Should I take and do the jobs with the materials included in the price?

Some trades mark up on materials and customers dont like that. I always provide my own materials because I know I can use the best that way but I only charge it on at cost. I've never had a customer complain or refuse to pay. My quotes include all labour and materials so the customer pays what was quoted.

Hi Some of our customers like to buy the materials and we install which is great to some extent not so much if all materials needed are not on site when we arrive. With the every growing of the cost of living some landscapers builders etc ask for a deposit on the start date, maybe worth thinking about. 🙂

basically a quote is a quote to do the job it can include all materials or labour only, if labour only you still need to allow for wear and tear on your tools , travelling time, petrol/diesel & time taken to get to the job this should reflect in your daily rate, or a total price for completing the job including all materials, a deposit should always be taken to lessen the risk of late or non payment as some customers are very slow at settling there bills, everybody has bills but some customers don't seem to think tradesmen do, this is the only industry were people expect everything done for free with payment at there leisure once its all been completed, if you order anything from the shops/internet full payment is expected before they will send you anything, while there are bad tradesmen out there there are as many bad customers but it does not make good t.v. ratings, you need to decide how to run your business & once decided don't allow anyone to tell you different, its your living not someone else's, its sometimes better to walk away from a job than accept a bad job. good luck Alex

I would always insist the customer pays for the materials and then charge labour

Hi, I understand your issue and it can be a pain. I would suggest you take a deposit that covers your materials for you to be able to start the job. Show your receipts, keep everything recorded and visible for the client. If it is a simple job that will be finished in 1-2 days then the final payment would be due on completion. If it is to take longer 1-2 weeks, then part labour payments over the course of the project or a payment of labour at the end of each week. I find that if you explain these terms at the quoting stage and before you start works, the majority of fair clients are ok with it. Hope that helps

You always tell them before the work begins that the money for the materials must be paid first and if its a big job in two more payments all ways have it in writing and sign this is it is this day and age