Pricing your services in the PNW (without leaving money on the table)

The 3-part formula

Price = (Direct cost + Overhead allocation + Profit) × Market adjust

1. Direct cost

Materials + labor hours × loaded labor rate (wage + payroll taxes + workers' comp + benefits + tools — usually 1.4× wage).

2. Overhead allocation

Annual overhead (rent, insurance, software, fuel, admin) ÷ billable hours per year. Most solo PNW operators are at $25–45/hr overhead.

3. Profit

20–30% net margin for healthy service businesses. Less than 15% and you can't afford a slow month, equipment breakdown, or rainy week.

4. Market adjust

Then check your number against:

• 2 direct competitor quotes
• WA/OR/ID published ranges (see below)

If you're 15%+ below market → raise. If 25%+ above → justify with reviews, warranty, or speed.

PNW reference ranges

These are ballpark ranges shared by PNW operators, not published or official rates. Use them as a gut check against your own numbers — your costs, market and reputation decide your price.

| Service | Seattle / Portland | Spokane / Boise / Eugene | | ------- | ------------------ | ------------------------ | | Handyman | $85–135/hr | $65–95/hr | | Plumber | $145–220/hr | $110–160/hr | | Electrician | $140–200/hr | $105–155/hr | | HVAC service call | $180–250 flat | $135–180 flat | | Cedar fence install | $40–65/linear ft | $30–48/linear ft | | Tree removal (med) | $850–1800 | $600–1300 | | Lawn maintenance | $55–85/visit | $40–65/visit |

Common pricing mistakes

• Quoting "ballpark" over the phone (you lose pricing power)
• Charging the same rate you charged three years ago while your labor, insurance and material costs kept climbing
• Forgetting state business tax in your cost — WA B&O on gross receipts, Oregon CAT above the threshold. Idaho has no gross receipts tax
• Not building in 8% material price float

→ See AI Estimate Writer to draft a clean estimate in 30 seconds.