I have a guy that is wanting me to shoot some flames on his bike and the pinstripe them. Fenders and tank. Im more than capable of doing this I've just never charged anyone for custom paint job before. Also he is going to have someone else clear it which is fine by me. Lets say I have him pay for the paint what would be good price for labor. Keep in mind I'm wanting to get my name out there and its my first custom paint in the motorcycle crowd and could lead to more work. So if I charge him too cheap all his buddys would want the same deal. Then it come back and screw me, go to much he goes somewhere else. The rectal double edge sword if you will.
I don't know what to tell ya about price since I haven't done any paying bike work, but ya sure ya wanna let him take it to someone else to finish? I can never do that becuase I'm scared they'll fuck it up and try to blame it on me......
Thanks for planting the seed of doubt. Now I have to clear it too. I just may send him to my buddy or make it clear that all waranties are void when taken to another clear guy.
I'd say $25 per hour. Don't bid out the job for a set price, give him an hourly rate, then if his friends all want you to do work for him, you can charge them the same. If it takes you 6 hours to pound out a tank and fender, the guy should be happy to pay $150 for the job, if it's a real intricate flame job, or you have to clear it or whatever, then it might take twice as long and cost him twice as much. I'm assuming the tank/fender already have clean paint on them to lay your flames out on. If you get real good/popular, you can start charging a higher hourly rate. Just a thought.
I'm trying to get into it too, so I went to a couple of local bike places including hd dealer and they charge from $800 up just to do the flames with the parts painted and no body work.I think that is high ,but they expect perfection, it seems. I wouldn't let anybody else finish it either.
i charge 1000 for a single color flame job with no pinstripe on a sporty tank f&r fender but that includes base color flames and clear and matching color inside and out on fenders.
Depends on his budget.Depends on the design. Multiple layers with blends,fades,marblizing,air brushing, drop shadows,etc will be more than a simple design in just one solid color. The more they want,the more it costs. If you have to do a front,and rear,fenders and saddle bags, it will be more than if you were just doing the gas and oil tanks. Don't sell yourself too short,and get some up front. And tell him his helmet needs to be painted to match. Which,of course,is extra.
The local market plays into it,but a good custom painter/artist should be able to get $100 per hour,plus materials. Those with a "name" can get more.
Without materials, and doing it either in your house garage or at the guy's place. If you have a real shop with added expenses, that costs more. When me and my friends or "aquaintances" work for each other, unless we're trading labor, $25 give or take is the average. Seems like everyone's your friend when you know how to do something. $1000 seems steep for a flame job, Slag, but if you're painting the top and bottom of each fender in a base color, then adding flames and clearing over that, that's a lot more than just a flame job. That's a complete repaint, and I'm assuming your $1000 is going to cover materials too. Around here, you wouldn't get much business for that kind of money. There's really not that much material that goes on the parts of a bike, and there's not that much area to cover as far as prep work and laying out the lines goes. If the parts are already off the bike, and you're not base coloring them, just putting the flames over the paint that's already on it, then pinstriping and clearing over the whole deal, I can't see that taking more than 8 hours, which would equate to about a $200 deal. If you have to buy the materials, add that cost to it. They put the bike back together and you're done. Everyone sees what a great job you did, they hear that you're reasonable, and they come to you to get their shit done. Guys repaint bikes like chicks change clothes, so if you're reasonably priced, you'll have lots of repeat business.
Slag, your my hero.I think painting the inside of the fenders shows class, attention to detail, pride in your work,etc... some of the bikes I saw were painted for up to $4500 with beautiful work but the bottom of the fenders looked like a maaco paintjob.
Damn. I charge $20 per hour with 30 years experience biulding custom/show cars & bikes & I'm fucking starving & can't get work!!! (except last week I finaly got a Mera to paint). Five years ago I was getting around $450 to restore HD peices; sandblasting, welding cracks, & priming & painting using epoxy primers & high-end Sikkens paint, and sanding & buffing - & they said I was charging too much. I'm sure they're paying a lot more now. I was spending $150 on materials so I was probably making $10 to $12 per hour at best. As yes I always paint & clear the bottom of the fenders; that's a pet peeve of mine too. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver" Since I gave up hope I feel much better.
anytime i get a job like that, i always go around and price it out at other shops first.... then i discount it (usually around 25% (no overhead) + materials) to the point they cant say no, but still make it well worth my time... heck, the last helmet i did, the guy decided i didnt charge enough and upped the payment...
