is £17 before you've paid for insurance, wear and tear on the blades and clippers (if you're doing a lot of full clips this is going to mount up!) and wear and tear on your car.

If the horse is bad to clip it will take you much more time to clip and if you're only charging £20/£25 it probably isn't worth your time.

I agree with Twizzle on this but it is a worst case scenario.

15 miles is quite generous, but that does depend on your car. I have a diesal and don't have to fill up for weeks even though I drive 40 miles a day to and from work. :D

You need to work out exactly want you want to be earning per hour at a minimum and what you pay per mile in fuel.

From this you can work out what your break even point is going to be in distance based in fuel costs and time. Anything over this for one horse then you'll need to charge extra. If it's a yard outside your profit zone but you've been asked to do 6 horses then that changes things a bit! :evilgrin: You might need to just play it by ear, don't get cornered into giving a price until you know exactly how many horses, what they need doing and how far away the yard is.

Cat x

[xgliskax]

i wish you were closer to me too!!!! i need whinnie clipping if any1 knows anyone in south yorks? x