One extra socket, 20 minutes, 35 minutes each way. At £40/hour the honest price is the minimum, not £25 to be nice. Nice is a hobby. The van is a business.
Three honest options
| Option | When it works |
|---|---|
| Quote the minimum | They want it this week, you are not nearby |
| Hold until you are in the area | They can wait; you already have a job on that street |
| Say no | It still does not pay and it wrecks the diary |
That’s a small job — my minimum visit is £70 including the first hour, then the socket on top if it runs long. If you can wait until I’m on London Road next week I can do it at the labour only. Which do you prefer?
Clustering is not a secret discount you always owe. It is a diary trick when it is true. If you are not going to be on London Road, do not promise it.
What people miss
Winning the small job to get the big one later. Sometimes. Write that bet down. Most “later” jobs go to whoever answered first next time.
Materials only, free labour. You still drove. Labour is the visit.
Accepting every “you’re passing anyway.” You were not passing. You were asked to pass.
A cheap yes that overruns. The socket becomes two, then a spur, then lunch. Minimum plus extras, or no.
Related guides
FAQ
- What if they are a good repeat customer?
- You can waive on purpose. That is a gift. Do not gift strangers.
- Can I quote a range?
- Minimum to this, plus extras if it grows. A range of £20–£25 is still a loss.
- They found someone cheaper.
- Good. That person just bought a twenty-minute job and an hour of van. Let them.
- Bundle two small jobs at one house?
- Yes. One visit, two lines. That is how small work pays.