Have you priced after market bike parts lately ? Anyone who can afford $3000 for a rear wheel,$5-8000 for a motor, $500-750 for straight pipes,etc can afford a nice paint job. How long to paint flames on a bike ? 1/2 as long as doing a car ? Then why does it not cost 1/2 as much ? I know for a fact,GOOD flames on a car in northern NJ is easily over $2000. And you don't want to know how much Mike Lavalie gets for doing his realistic flames,and how fast he can do them. Much faster than regular flames,and MUCH more expensive. 10 years ago,upper NY state,he was spending $1000 to get his bike murals cleared and buffed.No Shit.Complete paint jobs were $3500 up. Maybe you can't get that much, but you can't go giving away your stuff either. Doesn't matter how much you charge,some people will say it's too much. Somehow,they are the only ones that are allowed to make any money. Fuck that. They aren't paying based on how hard it is for YOU to do the job, or how long it takes you.They are paying based on how difficult it is for them to do the job themselves.They CAN'T do it themselves, that's why they need you. Whatever the customers budget is,the job can be designed around that budget.The more they want to spend,they more elaborate the job can get.The more they want.the more it costs. Do some nice practice panels and hang them on the wall.Do one simple, one real elaborate and complex,and one in between.Now you can show them how and why some jobs are more money. And seriously under cutting established painters is just another way of cutting your own throat.It will come back to haunt you.
This is a good point, and it's why I like an hourly rate instead of a set rate. If your flames are a real simple pinstripe-taped one color deal, then you don't want to go charging $1000 for it, but if you spend two or three days shading and layering, you don't want to sell yourself short either. I guess it really depends on what part of the country you're from. If you're working where the chopper scene is really booming, you'll get a lot more work. Same reason a little condo-style house in Cali can go for $400K and the same one here in Wisconsin would do $90K. I think if my house were in Escondido, it'd be worth at least a million bucks. Too bad it ain't worth shit up here. Maybe start by asking what the guy is willing to pay, and decide how fancy you're willing to do it for that money.
DrJ is gay, really, actualy gay. What do you have against pastel colored marshmellow treats are you not strong enough in your manhood to eat a pink sugar coated bunny. You also forgot to mention you were an artist and put in your long winded two cents. Helpful as always keep up the good work. Thanks to all the helpfull people and I still have no clue what to charge. I guess I need to check the local market on this one. It seems to me like the guy dosnt know what how paintjobs work at all. He asked me to pinstripe it then fill in the flames (I think he thinks flames are laid with one shot). I'm pretty sure hes not looking to drop alot of money on this one. I gess I'll try and play it by ear.
but whats to say his "clear guy" doesn't screw it up .....and then he wants you to redo it .....for free....because it was something you did wrong....(wether or not you did....) there are a lot of experts out there......and some actually know what to do .....then you have a bunch of guys that think they know what to do.....(if this sounds like experience talking .....been there done that....and someone else cleared it ....and screwed it up......then blamed me.....) if you can do the whole job ....you need to do it.....that way if you goof it ....you can fix it.....as for pricing....price it for what you think is fair.....ask the guy what he wants to spend.....shoot him a ballpark range ....say 300 to 10,000 .....you will be surprised what most people will spend.....and this gives you a idea on how much work you are going to put into it...... a side note......anyone who is into paint , striping , or lettering....has heard.....give me a deal on it and i will spread your name around at all the shows.....its a good advertisement.....after that most of his friends will want the same deal....... my 2 cents......brandon
if you do good work,,get top dollar.1000 bucks isnt far off.But id rather be home playin with my kids then to do it cheap.Every bike you do they will say yeah ive got friends lookin to,you might get some but you will here that eveytime..HIT EM HARD.
i hate when i see over spray and no clear inside a fender. i go so far to also bring the 2 tone inside the fenders just because you can see a little of it. most think it is over kill but when your selling the job for big money and show some one the diffrence they want the better work.
Basicaly I just told the guy that we go either way depending on his budget. There is always the Auto Air stuff I can do on the cheap and up from there to fine automotive paints. He was very pleased that I gave him a choice. Thanks for your help everyone.
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