Labor for wire is way off PLEASE HELP! - D-Tools Forum

TwentyOneAV · 01-07-2007, 12:51 AM

I set my labor rates for wire (CAT5e) at $90.00 per hour. When I go to add it to an estimate it is way off. I changed it to 1 hr. and it reads $10,350.00. What is up? Please help.

Thanks,

William Harrison
TwentyoneAV

**Kevin Mikelonis** · 01-07-2007, 05:32 PM

Not sure how you have assembled your database, but the words you have used to describe your issue seem to indicate that the general concepts D-Tools needs to assign products and labor in your database are not being followed.

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Labor rates are set by Phase

Items (like CAT5e) are assigned to Phases

Items need to be assigned a certain number of hours (or fraction thereof) for installation

Wire is handled by foot, price it by foot, and assign the labor to install it by foot (.006 hours is common)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Your statement that you have "set my labor for wire" indicates that the structure you are using does not align with how D-Tools was intended to be used.

TwentyOneAV · 01-07-2007, 10:08 PM

I think I set it up correctly. I set the labor in the are where you have phases. Where you can choose variable or fixed or both. Is that correct. Cost is 25 selling is 90. Every phase is the same for now.
I had it set to .005 but it still seemed too high. So I changed it to 1 hr. and it posted $10,350.00. Not sure why.

Thanks for your help.
Billy

**Kevin Mikelonis** · 01-08-2007, 03:59 AM

Billy,

I still do not quite get what you have done.

Your remarks about fixed, variable, both refer to a labor item not a wire item with labor associated to it.

Attached is a set of samples to help you.

Take Care

JordanC · 01-08-2007, 04:22 PM

Your charging a going rate of $90.00/hr for that phase. Good. But you don't charge $90.00 per foot. Which if you have a simple phone jack at 115 ft, your charging $10,350 just in labor.

First thing you must do is to make sure you have entered your wire in correctly into the database. Using the "Wiring" category which has different properties as the others. Enter your price for the wire itself in at per foot pricing. You buy a spool that cost $100 and it comes in a 1000' box. It cost $0.10 per foot. So you charge $0.20 per foot and then charge .006 hrs per foot.

So now you attach your CAT5e at 115' your charging .69 hrs x $90.00 = $62.10 in labor and $23.00 in wire. Total is $85.10 for that one phone jack.

Hope this helps!

TwentyOneAV · 01-13-2007, 03:32 AM

OH. I got it. Thanks so much guys. You are a big help.

Billy