Decorating,Cycling the water, ordering suppies and fish. What would you charge?

Question

I have 8 beautiuful tanks from saltwater to freshwater. I have been asked by serveral people if I would set up and decorate a tank for their place. Because one is dealing with real plants, the price of the decoration, and labor, how would you charge someone and what would be a fair amount in your opinion?

I don't know what to tell them and it is a lot of work.

Answer 1

http://www.angelfire.com/rock3/cleanatank/ServicePlans.html

Here is what a company called Clean-a-tank charges for their cleaning / maintenance plans and what they charge.

I would suggest for set ups, depending on the work involved and size of the tank supplies +10%. You will have to figure out how much work it is for you along with design. For a 10 gallon, supplies +10% and $25. Go from there.

I have charged $1200 for setting up a pond plus supplies that they picked out.

Good luck with your new venture!

Answer 2

This is a really good question I think. How much you will charge is really up to you. It would be hard for any of us to put a value on your time. You could price out the cost of the parts, and even just have the person requesting your assitance just pay for the parts needed. The real charge will just be for your services. As long as you are available and willing to answer all the questions your clients will throw at you, then it sounds like a good thing, and eventually, your clients will becomes stable enough to care for thier tanks on thier own, so I wouldn't really charge anything extrvagant because in the end, you're going to be the one that's responsible if anything goes wrong, and you can't babysit the tank owner to make sure they really do what you tell them, so I think to cover your own rear, don't charge anything expensive unless you're willing to take on the responsibility that incurs.

JV

Answer 3

are you going to be doing tank maintenance too? there are maintenance shops you could call and they would tell you how much they charge. if you are buying you could do what designers do -- charge a percentage of what you spend. they usually do it at about 200% and i don't think you could get away with that -- i would work something out informally with the people you are doing tanks for though.

Answer 4

Ask what the pros are charging. You can look them up in the phone book.

Answer 5

i would charge $23

Answer 6

have a good time1