How much to charge to setup a network?

[kt]

I think many people have already asked this, but I am asking it again anyway. What's the going rate or should I charge to setup a network? The project consists of setting up about 5 workstations and 1 server. I am pretty much doing this as a favor for a friend who works at a school that needed someone to do this project. She refuses if I do it for free since the school is paying for it anyway. I don't want to charge too much to make her look good, but also don't want to charge too little so the school would raise any questions like, "Does this guy know what he's doing?" I have plenty of experience in setting up networks, but just don't know what the outside going rate is currently since I've only done it for the companies I work at.

 

[b0mbrman]

Charge for your time and the alternate stuff you could be doing

 

[JohnnyReb]

$60 per hour, for hours of actual work, charged in 15 minute increments ($15 for each quarter hour).

John

 

[minendo]

I would say between $50 and $60 per hour.

 

[Double Trouble]

Provide them with a work estimate with an overview of the work you expect will be needed, and how many hours you estimate it will take. Include an hourly rate for your services such that the total amount comes out to be reasonable given the time you expect to put in.

If you really don't have a clue what ballpark you need to be in, just call a network installation shop and ask them what they figure would be ballpark for a basic small office hookup.

Also, don't forget that setting up the server and the workstations on the network also involves a lot of configuration etc. That eats away at your time too....

 

$50 for work.
$30 for the consultation.

 

[kt]

ok, thanks guys for the answers. really appreciated. now i feel more prepared to give them an estimate for the project.